Colorado State University
Why Are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs More Efficient?
Compact fluorescent bulbs are the easiest way to increase energy efficiency around the house. But why? Science scholars compare CF bulbs with their incandescent counterparts using a simple test. A solar-powered toy illuminates the...
Beyond Benign
Ecological Footprint
How does your lifestyle measure up in terms of your ecological footprint? Young ecologists examine their impact on the planet using an insightful online calculator. A short quiz asks users to rank the size of their homes, their energy...
Curated OER
Nuclear Waste
Students identify pros and cons of nuclear power, and analyze problems surrounding nuclear waste and how to make decisions regarding its disposal.
Curated OER
Energy from Atoms
For this energy from atoms worksheet, students match 10 sentences to given terms related to nuclear energy, electricity, fission, and nuclear reactions. They also answer 3 questions about nuclear waste and atomic reactions.
Curated OER
Energy Conservation
Class is divided into groups of 2-4 students. They then are given a list of 36 items that are found in our homes and which use electricity. They are going to pretend that because of an energy shortage, they have to pick only twelve items...
Curated OER
Vermiculture Food Waste Compost Program for Touchstone School
Students explore the advantages of composting. In this recycling lesson students complete a worm compost project and collect food waste to feed them.
Curated OER
Energy in the Home
In this energy use worksheet, students read about kilowatts and solve 2 problems. They find the costs to run certain electrical items for a given amount of time and they determine the electricity consumption of an accelerator that runs...
Curated OER
Beyond Science?: New Energy Age
Students explore, examine, experiment and study the energy believed to exist in the vacuum of space called zero-point energy. They design and build a machine and then place their machines to test zero-pointed energy into a competition.
Curated OER
Student Survey: Solar Energy
In this energy survey, students answer 15 questions about how they use various forms of energy. This survey is designed to be printed.
Curated OER
Energy Resources Scavenger Hunt
For this environment worksheet, learners complete each of the statements with its correct energy resource. They identify and name various types of plants and rocks. Students also identify and explain how fertilizer works and how it can...
Curated OER
Energy: Nuclear Power
In this energy and nuclear power worksheet, students, with a partner, discuss what thirteen energy terms mean and match those same terms to their definitions in the second activity.
Curated OER
Where is Away?
Focusing on where are garbage goes once we dispose of it, learners explore environmental concerns. Using a clear format, this lesson leads learners through a discussion of waste reduction, recycling, and composting. Then, they discuss...
Curated OER
Urban Ecosystems 4: Metabolism of Urban Ecosystems
Cities are compared to living, breathing, metabolizing organisms. Fourth in a five-part series of lessons, this one focuses on the flow of materials through a city. Links to interesting websites and images make your delivery of...
Curated OER
The Electric Hookup
Students determine the wattage of appliances found in the home. They identify ways to conserve energy and calculate the number of kilowatt-hours that appliances use. They also discover the costs per kilowatt-hour for the appliances.
Curated OER
What's Cooking?
Students investigate solar energy by making sun tea. For this ecology and solar energy lesson, students prepare traditional tea and "sun" tea, then record and graph data comparing color, clarity, smell and taste.
Curated OER
Recycling
In this recycling activity, students explore the topic of hazardous waste and then answer 8 fill in the blank questions pertaining to recycling.
Curated OER
Pooper Scooper
Science Students build a pooper scooper tool that helps them clean up after a dog without getting their hands dirty or their noses too close. They research the diseases that can be transported through animal waste and work in teams to...
Chymist
Alum from Waste Aluminum Cans
Turn aluminum cans into pickles! An engaging experiment has learners chemically change aluminum into a substance with many purposes including the manufacture of pickles. After performing the chemical conversion, the experimenters verify...
Curated OER
Biomass: The Energy of the Future
Sixth graders examine information about a variety of renewable fuels. They read key vocabulary terms, read and discuss a story handout, and conduct research on renewable fuels. Students then complete a comparison chart, and write an...
Curated OER
Light Detective
Fourth graders examine how lights are used at their school. They work together to determine if their are other sources of light that could be used to cut down on the energy being used. Small groups of pupils walk through the school to...
Curated OER
Environmentally Friendly Community
In cooperative groups, learners research and report on the environmental friendliness of the local community. They consider water protection and disposal, waste management, energy supply, public transportation, and more. This lesson plan...
Curated OER
Compaction Action
Young scientists find ways to harness energy in order to make a machine that can crush aluminum cans. Learners discuss the importance of finding ways to reduce the number of trips to the recycling center from school. They attempt to...
Cal Recycle
Conserving Natural Resources
Trying to plan an engaging elementary science unit on natural resources? Conserve your energy! This five-part series of lessons and hands-on activities has exactly what you need to teach young scholars about the importance of conservation.