Curated OER
A Water Droplet's Experience in the Hydrologic Cycle
Students write a story from the perspective of a water droplet on a journey through the water cycle. They use the 6+1 Traits writing method to focus on voice in the writing as they create characters that their water droplet has...
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...
Library of Congress
The Conservation Movement at a Crossroads: The Hetch Hetchy Controversy
Should wilderness areas be preserved or managed? Class members examine primary source documents, including lecture notes, articles, essays and congressional records to better understand the Hetch Hetchy controversy that created a split...
Curated OER
Efficiency
In this efficiency activity, students use the efficiency equation to solve for useful work done by the machine (output). This activity has 10 problems to solve.
Curated OER
TE Lesson: Renewable Energy
Young scholars examine renewable energy sources such as solar, water, and wind. They experiment to determine how renewable energy is transformed into electricity. They investigate the role of engineers who work in the field of renewable...
Teach Engineering
Tippy Tap Plus Piping
Getting water to a tap requires an understanding the fundamentals of fluid flow. Groups design, build, and test a piping system to get water from the source — a five gallon bucket — to a tippy tap. The objective is to be able to fill...
Curated OER
Energy Efficient Appliances
Students use the Internet to research energy efficient appliances. They discover tips on how to save energy in the home and how to read the EnergyGuide labels. They also examine ways to reduce the amount of water that is used.
Curated OER
Life Processes and Water
Explain the properties of water. Identify the properties of water that make it a polar molecule Describe hydrogen bonds and how they differ from covalent bonds Discuss the differences between hard water and soft water Compare the heat of...
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...
Curated OER
How Much Water Does A Tree Transpire In A Day
Learners engage in a lesson of investigating the amount of water that is transpired in a one day cycle. They conduct research to find the purpose of transpiration and find information to explain the value to a plant and explain how...
Curated OER
Water Quality Issues
In this unit of lessons, pupils examine water quality issues. They discover ways they can conserve water and practice making drinkable water from water desalination.
Curated OER
Life Processes and Water
Students examine the function and nature of water as it effects all living things.
Curated OER
Water Filtration
Students work together to examine the role of water in their lives. They discover the process to clean water so it is clean for one to drink. They explore the role of environmental engineers and their problem of getting clean water to...
EngageNY
Euler’s Number, e
Scholars model the height of water in a container with an exponential function and apply average rates of change to this function. The main attraction of the lesson is the discovery of Euler's number.
Energy for Keeps
Going for a Spin: Making a Model Steam Turbine
Discover the effectiveness of wind, water, and steam as energy sources. The hands-on activity has young scientists create a turbine from common materials. After constructing the turbines, they use wind, water, and steam to turn them and...
Curated OER
Let us Help
Learners explore water conservation. In this ecology and civic responsibility activity, students identify agencies that monitor and help improve water quality and describe what they do. Learners research these organizations and work in...
Curated OER
Household Conservation/Efficiency
Hook your class up to an online home energy usage calculator so that they can estimate the amount used per month by their families. Then give them Watt meters with which they will measure the power consumption of several small...
Curated OER
CONTAMINANT SCAVENGER HUNT
Students identify substances and activities within a household that contribute to water pollution and identify safe cleaning alternatives for commercial cleaning products.
Curated OER
Engineers for a Sustainable World
Learners experiment with making a water filtration system. In this engineering lesson, students get into groups and are challenged to use only eight items to create a water filter. When finished, learners compare and contrast their results.
Curated OER
Wildlife Sampling
Seventh graders discuss water issues and its affect on salmon population. They recreate a sampling river with fish (cheddar) and scoop them to tag them (which means they exchange them for pretzel fish.) They complete a spreadsheet to...
Curated OER
Still Waters
Pupils construct a still to turn seawater into drinking water. They estimate the cost of distilling it. They investigate ways to make the conversion more efficient. They track the source of their home drinking water and make a map of its...
Beyond Benign
Ecological Footprint
How does your lifestyle measure up in terms of your ecological footprint? Young ecologists examine their impact on the planet using an insightful online calculator. A short quiz asks users to rank the size of their homes, their energy...
Curated OER
Intermediate Activity: Energy Guide Labels
Young scholars explore energy efficient appliances. In this economics and ecology lesson, students compare and analyze EnergyGuide labels of various appliances. Young scholars discuss federal government involvement with consumer...
Curated OER
Which Would You Choose?
Fourth graders investigate two types of water vessels that were used by Lewis and Clark during the exploration of the Louisiana Territory. They interpret data to determine which vessel was more efficient.