Rochester Institute of Technology
Electrical Energy
My friend told me how electricity is measured and I was like Watt! In the hands-on activity, learners explore electricity by building circuits, both parallel and series. They also determine how increasing the number of light bulbs and...
Curated OER
Insulators
Sixth graders examine properties of four types of spoons, record observations, and apply their knowledge by designing the perfect hot chocolate cup.
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Highways and Stop Signs
Fourth graders investigate conductors and insulators and distinguish between the two. They utilize the digital camera and other forms of technology to create a study guide on conductors to help students develop sound knowledge.
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Go with the Flow
Students gain an understanding of the difference between electrical conductors and insulators, and experience recognizing a conductor by its material properties. They build a conductivity tester to determine whether different objects are...
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How is Thermal Energy Transferred?
In this thermal energy worksheet, students will write down the key facts and vocabulary words associated with heat and thermal equilibrium, transfer of thermal energy, conductors and insulators, and heat capacity. This worksheet is a...
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Insulators, Conductors, and Energy Transfer
Third graders conduct experiments to determine what types of material make good insulators. They prepare a graph of time vs. temperature for their sample. They choose a graph using each kind of material to display for class analysis and...
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Heat Misconceptions
Third graders determine that gloves do not provide heat, but rather, they insulate or hold in any heat that is in their hand. They discuss the different temperatures found in ecosystems around the world. What do animals that live in...
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Elementary Concepts in Heat
Third graders read a thermometer with accuracy, record observations and data, and infer conceptual meaning. They integrate mathematical charting and graphing skills to organize their data. They explore what happens when they touch or use...
DiscoverE
Squishy Circuits
Make electricity flow through Play-Doh. Individuals create animals or other creatures using Play-Doh. The engineering aspect? Eyes that light up and Play-Doh that conducts electricity.
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Electricity and Thermodynamics Review
In this electricity and thermodynamics activity, high schoolers review the major concepts of both series circuits and parallel circuits, they review types of thermal transfer, they match electricity terms with their definitions, they...
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Keeping Warm
Young scholars investigate how different types of objects act as thermal insulators. In this online lesson plan, students hypothesize how particular objects act as insulators and then complete the online activity to determine which...
National Energy Education Development Project
The Science of Energy
Did you know the word energy comes from energeia, a Greek word? Introduce learners to the four types of potential energy, five types of kinetic energy, and energy transformation with a presentation about where we get our energy and...
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Containers
Students investigate the effect of different container materials on heat transfer; draws a conclusion about the best insulator; and applies concept to a new, seemingly quite different problem.
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Keeping Warm
Learners participate in an online activity to determine how objects heat and cool. They determine what objects best serve as thermal insulators.
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Transfer of Thermal Energy
In this thermal energy activity, learners will explore different ways heat is transferred including conduction and convection. Students will look at how insulators work and how room temperature can affect heat transfer. This activity has...
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Thermal Energy and Heat Unit
Learners explain that heat energy in a material consists of the disordered motions of its atoms or molecules. They know and explain that transformations of energy usually transform some energy into the form of heat, which dissipates by...
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Sunlight and Warm Air
Pupils discuss radiant energy from the sun, performing a simple experiment with sun glasses and bright light to demonstrate the concept. Students further participate in simple in-class experiments to demonstrate: air density as it...
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Conductivity Lessons
"Conduct" some simple experiments with these great lesson plans on conductors and insulators!
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Power: Work and Energy
Students explore how work and energy create power. They complete activities involving simple machines, energy, energy conversion, and the role of conductors and insulators. They choose from a menu of options the activities they would...
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Adobe
In this adobe worksheet, students read about adobe soil and how it was used for building because of its insulating properties. Students complete 3 short answer questions.
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Thermodynamics
In this thermodynamics worksheet, students read about conduction, convection and radiation. They answer 47 questions about heat transfer, thermal equilibrium, insulators, conductors and the states of matter.
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Atmospheric Processes - Conduction
Students explain the process of conduction using a molecular explanation, and explain how different materials conduct at different rates.
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Physical Science Review 5th Grade
In this review of physical science activity, students use recall to answer multiple choice questions about electricity and chemical changes. Students answer 25 questions.
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Series/Parallel Circuits
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of series and parallel circuits. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They have class discussion and the lesson includes information for the teacher to use.