Curated OER
Fuel Efficiency
Looking for a real-world situation to practice converting units? In this problem, learners must change miles per gallon to liters per km (or vice versa) to determine which car gets better gas miileage. It is a relatively short problem,...
Curated OER
Producing Energy From Fossil Fuels and Renewable Sources
All types of energy are presented here, with neat pictures and labels to illustrate the technology typically used. Ways of harnessing the energy most efficiently are discussed, and good examples provide starters for further research....
Teach Engineering
The Energy Problem
Think you can solve the energy problem? You'll first need to know about current energy use. Analyzing a set of circle graphs lets scholars see where energy consumption is the greatest, both by sector and by household use. They develop a...
Curated OER
Stop the Bus! America Wants a Ride
Middle schoolers compare the fuel efficiencies of various modes of transportation and graph the results. They, in groups, design and conduct a forum to discuss ways to improve on lifestyle actions and limit excessive pollution for the...
Curated OER
Energy Jeopardy
While science Jeopardy games are a dime-a-dozen, this one has some pretty unique categories that are still relevant to a middle school physical science curriculum. The topics include: leading nations, famous Americans (who invented...
Curated OER
Hybrid Vehicles: Cut Pollution and Save Money
Math and science meet in this lesson on hybrid electric automobiles. This 24-page resource provides everything you need for teaching a lesson that compares the use of internal combustion engines to hybrid electric engines. Participants...
California Academy of Science
Building Better Buses: Transportation Design Challenges
Scholars learn about a series of three challenges when they design a bus system for a small town. They determine the bus routes and then figure out the best type of fuel to use before considering the cost of going electric. Learners...
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Cash or Gas?
Which option provides the best payout? Pupils predict which lottery prize to take. They devise a method to calculate which prize would likely provide the greatest monetary value.
Curated OER
Fuel-Saving Speed
Young scholars explore all the options open to beat the gas prices soaring as of late. In addition, explore what the ideal speed to drive for best gas mileage. Pros/Cons are debated on both sides of the issue. Included is discussion for...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuels
Fifth graders explore the use of fossil fuels and relate it to effects on the environment.
Teach Engineering
Corn for Fuel?!
Can corn power the world? Young scientists learn about how corn and other plants can provide renewable biofuels in the second of nine lessons. They set up an experiment to investigate how different variables affect plant growth. All of...
Science Matters
Energy from Water Wheels
Historians believe the first vertical water wheel was invented in Rome during the Augustan Age. The sixth lesson in the series of 10 has scholars experiment with designing their own water wheels. Through testing various pastas and...
Illustrative Mathematics
Combined Fuel Efficiency
Practice simplifying complex fractions and long division of polynomials with this brief exercise. These four questions make a challenging warm-up activity or a short, but comprehensive, follow-up after a detailed lesson on algebraic...
Curated OER
WS 2.5 Dimensional Analysis
Science students apply dimensional analysis to relate quantities in six different problems. They consider the cost of steak, a young man's growth rate, a medicine prescription, fuel efficiency, and more. This worksheet is a great way to...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Nuts! Calculating Thermal Efficiency
Oh nuts! Do macadamias or almonds produce more thermal energy? Energy enthusiasts find out with this experiment. The objective is to demonstrate to your class how the chemical energy contained in foods can be converted into useable...
California Academy of Science
Optimal and Sustainable: Renewable Energy Revamp
More than 100 cities around the world have shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Scholars investigate a city wanting to make this switch, but needs help determining how to make the shift. Groups consider all options,...
Teach Engineering
Photosynthesis—Life's Primary Energy Source
Wouldn't it be great if you could produce your own food? Scholars learn about the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plants. They consider how to use photosynthesis as a model of an efficient system and how to apply...
Curated OER
The SUV Gas Problem
For this algebra worksheet, students calculate the cost of gas based on miles driven in a SUV. They calculate how long it takes to recover a certain percent of gas mileage. There is an answer key.
Curated OER
Additional Context Problems for Quadratic Models
Working with real world applications of quadratic models, students solve four practical problems requiring the use of the quadratic equation. They are guided through the process by a series of questions following each problem.
Curated OER
Energy and the Environment: What Can We Do?
Pupils consider the impacts of global warming and brainstorm ways to help decrease their contribution to the problem. In this climate change lesson, students are exposed to facts concerning global warming and think of ways to decrease...
Curated OER
Explore Efficient Energy Uses
In this energy worksheet, students explore different ways to conserve energy. They write a short description for each of the 10 methods presented.
Workforce Solutions
Plan a Vacation
Challenge scholars to plan a vacation with a $5,000 budget. Learners review costs of transportation, meals, and entertainment while considering the number of people and destination. Worksheets provide information and well-organized...
Curated OER
Divide by 2-Digit Divisors
In this division worksheet, 5th graders divide with two digit divisors to find the quotients in 6 word problems. They work with three and four digit dividends.
Beyond Benign
Got Gas
How much gas does it take to drive around town? The class uses a variety of mathematical procedures to take a look at the use of gas for transportation. Class members use a different unit to determine the cost of driving a car as opposed...