Curated OER
How do Ohm's Law and Constraint-Based Reasoning Help in Thinking About Circuits?
Learners investigate Ohm's Law. Through experimentation, students observe Ohm's law. Using the voltage and resistance, learners calculate with Ohm's law. Students collaborate in other activities to apply Ohm's Law to series and...
Curated OER
Two Ways About It
Students take an imaginary hike in two opposite directions along a lake. They view and interpret satellite images and discuss the pros and cons of hydroelectric dams.
Curated OER
DESKTOP ELECTROPHORESIS LAB - MOVING MOLECULES
Students build efficient electrophoresis systems for less than $15.00 each and use them to demonstrate electrophoresis ability of stain molecules and materials such as DNA.. They know that electrophoresis is a technique used for the...
Curated OER
Build a Simple Ammeter
Students build and work with a simple ammeter to test theories on why solar cells connected in parallel produce more current that in series. Students use the ammeter to indicate the presence, direction, and strength of an electric...
Curated OER
Are you an Energy Saver STAR?
Students examine how to use energy more efficiently in their own home. They collect data from their home, complete a chart, read a power meter, interpret the data from an electric and gas bill, and create a poster demonstrating how to...
Curated OER
Magnets 1: Magnetic Pick-ups
Students are introduced to the power of magnets. In groups, they look at different objects and make predictions on whether they believe they are magnetic or not. They test their predictions and share their results with the class.
Curated OER
Magnets, Electromagnets, and Motors
Students investigate the concepts of magnetism and its properties. They construct a magnet and test foods for iron content. Then students define the use of a motor and make their own electric motor while working in small groups. Then...
PBS
America's Infrastructure: Miller Center National Discussion Debate Series
Junior high and high school learners study infrastructure and its relationship to the current economy. They review handouts, watch a PBS clip, and review case studies in order to answer provided questions and role play over...
Curated OER
Come On Baby Light My Fire
Students diagnose and repair all types of ignition systems pertaining to recreation and outdoor power equipment. Each small group diagnose, repair and get their engine to run properly.
Curated OER
Blade Design Challenge
Students identify the differences between non-renewable and renewable energy sources. They construct a PVC wind turbine and design a set of blades to extract as much energy as possible from low and high wind conditions.
Curated OER
Thermoelectricity
Students conduct a series of experiments on thermoelectricity. In this physics lesson, students investigate how thermocouple works. They determine the voltage generated when different conductive materials are held at different temperatures.
Curated OER
Battery Charger
Young scholars explain how battery chargers work. In this physics lesson, students discuss the two main ways that vehicles get charged. They build their own battery charger.
Curated OER
Magnetic Field
Students explore how compass and Gauss meter detect a magnetic field. In this physics instructional activity, students build their own Gauss meter and sensor based on given procedure. They cite real world applications of magnetism.
Curated OER
Primary Energy Sources Pros and Cons
Students explore the different types of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. In this earth science lesson, students discuss the pros and cons of each type. They conduct a variety of experiments on renewable energy.
Curated OER
Electromagnetic Pick-up
Students investigate electromagnetic energy. In this magnetism instructional activity, students will create an electromagnet and test changes with increased energy. They will compete by building the strongest electromagnet.
Teach Engineering
Solar Power
Elementary schoolers discover how engineers use solar energy to heat buildings. They take a close look at some of the materials used: sand, salt, water, and shredded paper and evaluate the efficiency of each material. An incredible...
Carnegie Mellon University
Consumer Preferences in Lighting
What is a watt? This tongue-twisting, mind-bending question and others are answered through this lesson on the different lighting options available. With the support of a PowerPoint, teach your physical science class about units of...
Trash For Teaching
The Light-House Project
Groups work together to design a lighthouse, from designing and drawing the wiring diagram, to creating prototypes of the switch and circuit, to envisioning and building a scale model along with a blueprint. By including different...
Curated OER
Salt Bridges
In this chemistry worksheet, students examine the salt bridge in order to apply in the laboratory setting. The sheet includes in depth background information.
Cornell University
Making a Battery
Don't be shocked when your class has a blast making their own batteries! Science scholars examine a dry cell battery, then design and construct a wet cell battery. The activity guides them through the parts of a battery, the variables...
Curated OER
Orienting a Photovoltaic Cell
By mounting a light bulb on a stand and a PV cell on another, physics apprentices experiment with the angle of incidence. Their goal is to determine the optimum angle for collecting solar energy. The use of a scientific calculator...
Curated OER
Fuel Cell Experimentation
With rising oil prices and increasing concerns over global warming, the pressure is on for engineers to develop alternative sources of energy. Among the new technologies being developed are hydrogen fuel cells, which young scientists...
Curated OER
Olympic Solar Energy
Students use cardboard and aluminum foil to construct a solar oven that concentrates enough sunlight to cook a hotdog. They review the history and use of solar energy in relation to the Olympics.
Curated OER
Solar Matters
Students design an energy resource wheel and demonstrate how to use it to access information about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.