Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Planning for the End of Oil

For Students 9th - 10th
As the world's attention focuses on the perils of oil exploration, we present Richard Sears' talk from early February 2010. Sears, an expert in developing new energy resources, talks about our inevitable and necessary move away from oil....
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Build Your Own Windmill Generator

For Students 9th - 10th
Build your own windmill and see how the wind can be converted into energy to produce electricity. This science fair project should help you understand the use of wind as a source of alternative energy. The Science Buddies project ideas...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Catch the Wave!

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this energy science fair project, the student will use ocean buoy data to determine if any locations along the coasts of the United States are appropriate for building wave energy power systems.
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Grade 3 5 Module: Designed for Efficiency [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this 3-5 teaching module, students conduct experiments, explore with online interactives, and watch videos that help them understand how vehicles work. Then, students demonstrate their understanding by designing energy efficient...
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Biomass Energy

For Students 1st - 6th
What is biomass? Learn about the different types of biomass energy, how it is released, and the advantages and disadvantages of biomass.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Methods of Generating Electricity

For Students 3rd - 8th
Provides brief descriptions of the different methods used to generate electricity.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Automobile Choices and Alternative Fuels

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an activity in which young scholars take the role of either a car seller or a car buyer to learn about transportation energy options. Car sellers are challenged to pitch to buyers about cars with a particular fuel type while car...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Alternative Energy Resources

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Society is beginning to recognize the limited supply of fossil fuels. In this project, students will investigate alternative energy sources. Conservation of resources is discussed and while conservation is an important step, at some...
Unit Plan
Other

Energy Resources

For Students 3rd - 8th
Finding alternative energy sources is a challenge facing the leaders of today and tomorrow. Andy Darvill has created an impressive resource, summarizing various renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
Website
Other

Carbon Footprint: Co2 Reduction: Green Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Carbon Footprint, Ltd. offers an overview of renewable energy and its use will help reduce your carbon footprint.
Activity
Museum of Science

Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Activities: Build a Wind Turbine

For Students 3rd - 8th
Step-by-step instructions, with photos, of how to construct and test a wind turbine that produces energy. This experiment does require preparation as it uses PVC pipes, a small motor, and a multimeter, for example.
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: Wind Power O Logy Card

For Students 3rd - 8th
OLogy cards are like virtual baseball cards about all kinds of science topics. This card is about wind power. See if you can answer a few questions when you're done reading.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Fueling the Future: Evaluating the Sustainability of Biofuels

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students consider the impact and sustainability of use of different biofuels on the economy, the environment, and society. Students also learn about bioelectricity and how converting biomass to electricity may be the more efficient way...
Interactive
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Wind Generator

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using a voltage sensor, students will measure how much "electricity" is produced by the wind turbine that they design and build. Students will experiment with blade designs to see which one collects energy from the wind the most...
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Stakeholder Debate: Wind Energy

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Using a case study of the Cape Wind Project in Nantucket Sound, students examine the various points of view of stakeholders, and hold a debate to argue about the pros and cons of this wind energy project. Includes handouts for...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Off the Grid

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners learn and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and non-renewable energy sources. They also learn about our nation's electric power grid and what it means for a residential home to be "off the grid."
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Cold Room? Heat It Up With a Homemade Solar Air Heater

For Students 3rd - 8th
Humans need food, water, and warm shelter to survive. But a lot of humans depend on fossil fuels to supply gas and electricity to heat our homes. But burning fossil fuels to create energy is harmful to the environment. In this science...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Grid

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
The class forms a "Presidential Task Force" for a week, empowered by the president to find answers and make recommendations concerning the future of the national power grid. Task force members conduct daily debriefings with their...
Handout
Energy4Me

Energy4me: Geothermal

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how geothermal energy is used as a source of usable electricity.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Economics of Installing Solar Pv Panels: Is It Worth It to the Individual?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Help determine the financial calculations involved in an actual solar photovoltaic system installed Denver, Colorado in 2013.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Blowing in the Wind

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Wind energy is becoming a viable alternative to more traditional forms of energy generation. In this lesson, students will determine the feasibility of wind generation in different areas of the United States. Finally, students will...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Do Nuclear Power Plants Work?

For Students 9th - 10th
M.V. Ramana and Sajan Saini detail the challenges of nuclear power.
Website
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Our Energy Sources: Oil

For Students 9th - 10th
The United States has a huge dependency on oil as an energy source. Efforts are being made to reduce this for many reasons, the main ones being the security of this source and the impact on the environment. Transportation is one area...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: High Altitude Wind Energy From Kites!

For Students 9th - 10th
In this brief talk, Saul Griffith unveils the invention his new company Makani Power has been working on: giant kite turbines that create surprising amounts of clean, renewable energy. [5:22]