Teach Engineering
Water Power
Young hydrologists observe a waterwheel which helps them investigate the transformations of energy that occur when the blades of a hydro-turbine are turning. They work together in pairs and pretend to be engineers who are building a new...
Curated OER
A Day in the Life of a Coal Miner (1910)
Students compare and contrast fossil fuels and bio-fuels. They brainstorm what mining might look like in the future. Students view the film "A Day in the Life of a Coalminer." They discuss fossil fuels and the methods of extraction....
Curated OER
Earn Points with Technology
Students explore renewable energy by analyzing a diagram. In this fossil fuel activity, students view a chart explaining the different energy consumption from automobiles and how they impact our environment. Students analyze a point...
Curated OER
Conservation Connection
Students work in groups to create a script for a one minute commercial on how to conserve our reusable energy sources. When the scripts are written, explain to the students that a story board is similar to a cartoon.
Curated OER
The Magic of Solar Thermal: How the Sun Can Be Used to Heat Water
Learners are introduced to how the sun is used to heat water. In this solar instructional activity students identify the different types of solar water heating and demonstrate how it works.
Curated OER
Mobility: Fuel for Change
Students determine how to lower the reliance on petroleum-based fuel. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students create concept cars for the future that using renewable energy.
Curated OER
Climate Chaos Week
Pupils research the pros and cons of wind farm technology as an alternative source of energy. The class is divided into two groups that should formulate a debate on each side of the argument. Groups use a debate guide to help develop...
Curated OER
Solar Lesson
First graders complete sunlight and solar effects activities to learn about light and its power. In this solar activity lesson, 1st graders complete a sunscreen test activity, a light test, a black light test, a cloudy test, a sunglasses...
Curated OER
Powering a Green Earth
Students compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable energy. In this environmental science instructional activity, students discuss the importance of going green. They identify the different components in a power grid system.
Curated OER
Alternative Power Project
Tenth graders identify existing forms of energy and create possible solutions to resource limitations.
Curated OER
Transportation Choices and the Environment
Pupils study statistics and charts pertaining to how transportation and other energy choices impact the environment. They participate in small group discussions regarding concerns for the future.
Curated OER
Mississippi’s Electricity: From Generation to Consumption
Eighth graders discover how electricity is produced. In this physics lesson, 8th graders infer about the future of Mississippi's energy industry. They participate in a Smart Board interactive activity at the end of the lesson.
Carnegie Mellon University
International Perspectives to Climate Change 1
After a lecture about how the first industrial revolution triggered the path to climate change, your environmental studies class discusses what the impacts are. In a culminating activity, they get into groups and identify countries on a...
Beyond Benign
Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiesel
Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and have become crucial to the livelihood of countless individuals. Young chemists investigate an alternative method of generating energy by performing a series of activities that lead to the...
EngageNY
Mid-Unit Assessment: On-Demand Note-Taking, Analysis, and Reflection: “Should We Drill?”
Pupils take a mid-unit assessment, completing a point of view graphic organizer based on an informational article about offshore drilling. Next, learners answer text-dependent and short-answer questions about the text.
Curated OER
Waterwheel Work
Young scholars investigate the history of the waterwheel and common uses for water turbines today. They construct an experimental waterwheel using a two-liter plastic bottle, measure the rate of revolution of a waterwheel, and complete...
Curated OER
Climate Change
Students examine current school energy use and focus on energy saving measures that could be implemented. In this energy instructional activity, students are also encouraged to raise awareness of energy saving practices and behaviors...
Curated OER
Ethanol
Learners explore how to fuel cars with corn and then test different items to explore the process of fermentation.
Curated OER
Plight or Progress?
Students read an online article to study the positive and negative aspects of nuclear energy, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. They conduct a debate on technology of the future.
Curated OER
Water Power
Students observe a model of a waterwheel to investigate the transformations of energy involved in turning the blades of a hydro-turbine into work. They work as engineers to create a model for a new waterwheel while considering resources,...
Wild BC
Greenhouse Gas Guzzlers
Teams of six to eight players imagine that they are driving in a vehicle and collect balls that represent carbon dioxide emissions based on their different activities. "Greenhouse Gas Guzzler" cards tell teams how many balls to collect...
Curated OER
Energizing Our School
Students explore energy usage in home and in school. They examine the types of non-renewable sources and discover alternate sources of energy. Through group activities, students calculate the perimeter and area of a given room. They make...
Curated OER
Solar Cell Simulation
Second graders describe how energy moves from the Sun to the photovoltaic cell to the wire and to the load. In this solar cell simulation instructional activity, 2nd graders demonstrate the movement of photons and electrons to emulate...
Curated OER
Photo Synthesis and Transpiration
Students germinate pea seeds and plant the seeds. They experiment with different amounts of light and darkness on the plant growth.