Curated OER
A Closer Look at Wood
Pupils examine forests as a renewable resource and conservation practices. For this conifers lesson students complete a lab activity on the different types of wood.
Curated OER
Kernel Power" Ethanol Fuel from Corn
Students study why corn is a biodegradable, renewable resource. In this ethanol lesson plan students build models and observe a chemical reaction.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle
Students develop a better understanding of the need to conserve our renewable resources. In this water cycle lesson plan students take notes, complete a guide sheet and illustrate the water cycle.
Curated OER
Ways We Use Trees
Students use the Internet to find the ways we use trees. In this tree lesson, students make a list of the uses of trees and find magazine pictures that show these uses to make a collage. They read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and...
Teach Engineering
Solar Water: Heat it Up!
Young engineers are instructed to design and build their own solar water heaters. Then, they calculate the efficiency and cost and compare them to commercially available models. This is a full unit for pupils to apply their knowledge.
Curated OER
Using Photovoltaic Cells and Systems
This interesting document suggests nine different activities for shedding light on photovoltaic cells. A bit of background information is furnished for you, as well as many, many resource links. Listed for each activity are a learning...
Curated OER
What Does the Sun Give Us?
Pupils study the sun and how solar energy works. To learn about renewable energy, they complete a lab activity using a pizza box as a solar heater. Quite clever!
Curated OER
Modeling the Process of Mining Silicon Through a Single Displacement/Redox Reaction
Learners study silicon and where it comes from. In this solar mining lesson students complete an Internet search of mining and a lab activity.
Curated OER
Acid Rain: Where Have All the Rainbows Gone?
High schoolers study the pH scale and sources of acid precipitation. In this acid rain instructional activity students complete a lab on acid rain then complete a handout.
Curated OER
Solar
Students study solar energy. In this renewable energy lesson students complete several lab activities using different controls and variables.
Curated OER
Building Your Bridge Building Basics
In this technology worksheet, students examine the basic principles of bridge building design in order to answer the nine questions with the help of the web links on page 2.
Curated OER
How Much Energy is Stored in Wood?
In this energy lesson plan, students create calorimeters out of soda cans and use them to calculate the amount of energy stored in different types of wood.
Curated OER
The Progressive Era
Eighth graders utilize the SOAP method to analyze a work of art and relate it to what they know about the Progressive Era and the reasons why cities changed and the ways in which cities changed during the end of the 19th century. They...
Curated OER
Hawaii's Freshwater Ecosystems
Students examine brackish water. In this Science lesson, students observe organisms found in brackish water. Students record their observations of the various organisms.
Curated OER
Introduction to Measuring the Forest
Students investigate how much wood is in a forest. In this forestry lesson plan, students calculate how much usable wood comes from the forest. They will read, Sizing Things Up from Trees + Me = Forestry, measure firewood piles, and...
Curated OER
Chicago Questionnaire
Students critically investigate the issues surrounding the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan. They conclude if dropping the bombs was a correct decision or not and support their conclusions with documentation. Students tie in atomic...
PBS
Pbs Nova: Design a Renewable Future
This interactive Lab investigates what energy is, how it can be converted into useful forms, and why some sources are running low. The Research Challenge allows students to design their own renewable energy systems to generate power in...
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Habitat Network: Renewable Energy
Find out about efforts to promote the use of renewable energy sources by homeowners and businesses. This was a project where homeowners could submit data about what they were doing to use renewable energy sources. The site is no longer...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: 3 M Science of Everyday Life: Wind Energy Virtual Lab
Design, build, and test an energy efficient wind turbine that will supply 400 homes with electricity for one year.
Other
Lehigh University: Energy
An inquiry-based science unit for middle school students centered on the world's energy sources. The lessons integrate technology and lab activities while teaching about energy sources, production, and consumption.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Solving the Storage Problem Quiz
Try this quiz about energy storage technologies.