Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 2
In this second of three lessons on power plants, future engineers find out how we generate electricity and how coal-powered plants operate. They work in small groups to make electromagnet generators to light LED bulbs. A set of...
Curated OER
Electric Car: American Industry and Innovation
Students study how an electric car operates. In this electric car lesson students assemble an electric car motor from parts from an internal combustion engine.
Curated OER
Science: Generating Electricity
Eighth graders examine the various methods of generating electricity and explain their commonalities. They determine what is the most common source of energy and what are the potential environmental health hazards due to electrical...
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What is Energy?
Youngsters take a look at the foods they eat, and how they provide energy for them to do things. They look at how body uses the food energy to create movement. Pupils also look at toys/devices in the room that need electrical energy...
California Academy of Science
Energy: A Day in My Life
If only we could harness the energy of fifth graders, our energy problems would be over! The class discusses where different forms of energy come from and how we use them. They complete a chart of the activities that they do daily...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 1
First of three lessons, this is a great start to a unit on energy. As you demonstrate, learners discover different types of energy and how it is converted from one form to another. They then focus in on the generation of electricity by...
Curated OER
Too Bright At Night?
Middle schoolers explain what causes light pollution and how it can be curtailed. They consider the negative consequences of nighttime lighting, enabled by the invention of electric lights at the close of the 19th Century.
Curated OER
Work and Power: Waterwheel
Students investigate a waterwheel and the physical properties of energy. In this waterwheel lesson students create a model waterwheel and calculate the amount of power produced.
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Laser Types and Uses
Students examine the properties of lasers and research their types and uses. In this laser lesson students view several demonstrations.
Curated OER
Waste Watchers
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...
Curated OER
Electricity Safety Video
Young scholars discuss Picture 1 - Electrical Applicances. They discuss their prior knowledge of electricity and then listen to a video. They then answer the questions on the worksheet called, "Lesson 1 Electricity Safety Video" and...
Curated OER
Carbon Cycles
Young scholars examine the carbon cycle and how carbon atoms travel through it. In this energy cycles instructional activity students describe how human activities affect the carbon cycle.
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Electricity and Magnetism
Fourth graders compare electricity and magnetism. In this science activity, 4th graders discuss the concepts of electricity and magnetism and brainstorm examples of electrical and magnetic forces.
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Electric Circuits
Middle schoolers model the flow of electrons in a circuit, draw diagrams of an electric circuit and build an electric circuit. Students explain how to tell when the path of an electric circuit is complete, and test the conductivity of a...
Curated OER
Transformers
Students examine how a transformer works and its practical applications. In this electricity lesson students complete several experiments using transformers and generators.
Curated OER
Applied Science- Technology Lab (Circuit Boards)
Students examine electricity. In this electrical conduction lesson, students create a quiz board (circuit board). They work in small groups to construct the circuit board and come up with questions/answers for the quiz portion. This...
Curated OER
What is Electrical Potential and How Does a Relational Causal Model Explain It?
High schoolers examine models of electrical potential. Students discuss the concept of electrical potential and relational causality. They compare models based on electric potential to those with cyclic simultaneous causality.
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #11 Power Maximum: An Electrical Determination
Students identify and implement methods to standardize testing stations that measure solar panel output power. After collecting electrical ouptut data from several solar panels, they plot the current-voltage and power curves. Students...
Curated OER
Using Electricity
Students name appliances that use electricity. They construct a simple electrical circuit. They predict whether a circuit work. They name components of an electrical circuit.
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Off the Grid
Young scholars examine the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non renewable energy sources. In this engineering lesson students explain what it means for a house to be "off the grid".
Curated OER
Applied Science- Built environment Lab (Trains)
Pupils examine transportation. In this train design lesson, students study how trains work and how to efficiently design a track by working with an electric train set. As a class they compare various types of trains and work...
Curated OER
Our Amazing, Powerful Sun
Students examine where energy comes from and how it can be used. In this solar energy lesson plan students explore different aspects of the sun.
Curated OER
Electric Circuits
Pupils explore energy by completing an electricity worksheet. In this conductors activity, students define the energy related vocabulary terms circuit, electronics, conductor and semi-conductor before examining computer chips in class....
Curated OER
Applied Science - Built Environment Post Lab (Energy)
Students study science. For this efficiency lesson, students explore different forms of energy and compare them to determine which works the best. They work independently to create a collage of different energy sources (using magazine...