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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mathematics of Convection: Nature's Model for Energy Production

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct a series of experiments to investigate density, buoyancy and climate. In this math lesson, pupils design and build a hot air balloon to demonstrate convection. They research and write a paper about solar chimneys.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gas Pressure, Volume, and Temperature

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Physical science learners conduct a simple experiment using the heat of their hands to affect the fluid pressure. They place a balloon atop a freezing cold bottle and observe what occurs as it warms up. Both activities demonstrate how...
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Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Changing the Density of a Liquid - Heating and Cooling

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
During a unit on density, pupils ponder whether or not temperature affects this property. By carefully inserting blue cold water and yellow hot water into a room-temperature sample, they will see the answer. Make sure to have done the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Solar Energy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study solar energy and how to measure it.  In this energy sources instructional activity students complete a lab, obtain data and use that to convert surface temperature to energy. 
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Lesson Plan
University of Tennessee

Potential Energy

For Students 5th - 7th
Did you know a tennis ball has potential? Collaborative groups analyze the potential energy of a tennis ball based on its height. They measure its starting height and the height after its first bounce. Using a graphical analysis, they...
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Lesson Plan
American Physiological Society

Why is Kettle Corn Cooked in Copper Pots?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The kitchen — it's not just for eating anymore! Specific heat is often a difficult concept to grasp, so give it context by relating it to cooking. Learners gain experience in the principles of thermal energy transfer by designing an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #7 - Positioning Solar Panels I: Explorations with Tracking

For Teachers 6th - 9th
In 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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Transfer in Musical Instruments

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars create unique sounds using different instruments.  In this energy lesson, students read and define several vocabulary terms such as heat, energy transfer and thermal equilibrium.  Young scholars utilize several household...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Electric Current Produces Energy

For Teachers 5th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conservation of Energy

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify situations in which kinetic and potential energy are exchanged and identify the direction of energy transfer using marbles and flexible foam track. They observe how the marbles move spontaneously when released...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat Transfer

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students examine heat transfer using energy efficient houses.  In this heat transfer lesson students calculate the heat that is transferred between a system and its surroundings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: Energy Transfer in Musical Instruments

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students study concepts of energy and energy transfer. They look at how these concepts apply to musical instruments. They study the law of conservation of energy. They use the concepts studied in the lesson to design a musical instrument.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Solar Cells Work: Converting Sunlight to Electricity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine how to convert sunlight to electricity.  In this renewable energy sources lesson students explain how solar cells are used and use a voltmeter to measure the energy produced by a solar panel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat and Electrical Resistance

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover electrical resistance and how it is directly related to thermal energy through a hands-on activity. Working in groups, they wrap a wire around a thermometer and the positive and negative poles of a D cell battery and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Hilly Ride

For Teachers 5th
Different types of energy are the focus of this science resource. Learners identify situations in which kinetic and potential energy are exchanged. They conduct an in-class inquiry which leads them to discover that there is a limit to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Solar Oven

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build a solar oven. In this Science lesson, students construct a functional solar oven. Students design the oven and explain the energy concepts involved.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat and Conduction

For Teachers 4th - 6th
This simple activity is ideal for upper elementary learners when studying physical science. Using their sense of touch to describe how hot something feels, and then comparing their observations to thermometer measurements, they discover...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Thermal Energy Transfer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct an experiment to calculate and quantify heat transfer. They conduct the experiment, and complete a data and lab conclusion sheet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic of Solar Thermal: How the Sun Can Be Used to Heat Water

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners are introduced to how the sun is used to heat water.  In this solar lesson students identify the different types of solar water heating and demonstrate how it works.
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Unit Plan
Next Generation Science Storylines

Why Do Some Things Get Colder (or Hotter) When They React?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Some reactions absorb heat while others release it. Young scholars investigate both types of reactions in a 12-lesson unit. Each lesson presents a lab investigation that monitors temperature and considers the types of reactions taking...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bounce Back - The Long and Short of It

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Upper elementary scientists test basketballs with differing amounts of air to find if inflation affects bounce height. The lesson introduction poses the question of whether or not the composition of a ball determines bounce height, but...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Example of Convection

For Teachers 7th - 12th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Hot Is It?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Discuss the difference between conduction, convection and radiation of thermal energy, and complete activities with your class by investigating the difference between temperature, thermal energy and the heat capacity of different materials.
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Lab Resource
Colorado State University

How Can Freezing Make Something Warmer?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Crazy fact—freezing liquid actually gives off heat! Young scholars investigate the transfer of energy when liquids freeze using a chemical heat pack. The heat pack gives off heat as its liquid core freezes.

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