Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Is It Hotter At the Equator?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate the different heating effects of sunlight. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the way sunlight strikes the equator, the poles and other parts of the globe.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring the Wavelengths of Visible Light

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students demonstrate use of an Emission tube power supply, a diffraction grating, and a scientific calculator to determine the different wavelengths of light.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bubble-ology

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learners observe the visible spectrum while observing light hitting the surface of bubbles. They blow large bubbles and observe how the colors change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everybody Needs a Little Sunshine

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Three activities introduce upper elementary ecologists to photosynthesis and food webs. In the first, an experiment is set up to determine how plants respond to different types of light. In the second, they connect organism cards with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Photocells Work

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Give small groups of physical scientists tokens that represent electrons in a photovoltaic cell. They play a dice game in which they move the tokens around, representing the flow of electrons through the p-n junction of a semiconductor...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waste Watchers

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Energy-aware learners conduct an audit on their electricity usage by recording their electric meter reading and assessing the thermostat, light bulbs, windows, and water heaters in their homes. In class, they analyze results and discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Using the sun's light as a source of energy is not a new concept. Give your environmental studies, engineering, or physical science class this list of how humans have used solar energy throughout history. Assign groups a certain time...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Car Races: Build and retrofit for speed

For Teachers 6th - 9th
If you have solar car kits for your junior high schoolers, they can experiment with photovoltaic cell angle, light intensity, and aerodynamic design to discover what makes their car move more quickly. This is a classic activity to use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ice Cube Experiment

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Young scholars explore the rate at which ice melts. In this science lesson, students place ice cubes on colored index cards and place them in direct sunlight. Young scholars observe which ice cubes melt fastest and slowest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar-Powered Prints

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Combine art and science with this fabulous lesson plan where your class will create solar-powered artwork! They will create a cyanotype, using photo-sensitive paper, sun, and water. A list of necessary materials is provided.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Provide high schoolers with their own indoor gardens! Emerging scientists discuss the process of photosynthesis and germinate seeds before growing plants in multiple lighting conditions. The hands-on application allows...
Activity
Serendip

Using Models to Understand Photosynthesis

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Is your class in the dark about photosynthesis? Shed some sunlight on an important biological process with a thoughtful activity. After answering questions to help determine their level of knowledge, learners work with chemical equations...
Activity
Curated OER

The BEAM Project: Building Efficient Architectural Models

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Technology or engineering teams are given a task to design, construct, and test the efficiency of a structure that will foster an even temperature throughout an entire sunny day. Intended as a long-term project, pupils research, plan,...
Interactive
Physics Classroom

Spectrum

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Scholars relate each of the colors in the spectrum, except indigo, by comparing their frequencies, wavelengths, and energy levels. Then, they compare each section of the electromagnetic spectrum when considering the same three variables.
Activity
1
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Teach Engineering

Quantum Dots and Colors

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Introduce teams to quantum dot solutions with an activity that has them expose solutions to a blacklight, observe the colors, and take measurements. Groups graph the data and analyze the dependence between particle size and...
PPT
Glynn County School System

Light, History, Gravity, Distance, Relativity, and Space-Time

For Students 6th - 12th
Let the star's color be the guide! The color of a star indicates its temperature and its mass and distance affect the gravitational force. The lesson presentations address these concepts as well as how the theory of special relativity...
Lesson Plan
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Wind Wise Education

What is the Cost of Inefficiency?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What does it cost to keep the lights on? Through a hands-on activity, class members use a watt meter and determine the amount of energy different types of light bulbs use. The class then determines the financial and environmental...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Chicago Botanic Garden

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
The greenhouse effect is important, for without it, life on Earth would not exist. An activity that includes modeling the greenhouse effect and acting out the Earth's energy balance makes up the first part in a series of seven...
Activity
Exploratorium

Water Sphere Lens

For Teachers 4th - 7th
With a Florence flask or fishbowl, make a double convex lens and use it to examine an image. Because of the refraction, the image will be inverted. A simple explanation is provided here for you to share with your class as they...
Interactive
PBS

Real-World Ratio and Rate Reasoning: How to Power the Skate Park

For Students 5th - 6th Standards
Bring on the lights! Using an interactive, characters try to figure out how to light a skate park by examining area and ratios to determine the number of solar panels needed to power them. Pupils design a house with a roof to hold solar...
Lesson Plan
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Bonneville

Three Ways to Generate Electricity

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Get your hands on electricity. Pupils investigate magnetic fields and make the connection to generators in the fourth lesson in a series of six lessons on wind versus solar energy. Learners use a small electric motor as a generator to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students see that energy is everywhere in nature - in the light of the sun, in wind, in falling water and erupting volcanoes. Without energy, there is no life. This lesson provides many good ideas across the curriculum to study energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snow Goggles And Limiting Sunlight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the effects of light radiation on the human eyes. They construct a pair of snow goggles that are used to see how a filter can protect the eyes from radiation. Then students explain how the scientific method can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat from Light

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore solar energy. In this science lesson plan, 2nd graders use hand lenses to see that light energy can be converted to heat energy.

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