Lesson Plan
Tech Museum of Innovation

Balloon Astronaut

For Teachers 2nd - 8th Standards
Design protection from high-speed particles. The STEM lesson plan highlights why astronauts need protection from space debris. Pupils use the design process to design, build, and test a spacesuit that will protect a balloon from a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is Energy?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students define energy and identify the different types that exist. They identify places they see, hear or feel energy. They understand the role of engineering in finding and testing sources of energy for the production of electricity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Converting Energy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concepts of energy transformation and conversion. They engage in Internet and hands-on activities. Students visit the Atoms Family Website and complete a Building a Better Pyramid activity by adding insulation to...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Making Moon Craters

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
Create an egg-citing study of energy. Pupils investigate the effect of height and mass on the overall amount of energy of a falling object. The fourth segment in a six-part series on energy uses a weighted egg falling from different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DOWNHILL DISCOVERIES

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students studykinetic energy, friction, drag and acceleration by relating it to the Winter Olympics.  In this physical properties lesson plan students create tracks and determine how the course conditions affect bobsled, luge...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forms of Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars, working in expert groups, study a form of energy. They plan a slide show presentation using pictures, clip art, and student taken digital pictures that show the energy type they have become experts in. They use a planning...
Organizer
Curated OER

Energy Detective Worksheet

For Students 6th - 12th
In this energy instructional activity, students explore their environment to find items that use energy. Students then write a definition of energy. This instructional activity has 1 graphic organizer and 1 short answer question.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ramp and Review

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in an activity in which they observe a ball as it rolls down an incline into a cup. They take measurements and use equations that describe the concepts of mechanical energy, work and power, momentum, and friction. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kinetic and Potential Energy

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students calculate kinetic and potential energy in the lab. For this physics lesson, students demonstrate how energy can be transformed from one form to another. They collect data from the experiment and write a detailed lab report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Attributes of Accuracy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain necessity in using accurate instruments when measuring, and how measurements can be checked for accuracy. They make a six-inch ruler, design, test, and evaluate a system to measure work, and produce a table and graph to...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania’s Energy Supply

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders become familiar with the various types of energy and which types are found in Pennsylvania.  In this Pennsylvanian energy resources lesson, 3rd graders, identify wind and water as sources of energy.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Catapult Unit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students understand the need for carefully defining the problem before searching for a solution. They understand the need for carefully defining the problem before searching for a solution. Students compare a variety of catapults and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kinetic Theory

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe how molecules of the different phases of matter move according to the Kinetic Theory. For this chemistry lesson, students observe and participate in teacher demos. They give real world applications of the kinetic theory.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roller Coasters in the Classroom

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students define kinetic energy and know the effects of weight and speed on momentum.  For this investigative lesson students get into groups and design a roller coaster. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power, Work and the Waterwheel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use a two-liter bottle, dowel rod and index cards to design and construct a water wheel. They then calculate the power created and measure the work done by the water wheel in Watts and Joules.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Conversion

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students describe how energy can be transformed from one form to another. In this physics lesson, students calculate kinetic and potential energy using mathematical equations. They give real life applications of this lesson.
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Fun with Speedboats!

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
After reading about marine engineers and naval architects, it's all hands on deck to design and test a speed boat. This instructional activity is designed for the Next Generation Science Standards in engineering and can be a centerpiece...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Hilly Ride

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate situations that show how kinetic and potential energy are exchanged. They determine how friction is a source of energy transfer from kinetic to thermal energy by experimenting with a car and track. They answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

States of Matter

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars explore the states of matter. They discuss the different phrases of matter and categorize everyday substances as solids, liquids, or gases. Students explore the relationship between the phases on an atomic level and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design Your Own Rube Goldberg Machine

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students participate in a culminating activity for a unit on Energy and Simple Machines. They are challenged to incorporate simple machines in to a complex mechanical system. While designing and testing their machine they will also...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Energy Changes, Rates of Reactions, Nuclear Chemistry

For Students 9th - 12th
In this energy changes, rates of reactions and nuclear chemistry worksheet, students solve 14 problems to review concepts about endothermic and exothermic reactions, heat of combustion, heat of reactions, enthalpy, kinetic and potential...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biomass As a Fuel

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners investigate the use of biomass as a fuel. They discuss energy and its uses in their homes. They explore the two types of energy, potential and kinetic and examples of both types. They study the process of photosynthesis and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alternative Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify the five major alternative energy sources. In this physical science lesson, students assess the advantages and disadvantages for each type of energy. They complete a concept map using information they researched.