Curated OER
Solar Matters II- Ice Cube Race
Students discuss the methods of energy transfer. In this energy transfer lesson, students use ice to demonstrate what happens when energy is transferred. Students complete a Science Journal page as an assessment.
Curated OER
Heat Transfer
Students examine heat transfer using energy efficient houses. In this heat transfer lesson students calculate the heat that is transferred between a system and its surroundings.
Curated OER
The Transformation and Use of Different Types of Energy Using Local Flora and Fauna in a Vietnam Village Setting
Eighth graders examine the concept that the sun is the ultimate source of energy for living things. They conduct an experiment in which they roast marshmallows over a flame that has been produced from methane gas, which originates from...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is important, for without it, life on Earth would not exist. An activity that includes modeling the greenhouse effect and acting out the Earth's energy balance makes up the first part in a series of seven...
American Museum of Natural History
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would not be inhabitable. A thorough online resource describes the greenhouse effect and how it occurs. The source highlights the different types of gases that work together to absorb the sun's...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Heat it Up!
This demonstration of solar ponds can be used in an earth, environmental, or physical science setting. Lab groups set up a solar pond and model how it is able, due to a salt concentration gradient, to maintain heat for future use.
NOAA
Ocean Waves
Surf's up! What causes the constant motion of Earth's oceans? Scholars discover the origins and types of waves in part nine of a 13-installment series. The resource illustrates wave behavior, their destructive power, and current research...
Bonneville
Background Research on Alternative Transportation Vehicles
There's no alternative to a great research project. The second of five lessons in the Solar Transportation unit has scholars research different types of alternative vehicles. They determine the price, range, battery size, and cost to...
Curated OER
From Sunlight to Electric Current
Students explore concept of current in electrical circuits. They examine how energy from the sun can be used to power everyday items, including vehicles.
Curated OER
Forms of Energy
Students, working in expert groups, study a form of energy. They plan a slide show presentation using pictures, clip art, and student taken digital pictures that show the energy type they have become experts in. They use a planning sheet...
Teach Engineering
Win that Bid! Selling Your Power Solution
Power up! Class members research a type of power production using a great resource featuring a real-world problem. Groups select a type of power generation and pretend that they represent an engineering firm for their chosen power type....
Curated OER
Our Amazing, Powerful Sun
Students examine where energy comes from and how it can be used. In this solar energy lesson students explore different aspects of the sun.
Curated OER
Grass as Biomass
Young scholars explore energy properties by listening to a sustainability lecture in class. In this biomass instructional activity, students identify what biomass is, how it can be transformed into a usable energy and how it complements...
Curated OER
Ice Cube Experiment
Young scholars explore the rate at which ice melts. In this science lesson, students place ice cubes on colored index cards and place them in direct sunlight. Young scholars observe which ice cubes melt fastest and slowest.
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Little Sunshine
Three activities introduce upper elementary ecologists to photosynthesis and food webs. In the first, an experiment is set up to determine how plants respond to different types of light. In the second, they connect organism cards with...
Curated OER
The Formation of Fossil Fuels
Middle schoolers participate in an activity in which they explain the difference between renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy. They discover why the supply of fossil fuels is limited and practice using new vocabulary.
Curated OER
Power In Variety
Students discover different types of energy. In this energy source lesson students compare different types of energy, renewable and nonrenewable. Students answer questions about the different types of energy and their impact on the...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuel and the Ticking Clock
Young scholars study energy sources to learn about fossil fuels and environmental concerns. In this energy sources lesson, students watch demonstrations for various energy examples. Young scholars find hidden pennies, make a bar graph on...
Curated OER
Solar Matters
Learners design an energy resource wheel and demonstrate how to use it to access information about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
Curated OER
Create Hydrogen Energy
Learners complete an experiment to understand changes to the environment over time. In this hydrogen lesson, students discuss electrolysis and conduct an electrolysis experiment. Learners observe and record their experiment.
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind Curriculum Activity: Up to Speed
Here are three great group project ideas to reinforce the concepts of velocity, transportation, and energy. In small groups, learners construct adjustable ramps, predict, and then test to determine the affects of altering velocity, ramp...
Teach Engineering
Engineering Brainstorming
Here is a lesson that offers a great hybrid of forming new skills and using current knowledge to come up with a plan. The class brainstorms information they would need to know or already know about hybrid vehicles. They then group...
Energy for Keeps
Going for a Spin: Making a Model Steam Turbine
Discover the effectiveness of wind, water, and steam as energy sources. The hands-on activity has young scientists create a turbine from common materials. After constructing the turbines, they use wind, water, and steam to turn them and...
EarthEcho International
Investigating How Electricity is Generated
What is the real cost of electricity? The real cost is not just the price you pay, but the environmental and economic costs as well. Scholars build, use, and judge the effectiveness of a turbine. They also investigate the...