Curated OER
Energetic Energy: A Child?s Guide to Responsible Energy Use
Students explore how energy transforms into heat. In this energy instructional activity students create models and find a need for fuel to make a Stirling engine.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Biomass: Biogas Generator
It's a gas. Middle schoolers build a biogas generator following the directions in this resource. After a few days of observation, they demonstrate that the gas given off by the decomposing manure is flammable. The activity concludes as...
Virginia Department of Education
Electricity and Magnetism
Take charge of your class and provide them with an electrical experience! Individuals investigate the basic principles of electricity and magnetism by creating a model to test electric current and the amount of electricity generated....
Curated OER
Considerations in Heating a Home
Emerging engineers discover how important it is to conserve energy as fossil fuel supplies are being diminished. This is accomplished by working through a handout that explains energy requirements for heating a home during the winter....
Curated OER
A Day in the Life of a Coal Miner (1910)
Students compare and contrast fossil fuels and bio-fuels. They brainstorm what mining might look like in the future. Students view the film "A Day in the Life of a Coalminer." They discuss fossil fuels and the methods of extraction....
Curated OER
Energy and Resources
Learners identify renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this energy lesson, students explore the consumption issues regarding oil use and consider methods of resource management. Learners research alternative resources and present...
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
No Fossils in This Fuel
Yeast and sugar go beyond the pantry and into a fuel experiment. Use these common baking ingredients to assist your class in creating ethanol, a natural fuel. Pupils observe the process and gather information to elaborate on the...
Beyond Benign
Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiesel
Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and have become crucial to the livelihood of countless individuals. Young chemists investigate an alternative method of generating energy by performing a series of activities that lead to the...
Teach Engineering
Insulation Materials Investigation
Don't melt away! Pairs investigate different insulation materials to determine which one is better than the others. Using a low-temp heat plate, the teams insulate an ice cube from the heat source with a variety of substances. They...
Curated OER
Alternative Power Project
Tenth graders identify existing forms of energy and create possible solutions to resource limitations.
Curated OER
Fuel Cells
Students examine how fuel cells and combustion engines work. Using the internet, they research the positives and negatives of the various energy sources. In groups, they complete an experiment with a working fuel cell model and take a...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Reaction Rates and Catalysis in Ethanol Production
Students investigate alternative catalysts for the degradation of hydrogen peroxide. In this fermentation lesson students complete an activity that breaks down cellulose into sugar.
Curated OER
Air Pollution Survey
Students identify the different sources of air pollution andevaluate knowledge of air pollution concepts in school and community. Students brainstorm ways of reducing air pollution and instruct school and community in reduction of air...
Curated OER
Integrated Solid Waste Management
Students examine the EPA's approach to integrated solid waste management. They read about source reduction, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy incineration, and land filling, and create symbols for each of the aspects of solid waste...
Curated OER
Wind Turbines
Students build their own wind turbine. For this physics lesson, students calculate the power output of their wind turbines. They evaluate their design and make the necessary modifications.
Curated OER
Wavelengths of Light
Explore physical science by participating in a visual spectrum experiments. Budding scientists identify the colors in the color spectrum and view the colors in class by utilizing cellophane, flash lights, and other arts and crafts...
Curated OER
Oceans of Trouble
Students investigate the illegal and legal nuclear waste dumping activities by various nations, including the United States. The effects of nuclear waste dumping in oceans and in coastal areas that share ecosystems with ocean life is...
Curated OER
Electricity Generation
Students study the history of electricity and the different ways we generate electricity. In this electricity lesson plan students complete several experiments on generating power.
Curated OER
Name that Wind
Learners study wind and the direction terms related to wind. In this meteorology lesson, students learn about the wind directions by completing a wind direction activity where kids locate cones marked with the specific wind directions....