Yeast and sugar go beyond the pantry and into a fuel experiment. Use these common baking ingredients to assist your class in creating ethanol, a natural fuel. Pupils observe the process and gather information to elaborate on the...

Use this slick video to introduce your environmental scientists to the wonders of biodiesel. They will learn about problems caused by our waste oil, how it can be recycled, and other benefits of using biofuels. Use the video, assessment...

This clever video has an old fashioned feel but presents a very modern technology. The formation of ethanol fuel from plant material is explained using simple computer animations and a salesman-sounding narrator. The advantages of using...

Biotechnology pros produce their own biofuel using waste oil and fresh vegetable oil. They test the quality of their product using titration techniques and pH analysis. They write their observations and report their findings. Be aware...

How many different types of biofuels are out there? Seventh graders watch a series of videos and participate in a series of activities in order to better understand all the transportation options available. They consider what type of car...

Biotech engineers discover that changes in the DNA code for cell wall formation can help create crops better suited for biofuel production. They extract DNA from wheat germ. They decode paper strips with codes and relate the activity to...

Biofuel is a possible form of clean and renewable energy. Engineering explorers observe the fermentation process, and then alter the temperature to discover the effect on fermentation. The plan is complete with materials, procedures, and...

Alternative energy sources are becoming increasingly important. Learners have the opportunity to explore alternative energy sources using a differentiated instruction unit. They group together based on ability levels, assign roles to...

One-third of all carbon emissions comes from transportation in the United States. The third lesson in a 13-part series on Exploring Energy offers ideas on how to reduce emissions from cars, airplanes, large trucks, and more. 

Need a lesson to fuel young minds? A variety of hands-on activities is sure to get your class fired up! Beginning with an introductory slideshow and culminating with group presentations, the week-long unit has something for everyone....

Sometimes it's okay to eat your science experiment. A hands-on activity has pupils create models for algae to learn about its cellular structure. The best part of the experiment? The resulting juice-filled gels are edible—yum!

My, what big energy potential you have! Scholars learn about the energy potential of using algae as a biofuel. A PowerPoint presentation first describes the structure of algae and then how researchers use algae as biofuel to produce energy.

Can corn power the world? Young scientists learn about how corn and other plants can provide renewable biofuels in the second of nine lessons. They set up an experiment to investigate how different variables affect plant growth. All of...

Waste not, want not! Science scholars explore manure as an alternative energy source through reading and experimentation. Groups construct their own biofuel digesters and observe the process of methane production. The teacher's guide...

Explore the cycle of carbon used as a biofuel. The video narrator describes the need for biofuels to maintain the amount of carbon dioxide in our air. Scholars learn different sources of these biofuels such as organic matter, crops, and...

Analyze the socioeconomic advantages and disadvantages of biofuels. Although generating fuel from living organisms seems to be a good idea, there are many implications to consider. A thorough video lesson helps learners examine these...

My biofuel is better than your biofuel. Small groups research a specific biofuel and think about the impact of its production and use on the environment, the economy, and on society, and report their findings to the class. Individuals...

Have you ever considered that your poop might be the key to saving the planet? The video discusses how human and animal waste is an issue. Then the scientist explains how researchers are using one problem to solve another. Maybe poop...

A single slide introduces each of the following renewable energy sources: hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, solar, tidal, and biomass. This provides a succinct overview that you can use as a visual aid when you first introduce alternative...

On a bold, computer-generated animation of a landscape appears a city, power plants, wind turbines, and smaller, decentralized combined heat and power (CHP) plants. The intent is to show how CHP plants can be incorporated into the energy...

Here is a five-day module in which high school chemists determine what other materials can serve as catalysts for producing ethanol. Another objective of the lessons is to introduce reaction rate and activation energy. Learners also use...