Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Transfer of Energy 2: Electrochemistry

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study about electrochemistry by increasing their understanding of electron transfer and its role in chemical changes. They explain that energy appears in different forms. Heat energy is in the disorderly motion of molecules.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Resources: Where Are They and How Do We Get Them?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Future energy engineers visit several stations, each one dedicated to a different alternative source of energy. They describe how solar energy is converted into other forms of energy, the patterns of distribution of energy resources in...
Unit Plan
Government of South Australia

Don't Waste Your Energy

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Don't lift another finger, this physical and environmental science unit has everything you need to begin teaching your class about energy. Starting with a look at the greenhouse effect, these lessons and activities take young scientists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power Play

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Once your physical science stars have a grasp of the different forms of energy, use this resource to get them putting the energy to work. Small groups choose from seven different project options and work together to build an energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Heat: Building and Testing a Solar Oven

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Building a solar oven is always an enriching and engaging activity when your class is studying forms of energy or alternative and renewable energy sources. This lesson plan refers you to the re-energy.ca home website for specific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Melting the Ice: Energy Transfer

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study thermal energy and energy transfer to sea ice processes. In this energy transfer lesson, students make their own ice cream and discuss energy transfer and thermal energy. Students view a radiation overhead and its role in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Heat Islands: An Introduction to Energy Transfer and Transformation

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Elementary school physical scientists explore kinetic mechanical energy by dropping a golf ball on different surfaces. They discuss how human made materials might react to light differently from nature made materials. This lesson plan...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Apple Energy

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders evaluate the energy associated with the production of five different forms of apple products. They develop a poster to advertise one of the five apple products to the class. Students provide additional examples of consumer...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Oceans of Energy

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Are the earth's oceans really just giant batteries, waiting for their energy to be harnessed? Middle school mechanical engineers will be shocked by the amazing amount of energy that forms around them after diving into part four of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sensing Energy: Designing to Stay Cool

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine the energy the sun produces on a daily basis. In groups, they discover the properties of visible and invisible light. They also adjust the exposure time to change the properties of various objects. To end the lesson,...
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

What Is Energy?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Don't let the energy of your classroom falter! Explore the scientific definition of energy through play. A hands-on lesson focuses on the change of energy from one form to another.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #1 - Solar Cell Inquiry

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Give youngsters the components of a solar-powered electric circuit and turn them loose to figure out how to connect them in order for a light to shine or motor to turn. They compare energy output of a solar panel to that of a battery. On...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Types of Energy in Different Objects

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate forms of energy. In this physical science energy lesson, students work with a partner classifying household items according to the type of energy they have. Students complete a related worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy, Light, Heat, and Sound

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate various forms of energy. They compare potential and kinetic energy at different points during the period of a pendulum, design an apparatus that displays potential and kinetic energy, and analyze the advantages...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Different Energy Resources

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine the advantages and disadvantages of the different sources of energy.  In this energy lesson students complete an experiment and worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy in a Clean Environment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners identify and describe the different types of energy and how it is transferred.  In this energy activity students complete several activities including how to calculate joules, adding up wattage, and create a presentation on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Converting Fuels to Obtain Energy

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students experiment with converting fuels to energy. They also must identify different types of fuels and ways to conserve energy.
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Let's Break the Particles

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Build learning by breaking atoms! Young scientists study the way energy changes with a hands-on activity. As they roll steel marbles down a ramp, learners test the hypothesis that kinetic energy does not go away with friction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun and Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
How is the Earth's weather created? Middle schoolers will explain how the Sun's energy is transformed into different forms. They will perform mathematical calculations of volume, mass, and temperature. They they will explain the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy is Everywhere

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources and identify the different forms of energy and list the advantages or disadvantages of different forms of energy. They also determine the benefits as well as the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lemon Batteries Revised

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate how chemical energy in food and batteries is potential or stored energy. They discuss how batteries function, and create a class list of different forms of energy. Students then create a lemon battery that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #3 Parts of a Solar Panel - Part I

For Teachers 4th - 6th
A solar cell is similar to a rechargeable battery in many ways. Science lab groups connect each in a series circuit to run a mini motor and then compare and contrast them by answering questions and completing a Venn diagram. This is an...
Unit Plan
Next Generation Science Storylines

How Can We Sense so Many Different Sounds from a Distance?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Dive into the mystery of sound waves!  Scholars brainstorm questions about how sound travels and why different items make different sounds. They then conduct experiments to answer their questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy Debate - Energy of Peanut

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students articulate the difference between the terms heat and temperature. They calculate the amount of energy associated with a given temperature rise and design an experiment to measure the energy of a fuel.