Curated OER
Ice Cube Experiment
Students explore the rate at which ice melts. In this science activity, students place ice cubes on colored index cards and place them in direct sunlight. Students observe which ice cubes melt fastest and slowest.
Curated OER
Example of Convection
Compare the density of different salt solutions and then observe currents that are caused by the difference. Set up a demonstration of dynamic equilibrium. The intent with these activities is to begin building understanding of density...
DiscoverE
Aviary Architect
Groups of two to four work collaboratively to engineer a birdhouse that will stay cool in the summer heat. Teams examine several different-colored roofs, testing the efficiency of each with a heat lamp. Then, groups sketch their ideas,...
Curated OER
The Magic of Solar Thermal: How the Sun Can Be Used to Heat Water
Students are introduced to how the sun is used to heat water. In this solar lesson plan students identify the different types of solar water heating and demonstrate how it works.
National Wildlife Federation
The Tide is High, but I’m Holding On… Using ICESat Data to Investigate Sea Level Rise
Based on the rate of melting observed from 2003-2007 in Greenland, it would take less than 10 minutes to fill the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium. The 17th lesson in a series of 21 has scholars use the ICESat data to understand the ice mass...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Building a Parabolic-Trough Collector
Amateurs of alternative energy build a mini parabolic-trough solar energy collector and use it to heat water. Temperature is recorded over a three-minute period and the data is graphed and analyzed. Note that in order to paint aquarium...
Curated OER
Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Chemistry Collective
Virtual Lab: Coffee Problem
Would you like milk with that? Young scientists consider thermal energy transfer to create the perfect cup of coffee. They calculate the amount of milk needed to reach a specified temperature and then test their calculations using a...
Utah Education Network (UEN)
Utah Open Textbook: 6th Grade Science
There are many interactions among living things and their surroundings. By completing a reading, scholars learn about the Earth, the moon, and the sun and how they relate to the solar system. They also investigate the basics of physical...
Curated OER
Thermal Waters & Geologic Provinces
Students investigate thermal waters and geologic provinces. They examine provided maps of geothermal springs and thermal wells in the state of Idaho and their locations relative to Idaho's geologic provinces. Afterward, they use the maps...
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
Solar Kit Lesson #7 - Positioning Solar Panels I: Explorations with Tracking
For this first part of a two-part lesson, learners track and record the sun's azimuth using a solar panel. They graph and analyze the data to identify relationships among the time of day, the altitude and azimuth of the sun, and the...
Curated OER
Conservation of Energy
In this energy learning exercise, learners read about the Law of Conservation of Energy and compare the 6 forms of energy. Then students complete 20 matching, 2 short answer, and 6 word problems.
Curated OER
What is Thermal Energy?
In this thermal energy worksheet, students will write down two facts about thermal energy and then they will draw a conclusion based on these two facts.
Curated OER
Black Holes...Hot Stuff!...VIII
In this black holes worksheet, students solve three problems about black holes using given equations for determining the temperature of the gases in a black hole and the visible light from the black hole at given temperatures.
Curated OER
Energy Transfer in Musical Instruments
Students create unique sounds using different instruments. In this energy instructional activity, students read and define several vocabulary terms such as heat, energy transfer and thermal equilibrium. Students utilize...
Colorado State University
How Can I Turn a Solar Oven into a Refrigerator?
Whether you want to heat things up in science class or cool things down a bit, an intriguing lab's got you covered! Science scholars explore the principles of thermodynamics using a solar oven, then change the conditions to turn their...
Curated OER
How Do You Use Thermal Energy?
In this thermal energy instructional activity, students review radiation, convection, and conduction. This instructional activity has 3 matching and 6 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Light Stick Chemistry
In this descriptive investigation worksheet, 6th graders conduct an investigation to determine if heat energy affects the brightness of a light stick. The students will form a prediction, collect data and answer 3 conclusion questions.
Curated OER
Specific Heat of Metal
Students experiment with different types of metal by dipping them in boiling water and cool water and recording temperature changes in the water. By doing this, they find the specific heat of the metals.
Curated OER
How Electric Current Produces Energy
Fifth graders are introduced to the concept of electric currents. In groups, they develop their own game board to test different circuits to determine if they are complete. They record their observations of the energy transfer between...
Curated OER
IPC Textbook Guided Reading-Chapter 27-Heat
In this heat worksheet, students answer 21 short answer questions about heat transfer through conduction and convection, thermal conduction and conductors.
Curated OER
Thermal Pollution
In this pollution worksheet, learners read about thermal pollution and how hot water affects wildlife. Then students complete 1 short answer question.
Curated OER
Conservation of Energy
For this energy worksheet, students review the law of conservation of energy and how energy is transformed from one form to another. Students complete 10 matching, 10 fill in the blank, and 7 problems to solve.