Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energizing Resources

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe electrical energy and how it is produced. In this natural resource lesson, 7th graders explain the various ways of obtaining and using natural resources for energy and the environmental consequences. They will...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cooking with the Sun!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners access prior knowledge of solar energy and understand that solar energy produces heat. In this solar cooker lesson, students complete grade appropriate experiments using the heat of the sun. Learners complete a worksheet on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Residential Power System

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Perform data analysis on energy consumption to apply algebraic expressions to the real world. Learners will write and solve equations that answer various questions from residential power use. They will collect data at home and calculate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Day in the Life of a Coal Miner (1910)

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students compare and contrast fossil fuels and bio-fuels. They brainstorm what mining might look like in the future. Students view the film "A Day in the Life of a Coalminer." They discuss fossil fuels and the methods of extraction....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Crisis and Energy Alternatives

For Teachers 7th - 10th
In this energy crisis and energy alternatives worksheet, students fill in the blanks of sentences when given terms related to the environment, the energy crisis, renewable resources and non-renewable resources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clean Coal?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine, based on their knowledge of coal pollutants, the effectiveness of clean-coal technologies. They state and defend a position on whether power plants in the United States should be required to upgrade to available...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Killer Coal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore some of the environmental health risks involved with both the mining and burning of coal. They read articles on coal in the Balkan Peninsula, view the photographs, and then discuss what feelings and thoughts they have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cycling Energy

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are introduced to how electricity is produced. In groups, they compare and contrast the linear production of energy with other forms of mechanical energy production. They try to make a turbine work acting like it is part...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy: The Big Picture

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students research about energy related topics. In this earth science lesson, students discuss ways to save energy. They create a presentation about their research and share it with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are the Challenges?

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Pupils discuss energy. In this energy challenges instructional activity, students read about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Comprehension questions from the reading are provided. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coal: More Than Meets the Eye!

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students participate in a hands-on simulation to help them explain that coal resources are deposited unevenly between the earth's surface and under the ground.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy Debate - Conclusion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars write a persuasive essay about the choices in the energy debate. They comprehend the environmental consequences that accompany the decision. Students predict how they will power their future.
Lesson Plan
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

No Fossils in This Fuel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Yeast and sugar go beyond the pantry and into a fuel experiment. Use these common baking ingredients to assist your class in creating ethanol, a natural fuel. Pupils observe the process and gather information to elaborate...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Greening Your Middle School

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Middle schoolers redesign their school to make it more energy efficient, and create a model of their design. Learners get together in groups of 5, and they take on the task of making their school more energy efficient. To do this, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ENERGY USE ADDS UP!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils investigate the amount of power used in your home and what appliances use the most. They analyze the concept that producing energy costs us money, affects our environment and produces waste products. Students come up with three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Windmill activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how to build an efficient windmill design by taking into account how the lift and drag caused by the movement of wind can be used to make the blades of the turbine move. Through their readings, hypothesis and by trail...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conservation Connection

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students work in groups to create a script for a one minute commercial on how to conserve our reusable energy sources. When the scripts are written, explain to the students that a story board is similar to a cartoon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy Debate - Global Warming

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe what global warming is, what causes global warming and the impact to our world. They study the threat of global warming and its relationship to the use of fossil fuels.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When the Lights Go Out!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify coal as the primary fuel used to generate electricity. After discussing coal's use in the generation of electricity, have students complete "When the Light Go Out" worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powered Up About Electricity!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the process of turning coal into electricity. In this electricity lesson, students are guided by their teacher through the steps required to turn coal into electricity. Students complete a worksheet answering questions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Does it Cost to Light Your School?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore the cost of electricity used to light their classrooms. They compute the cost of electricity as well as the number of kilowatt hours of electricity used during the school year. Students compute the number of tons of coal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powering a Green Earth

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable energy. For this environmental science lesson, students discuss the importance of going green. They identify the different components in a power grid system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making New Electricity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the concepts of energy conversion and conservation. They research the history of energy conversions into electrical energy. They design experiments in order to replicate a conversion of energy into electricity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat from Light

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore solar energy. For this science lesson, 2nd graders use hand lenses to see that light energy can be converted to heat energy.