National Geographic
National Geographic: Natural Gas: A Cleaner Energy Solution?
For this activity, students read informational text on natural gas and compare it to other fossil fuels for its greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. They then prepare a pro or con position on whether natural gas is good...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Working With Wind Energy
After studying wind energy, student teams design and test a windmill that has to meet specific criteria. Afterwards, they evaluate the success of their design and how they could improve it.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Growing Green: How to Extract Energy From Grass
In this energy science fair project, the student will experiment with three types of grasses and determine which variety yields the highest amount of biomass. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an...
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Energy: Machines, Motion and Light
An introductory lesson describing the definition of energy, and highlighting different sources of usable energy.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Be an Energy Saver
This activity focuses on the scarce and non-renewable nature of fossil fuels in order to stimulate student thinking about energy conservation. It emphasizes the fact that saving energy can be good for the wallet as well as the earth's...
Other
Energy Resources: Hydro Electric Power
Alternative forms of energy site showcases Hydro-electric power. Discover how it works, it's advantages and disadvantages as well as whether or not it's considered to be a renewable resource.
PBS
Pbs Online News Hour Extra: u.s. Economy's Troubles Hurt Alternative Energy Plans
Because of recession and the costs of gas on the decline, many worry that the search for new forms of energy will be put on hold. Read and discuss as a class these concerns. October 24, 2008
Other
Pembina Institute: Renewable Energy Lesson Plans
There are a variety of lesson plans here on solar and wind energy, and on sustainable transportation.
Other
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: The Energy Report: Ocean Power [Pdf]
Chapter 20 of a report on the energy industry in Texas. It looks at power generated from the ocean, its history, and uses. This is a source that has been minimally developed in Texas and is unlikely to develop in the near future. It...
Other
Pembina Institute: Renewable Energy
Pembina Institute, a well respected Canadian research organization, has posted a variety of reports on renewable energy and energy efficiency here. Many of them respond to or make recommendations on federal and provincial government...
Other
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: The Energy Report: Solar Energy [Pdf]
Chapter 10 of a report on the energy industry in Texas. It examines solar energy, its history, and how it is used. The solar power industry in Texas is described, its economic importance, methods of producing it, and how it is...
Other
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: The Energy Report: Nuclear Energy [Pdf]
Chapter 8 of a report on the energy industry in Texas. It examines nuclear energy, what it is, its history, and its uses. The nuclear power industry in Texas is described, including uranium mining, and types of nuclear reactors and how...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Energy, Light and Sound: Renewable Fuels
A slideshow and a short quiz on the different types of renewable energy sources.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Energy Gallery Walk
A cooperative learning activity using the Gallery Walk Strategy to enrich student understanding of the complex nature of solving our nation's energy needs.
Other
Bsi Education: Alternative Energy
The Applied Science resource consists of practical activities that demonstrate the importance of standard procedures in scientific work. Students examine alternative energy through a variety of activities. Some topics investigated are...
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas
State Energy Conservation Office: Renewable Energy Guide for Buildings [Pdf]
A basic guide for ways to be more energy-efficient and to use more renewable energy sources in a building. These include methods of reducing heat or cool air loss, ways of harnessing solar energy, and using the wind for ventilation.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Windmill of Your Mind: Distributed Energy Goes to School
Students research the feasibility of installing a wind-turbine distributed energy (DE) system for their school. They write a proposal (actually, the executive summary of a proposal) to the school principal based on their findings and...
EL Education
El Education: Guide to Energy Sources
This guide was created by 3rd and 4th grade students at the Santa Fe School for the Arts and Sciences, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as part of a learning expedition on energy sources and alternative energy. Students studied all forms of...
US Department of Energy
U.s. Department of Energy: Wind Program: How Does a Wind Turbine Work?
This animated illustration shows how a wind turbine can generate electricity for homes and communities.
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Energy: Solar Power
Explains what solar power is, how it is produced, its limitations as an alternative energy source, environmental issues, the importance of analyzing solar power systems on an ongoing basis, and geographical considerations. (Published:...
Biotechnology Institute
Biotechnology Institute: Your World: Biofuels: Energy for Your Future [Pdf]
Students can read this full-length download of the biotech magazine which discusses how biofuels could be the energy of the future, and meet all our energy needs.
Other
Centre for Alternative Technology: Information Service
Information and advice on sustainable living. Provides data for people that might want to use technology in the construction or conversion of their home into an environmentally sustainable structure.
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas
State Energy Conservation Office: Feasibility of Photovoltaic Systems [Pdf]
Summarizes how a photovoltaic or PV system works to convert solar energy into electricity. Explains how to estimate what size of PV system is needed and what the cost would be, and provides a worksheet with formulas for calculating...
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Photovoltaics
Article explaining what photovoltaic cells are, their role in solar energy, how they work, how electricity is produced, and applications of this technology. (Published: April 24, 2010)