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Lesson Plan
Other

National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Junior Solar Car Competition

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A design challenge through which students design and construct a solar-powered model car to compete in a road race. Students work in teams using the engineering design process to select the optimal gear ratio and components.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Ice, Ice, Pv!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine how the power output of a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel is affected by temperature changes. Using a 100-watt lamp and a small PV panel connected to a digital multimeter, teams vary the temperature of the panel and record...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Renewable Energy Living Lab: The Bright Idea

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students use real-world data to evaluate the feasibility of solar energy and other renewable energy sources in different U.S. locations. Working in small groups, students act as engineers evaluating the suitability of installing solar...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Generators: Three Mile Island vs. Hoover Dam

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students are given a history of electricity and its development into the modern age lifeline upon which we so depend. The methods of power generation are introduced, and further discussion of each technology's pros and cons follows.
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Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Energy

For Students 6th - 8th
Seven hands-on lessons module where students learn about energy. These inquiry-based explorations investigate where energy resources come from and how they are converted into electricity, how fossil fuels form, the importance of...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Renewable Energy Living Lab: Energy Experts

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students use real-world data to evaluate various renewable energy sources and the feasibility of implementing these sources. Working in small groups, students use data from the Renewable Energy Living Lab to describe and understand the...
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Electricity & Energy Energy

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about energy. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Renewable Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, students are introduced to the types of renewable energy resources. They are involved in activities to help them understand the transformation of energy (solar, water and wind) into electricity. Students explore the...
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Website
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place: Power Up With Tortillas!

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from NASA provides The Space Place which gives a great explanation of energy sources for young readers using the space shuttle, cars, and our human body as examples.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Tireless Tides: Extracting Energy From Ocean Tides

For Students 6th - 8th
Renewable energy is the energy that is extracted from natural sources, such the Sun (solar), earth (geothermal), wind, and water (hydropower). These sources are renewable because they can be replenished by the same natural sources within...
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Activity
Other

California Energy Commission: Science Projects

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A number of electrical, nuclear, solar, and wind science projects and energy activities are described on this page, with links to each activity.
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Through nine lessons, students are introduced to a range of energy types--electrical, light, sound and thermal-as well as the renewable energy sources of wind, hydro (water) and solar power. Subjects range from understanding that the...
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy Efficient Housing

For Teachers 9th - 10th
We all know that it takes energy to provide us with the basics of shelter: heating, cooling, lighting, electricity, sanitation and cooking. To create energy-efficient housing that is practical for people to use every day requires...
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Handout
Kidport

Kidport Reference Library: Energy

For Students 3rd - 5th
A simple introduction to energy, offering information on hydro-electric energy, fossil fuels, nuclear power, solar energy, and wind energy.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Greenewables

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students form expert engineering teams working for the (fictional) alternative energy consulting firm, Greenewables, Inc. Each team specializes in a form of renewable energy used to generate electrical power: passive solar, solar...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Science Kids: Science Images: Solar Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
A large row of solar energy panels can be seen in this photo. As they face the sun they absorb the solar energy which can then be turned into electricity and used to power any number of useful objects.
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Article
Other

Texas Wide Open for Business: The Texas Renewable Energy Industry [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A 34-page report examining renewable energy sources in use in Texas. It looks at how Texas compares with the rest of the world, the companies investing in the Texas energy industry, the Texas electricity grid, government initiatives,...
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Website
Other

Planet Ark: World Environmental News

For Students 9th - 10th
Welcome to Planet Ark's daily Reuters World Environment News - the most comprehensive source of environmental news on the Net. To read previous news stories, please use the search engine below to find stories relating to any...
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Handout
Energy for Sustainable Development

Esd Bulgaria: Kids & Energy: Energy Smart Inventions

For Students 3rd - 5th
Describes the use of electricity and of solar energy to power a vehicle.
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Environment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Through 10 lessons and more than 20 hands-on activities, students are introduced to the concept of an environment and the many interactions within it. As they learn about natural and human-made environments, as well as renewable and...
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Unit Plan
Technology Student

Technology Student: Technology and the Environment

For Students 9th - 10th
This site focuses on alternate energy sources and how they can help us save our environment.
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Website
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Our Energy Sources

For Students 9th - 10th
The many sources of energy production in the United States are described in this overview. Included are traditional sources, renewable sources, and new energy production technologies.
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Website
Canada Science and Technology Museum

Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background Information for Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Energy! What do you know about it? Use this terrific site to find out everything about it through a series of Q&As. Educators will find useful lesson plans at the related Teacher's site.
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Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Solving the Storage Problem Quiz

For Students 6th - 8th
Try this quiz about energy storage technologies.