How do the changing seasons affect the homes where we live? This question is at the forefront of engineering and design projects. Challenge your physical science class to step into the role of an architect to build a model home...

Clever! Collaborative groups of environmental scientists create a museum exhibit and presentation for an energy-using activity such as heating a home or transportation. They must compare past to present use of energy for that particular...

Fifth graders predict what happens when cold and hot water are mixed together. In this physics lesson, 5th graders discuss how heat transfer takes place. They record temperature readings and compare it with their prediction.

Study heat transfer with activities that focus on how heat energy works. Using a solar cooker, ice cubes, and heat transfer bracelets, kids experiment and record what they find by keeping ice cubes cold and vegetables hot.

Young scholars explore liquids and solids by conducting in class experiments. In this matter lesson, students define the properties of matter and how heat can change those properties. Young scholars experiment with heating objects such...

Fifth graders create their own solar panel. They use this experiment to see how the sun can be used as a form of energy.

Learners explore how energy is wasted at home and at work and develop a program to save energy in a specific area.

Students explore energy by conducting an in class experiment. In this climate change lesson, students conduct a water vapor experiment in a soda bottle. Students utilize graphs and charts to analyze the results of the experiment and help...

Students complete activities to study the properties of solids and liquids. In this states of matter lesson, students investigate the melting and freezing of a range of materials in a virtual experiment. Students melt the substances and...

Students complete a science experiment to study insulation, heat transfer, and permafrost. For this permafrost study lesson, students design and test a soda insulator. Students graph their class data and discuss the results. Students...

Students maximizethe comfort-conditioning of a home.

Students make an anemometer, barometer, and wind catcher to see how wind and air pressure are related. In this wind lesson plan, students use these tools to measure the wind speed.

Students observe the chemical reaction that occurs when salt is put on ice, and use the energy that is released to make ice cream.

Students create a town model and analyze the type of greenhouse gases their town emits. In this earth science lesson, students build greenhouses to investigate how trapped heat causes temperature change. They relate this activity to...

Controlling the efficiency of a greenhouse is a mathematical task. A collaborative project challenges learners to create an efficiency plan for a closed greenhouse. Using algebraic equations, they consider a set of constraints, design...

Students design and build a model solar energy home. In this technology lesson, students test the efficiency of their model houses by measuring temperature at regular intervals. They analyze data and share results with the class.

Third graders explore the concept of heat transfer as experienced in wearing winter clothing and analyzing the refrigerator.

Students explore the variety of ways to use solar energy. They investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design. They explain how passive solar...

Learners make a windmill.  In this wind lesson, students learn background information about the windmill, complete an activity where they create a windmill, discuss using wind as a natural resource and brainstorm other inventions...

Students study and observe types of sea ice found in Alaska. In this sea ice instructional activity, students use the student network for observing weather to study the different types of sea ice. Students study sea ice depicted in...

Learners collect, interpret and analyze weather variable data. They describe atmospheric variables that affect evaporation. Students create graphs and analyze the information collected.

Students conduct a series of experiments on thermoelectricity. In this physics instructional activity, students investigate how thermocouple works. They determine the voltage generated when different conductive materials are held at...

Students measure humidity in the classroom. In this weather lesson, students use a psychrometer to measure the humidity in the classroom. Students complete a lab packet.