More than 100 cities around the world have shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Scholars investigate a city wanting to make this switch, but needs help determining how to make the shift. Groups consider all options,...

Bring some energy to your physical science curriculum with this engaging Bill Nye the Science Guy activity. Based on his Renewable Energy video, young scholars explore the concepts of potential and kinetic energy and learn how they are...

Students view a segment of "Electricity's Power," they focus on the professions- lightning researcher, scientist specializing in electricity in space, and a lineman. They choose one profession, students explore and investigate about the...

Fifth graders are introduced to the concept of electric currents. In groups, they develop their own game board to test different circuits to determine if they are complete. They record their observations of the energy transfer between...

Students complete a scavenger hunt. In this energy instructional activity, students use various Internet websites to explore forms of energy, non-renewable sources, renewable sources, electricity, uses of energy and energy efficiency.

Students explore multiple types of energy. In this energy lesson, students prepare a science fair project through completing a WebQuest. Students investigate radiant, thermal, and biochemical energy.

Students light a LED clock or light bulb using potatoes. They examine how a battery works in a simple circuit. They determine how chemical energy changes to electrical energy while experimenting with potato powered circuits.

Students discover how scientific methods are integral to the creation of energy. In this energy resources lesson, students follow the provided procedures to learn how science impacts energy production.

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 is wind produced and is it a good source for energy production? Get some air moving in your class. Learners take a pre-test, watch a demonstration of how electricity can be generated by wind energy, test different turbine factors for...

Students examine GIS technology as it is used to locate energy sources. In this GIS lesson, student access an assigned website to locate a series of lessons using the GIS software. They use the maps that are located on the primary lesson...

Seventh graders discuss how energy is transformed from one form to another. In this physics lesson, 7th graders design and build their own hydro generator. They identify the factors that affect its energy production.

Students consider how to cut their energy use. In this physical science lesson, students investigate the connections between energy use and climate changes. Students compute the actual electrical energy consumption of 2 bulbs and...

Learners conduct solar experiments. They calculate the solar gain and operate a solar cell devise used to generate electricity. Students compare and contrast solar energy gain with learners in India. They analyze the difference...

Students investigate energy sources by examining photographs.  In this atomic energy lesson,  students identify and describe various pictures and how atomic energy is used in them.  Students create a presentation...

Hook your class up to an online home energy usage calculator so that they can estimate the amount used per month by their families. Then give them Watt meters with which they will measure the power consumption of several small...

Students engage in an interactive "hot potato" demonstration to gain an appreciation for the flow of electrons through a circuit. They role play the different parts of a simple circuit and send small items representing electrons (paper...

Students investigate the costs and benefits of switching their school to sustainable technology energy production. They use software called HOMER developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab to do the cost/ benefit analysis. They then...

Fourth graders are introduced to how electricity is produced. In groups, they compare and contrast the linear production of energy with other forms of mechanical energy production. They try to make a turbine work acting like it is part...

Students investigate sound waves and they build audio speakers. In this audio speakers and sound lesson plan, students explore how to make quality audio speakers. As a team they build their own speakers to have clarity in sound, quality...

Students examine the relationship between the products they use and energy use. Using the internet, they identify the role that manufacturing plays in using energy and the emissions that change the climate. They discover the steps to...

Second graders research the Internet as they classify different forms of energy, investigate electrical energy and how to conserve energy.

Students study the history of electricity and the different ways we generate electricity.  In this electricity instructional activity students complete several experiments on generating power.

Give small groups of physical scientists tokens that represent electrons in a photovoltaic cell. They play a dice game in which they move the tokens around, representing the flow of electrons through the p-n junction of a semiconductor...