Website
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Renewable Sources: Solar

For Students 9th - 10th
Solar energy is an appealing alternative to conventional sources of energy because it produces no greenhouse gases. An overview of its advantages and disadvantages is presented here.
Website
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Renewable Sources: Hydroelectric

For Students 9th - 10th
Hydroelectric power has been a major source of energy production in the United States. More recently, other alternative energy sources have taken some of its market share. Hydroelectricity has both advantages and disadvantages, briefly...
Graphic
US Department of Energy

U.s. Department of Energy: Wind Program: Wind Powering America: Maps

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive map of the United States that gives information about each state's wind power potential.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: A 40 Year Plan for Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
In this intimate talk filmed at TED's offices, energy innovator Amory Lovins shows how to get the US off oil and coal by 2050, $5 trillion cheaper, with no Act of Congress, led by business for profit. The key is integrating all four...
PPT
Energy4Me

Energy4me: Energy Sources of the World [Ppt]

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the many different energy resources available from our Earth. Find out the pros and cons of each type: both renewable and nonrenewable.
Article
Other

It's Not a Pipe Dream: Clean Energy From Water Pipes Comes to Portland

For Students 9th - 10th
A Portland, Oregon-based startup that launched in 2007, is starting to capture the energy of water pipes, beginning with a pilot project in Riverside, California and now with a full-scale project in Portland.
Website
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Renewable Sources: Wind

For Students 9th - 10th
The status of wind energy production in the United States is described, with the advantages and disadvantages of this alternative energy source.
Website
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Renewable Sources: Biomass

For Students 9th - 10th
The pros and cons of harnessing energy from biomass are outlined. Biomass refers to biological materials that are used to produce energy. Wood and manure are examples of biomass.
Handout
US Department of Energy

U.s. Department of Energy: Energy Basics: Renewable Energy: Hydropower

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about renewable energy resources using hydropower technologies. Learn the history of use, and read about the benefits of utilizing water as a power source.
Website
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Emerging Technologies: Hydrogen Fuel Cells

For Students 9th - 10th
The advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cell technology as a source for energy production are outlined. There is still much to be done in research and development before this energy source can be marketed widely.
Article
Other

Wbur: New England's Electric Power Grid Is Undergoing a Transformation

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses New England's developing hybrid power grid, a network that relies on a variety of energy resources, including fuels and alternative energy sources and technologies. The ongoing transformation to renewable energy is...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: The Habitable Planet: Energy Challenges

For Students 9th - 10th
With this resource, users join investigators in the exploration of humans' use of and dependence on the many energy resources. Learn about new technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration as an alternative to reduce our carbon...
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Natural Gas: A Cleaner Energy Solution?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this activity, students read informational text on natural gas and compare it to other fossil fuels for its greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. They then prepare a pro or con position on whether natural gas is good...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Be an Energy Saver

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This instructional activity focuses on the scarce and non-renewable nature of fossil fuels in order to stimulate student thinking about energy conservation. It emphasizes the fact that saving energy can be good for the wallet as well as...
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Photovoltaics

For Students 9th - 10th
Article explaining what photovoltaic cells are, their role in solar energy, how they work, how electricity is produced, and applications of this technology. (Published: April 24, 2010)
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Biodiesel: The Afterlife of Oil

For Students 9th - 10th
Natascia Radice describes the process of turning used cooking oil into useful biodiesel. [4:15]
Handout
Energy4Me

Energy4me: Energy Challenges

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the challenges of global energy use and consumption, and what solutions exist for today's engineers.
Handout
Energy for Sustainable Development

Esd Bulgaria: Kids & Energy: Energy Facts

For Students 3rd - 5th
A collection of facts about energy use broken down into various topic areas, e.g., health impact of fossil fuels, transportation, energy consumption, alternative energies, etc.
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Noise Pollution: Wind Power

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses wind energy, how it is created, its history, benefits, negative effects, and what the future holds for this alternative energy source.
Handout
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academies: Emerging Technologies: Electric Vehicles

For Students 9th - 10th
Electric vehicles are in use today but pose challenges to widespread distribution. One of the challenges is to develop a battery that can hold enough energy for longer trips. Various solutions are being tried but mass marketing of this...
Unknown Type
EL Education

El Education: Alternative Energy Report

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This report was created by 7th and 8th grade students in Vergennes, Vermont, as part of a Learning expedition called "Reducing the Carbon Footprint." The building manager met with a team of approximately 40 students as they investigated...
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...
Handout
Energy4Me

Energy4me: Hydropower

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the history of the use of hydroelectricity, and find out how it works to convert water power into electrical power.
Handout
Energy4Me

Energy4me: Wind Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the alternative energy source, wind energy. Find out the history of this renewable resource and how it works to convert wind energy into electricity.