Curated OER
Watershed Model
Students view a presentation of water and land and how we need to protect our water resources. In this water lesson plan, students discuss how we rely on water, and complete activities in all subjects related to water.
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Energy and the Environment
Fifth graders define terms associated with renewable and nonrenewable resources. They identify materials that are renewable and nonrewable. They categorize a list into the correct type of resource.
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Simple Everyday Products
Fourth graders investigate the origin of products and how they are manufactured from natural resources. They draw the production cycle and discuss how one could help reduce the number of natural resources that are used. They also...
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Biomass: The Energy of the Future
Students research renewable fuels. In this alternative energy lesson, students compile information and create a comparison chart on renewable resources. This lesson includes additional suggested readings, vocabulary, and a Biomass...
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Wood
Students practice reading comprehension strategies. In this literacy and science lesson plan, students read a non-fiction article about wood and locate main ideas and details. Students construct a card game using information taken from...
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Recycling
Learners relate recycling to waste reduction. In this science lesson, students talk about the environment and how recycling certain natural resources actually saves on energy. They also discuss what type of recycling causes pollution...
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On the Home Front
Students list specific actions taken on the home front by non-combatants during World War II, discuss ways students have been and can be involved in a home front war effort, and analyze war posters.
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Life Unplugged
Young scholars explore renewable and non-renewable energy sources, discuss how each source was created, and identify and sketch out the cycle of energy for each renewable source.
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Blade Design Challenge
Students identify the differences between non-renewable and renewable energy sources. They construct a PVC wind turbine and design a set of blades to extract as much energy as possible from low and high wind conditions.
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How Solar Cells Work: Converting Sunlight to Electricity
Students examine how to convert sunlight to electricity. For this renewable energy sources lesson students explain how solar cells are used and use a voltmeter to measure the energy produced by a solar panel.
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Saving the Past for the Future
Students examine the need for preservation of archaeological resources. They discuss and propose possible solutions to a given ethical dilemma.
Teach Engineering
Energy Conversions
What energy conversions occur in the operation of a device? Small groups investigate devices and the energy conversions that occur. The groups create energy flow diagrams with added conversion processes for each of the devices...
Teach Engineering
Concentrating on the Sun with PVs
Concentrate to determine the best reflector design. Pairs use the engineering design process to build a reflector to increase the current output of a photovotaic panel. Teams arrive at a final design and present it to the class along...
Teach Engineering
Ice, Ice, PV!
Knowing the temperature coefficient allows for the calculation of voltage output at any temperature. Groups conduct an experiment to determine the effects of temperature on the power output of a solar panel. The teams alter the...
Teach Engineering
Building a Piezoelectric Generator
In pairs, learners build a piezoelectric generator from readily available electric components in the second and final installment of the two-part series. Tapping the piezoelectric element produces enough electricity to light an LED....
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Fueling the Future
Future mechanical engineers and automotive technicians read about various solutions to using gasoline in cars. Included are electric, fuel-cell-powered, and hybrid vehicles.
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Watershed Landscape
Students demonstrate how water flows by building a human watershed using themselves. For this ecology lesson, students compare and contrast point-source and non-point source pollution. They write what they have learned from this activity...
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Pesticide Watch Card
Young scholars examine human health by identifying dangerous pesticides. In this agriculture lesson, students research the food production system in the United States and discuss dangers such as pesticides, chemicals and insecticides...
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You Light Up My House
Middle schoolers explore renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this electricity instructional activity, students consider way to reduce the energy that they use as they chart and analyze their own electricity usage.
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Ocean Power
Students explore the energy resources of the ocean. In this energy lesson plan, students participate in 4 activities focused on energy resources from the ocean.
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Renewing Our Position
Students engage in a lesson in order to analyze the energy needs of the United States and cover the possible future needs depending on the growth of technology. They cover the alternative energy sources and make presentations of the...
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U.S. Geography- The Northeast
Students investigate the geography of the Northeast states. In this map skills instructional activity, students are shown a map of the Northeast states and identify the state names and borders. Students construct individual maps of the...
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Forms of Energy
Students complete a series of activities related to forms of energy. In this energy lesson, students look at forms of energy in their school, how energy is conserved and used efficiently, how magnets are used to generate electricity, and...
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Sensational Soil
Fourth and fifth graders explore soil by taking a simulated field trip under the earth. They go to an Internet site that runs a simulation which charges them with finding a source of pollution that could destroy all of Earth's soil, and...