Vermont produces less than 35 percent of the electricity it consumes. Young scientists research alternative energy sources to find the best options for one Vermont town. They present and critique each option before voting on the best idea.

If renewable energy sources are the best option, why aren't they used on a global scale? Junior environmentalists explore the benefits and problems associated with energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass with a short video and...

Who knew that a possible answer to Earth's energy resource problems was lurking deep beneath the ocean's surface? Part four of a six-part series introduces Earth Science pupils to methane hydrate, a waste product of methanogens. After...

School budgets don't have a lot of extra money, so when students propose saving the district money, everyone jumps on board. The first instructional activity in the series of 21 introduces the concept of an energy audit. Scholars form an...

Warm up to the idea of solar energy. A lesson includes three activities that challenge scholars to apply knowledge in new ways. First, they learn to run an alarm clock without a battery by using solar energy. Next, they complete an...

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.

The children in your class will likely be among the learners who invent creative ways to harness the earth's renewable energy resources. Encourage their critical thinking with a lesson about wind energy and creating wind turbines. Using...

Drive the clouds away from your day with this video. It thoroughly details how photovoltaics work and how clouds prevent us from relying solely on solar as an energy source. Unique knitted-object animation (bunnies, clouds, and all other...

Future mechanical engineers and automotive technicians read about various solutions to using gasoline in cars. Included are electric, fuel-cell-powered, and hybrid vehicles.

High school energy enthusiasts will be able to explain how thermal energy that is a byproduct of industry can be used as an alternative way to generate electricity. After some discussion, brainstorming, listening to podcasts, and...

Teams of Texas tourists gather into groups to analyze what they can do with $50 worth of an alternative fuel. They write checks, keep a balance sheet, and map out their sight-seeing route taking into consideration the location of...

Following a detailed procedure, technicians construct a fuel cell and use it to generate electricity. This terrific challenge can be administered to a physics class, a STEM class, or a group that is studying alternative fuel technology. 

Rise and shine! Class members collaborate to construct a photovoltaic solar cell with two semiconductor layers, as guided by this fabulous lab sheet. They test its output with an ammeter or galvanometer. 

A wind turbine will be constructed with two different sizes of rotor blades. In an experiment, future engineers find out if there is a difference in the power output based on amount of weight that can be moved with the turbine. 

Here is a fun little exploration of the potential energy potential of falling water. Learners drop water from various heights using a straw, and they analyze the diameter of the splash. Pair this with two more activities of the same...

Wow! Great video! Your class should gain some valuable new knowledge about how hydropower works, and how the many dams that are on the Columbia and Snake rivers actually produce electricity from having water pass through their turbines....

It's amazing that the state of Washington has been using readily available snowmelt and gravity to produce electricity! Lively narration and current footage comprise this educational video. Computer animations enlighten the viewer about...

A small community in Denmark meets almost all of its energy needs through a solar energy plant. The video explains how solar panels work. Individuals in European countries who have installed solar panels on their homes share the...

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...

The challenge surrounding a transition to alternative fuels may fall on the next generation of scientists, innovators, and creative thinkers. Get them started on their journey with a research and discussion activity focuses on the...