California Academy of Science
Optimal and Sustainable: Renewable Energy Revamp
More than 100 cities around the world have shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Scholars investigate a city wanting to make this switch, but needs help determining how to make the shift. Groups consider all options,...
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...
Discovery Education
Wind Power
How do engineers turn something that is readily available, like wind, into energy? Scholars create a prototype of a wind turbine and attach it to a motor. They test out their prototypes and decide on their effectiveness. They also...
Teach Engineering
Energy Storage Derby and Proposal
Small groups use the engineering design process to build and test a vehicle capable of carrying 250 grams a distance of five meters. The design must allow for the storage of potential energy and turn it into motion,...
Teach Engineering
Nanotechnology and Cancer Treatments
Information on the biomedical use of nanotechnology, specifically in the detection and treatment of cancer, is the focus of a lesson that seems like it is out of a science fiction novel. Pupils learn about electrophoresis, which is used...
Curated OER
Renewable Energy in Connecticut - Softening Our Footprint through Sustainable Energy Use
Students explore energy conservation. In this environmental lesson plan, students will look at data showing the amounts of energy used, our carbon footprint, and will research a power source. This unit allows for a deeper understanding...
Curated OER
Personal Electronics and Their Energy Consumption
In this energy worksheet, students click on the links in the questions about energy to find the answers to the questions about their personal energy use and then come back and answer the questions. Students answer 3 questions total.
Curated OER
Series and Parallel AC circuits
In this AC circuits instructional activity, students answer 75 questions about series and parallel circuits including building and analyzing their own circuit mathematically, interpreting schematics of AC circuits and finding total...
Curated OER
Vector Voyage!
Students use vector analysis to examine the concept of dead reckoning. They listen to a teacher-led lecture, complete a Vector Voyage Worksheet with the teacher, answer discussion questions, and use the Pythagorean Theorem for speed...
Curated OER
Junkyard Wars-Investigating More Electromagnets
Fourth graders conduct an investigation in order to determine a way to change the strength of an electromagnet's magnetic force. After conducting "control" lifts with their electromagnet, groups make initial changes, record data, and...
Curated OER
Potentiometers
In this potentiometer worksheet, students design and construct a circuit and then mathematically analyze their work. They answer 18 questions about potentiometers and their function.
Curated OER
Time Constant Circuits
In this time constant circuits activity, students answer 23 questions about the design of circuits that need time delays, about capacitors and inductors, and about resistors and the design of circuits.
Curated OER
Morse Code and Computers
In this Morse code worksheet, students read a short passage about the invention of Morse code and the use of telegraphs. Students answer three paragraphs about the passage.
Curated OER
Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data. In this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets.
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
Please Turn Up the Lights!
Eighth graders discuss series and parallel circuits and design an investigation to test a hypothesis on total resistance of series and parallel circuits in combination. After discussion, groups design their experiments, run tests, and...
Curated OER
Power Generation
Students examine energy issues. For this environmental stewardship lesson, students discuss nuclear power options. Students also discuss energy consumption and create energy reduction guides for students their own age. Many links to...
Curated OER
Checkbook
Develop life skills through the use of an AppleWorks Banking kit, a spreadsheet program, and a role play activity. This life skills lesson plan utilizes technology plus busines and social studies principles. Note: All materials...
Curated OER
Lewis Hine
Students define the term Industrialization. They use specific examples, discuss why and how industrialization grew during the early twentieth century in America. Students evaluate the contributions of technological advances, geography...
Curated OER
Magnetic Earth
In this magnetic Earth worksheet, students learn how a compass works with the magnetic poles of the Earth. This worksheet has 4 short answer questions.
Curated OER
A Case of Innovation
Students use strategies to comprehend technical writing. They write reports with great detail, supporting material, and clear vocabulary. They incorporate source materials into their speaking and writing and use voice, tone, and style.
Curated OER
Lightning It's Shocking, It's Frightening, It's Lightning!
Third graders decide what they want to explore lightning, how to go about finding the answers, and deciding what skills they need to further study some of their questions.
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
Moisture Lesson Plan
Students investigate the effects of moisture and dampness on homes, clothing, and mold growth. In this moisture lesson, students discuss which certain cities are damper than others based on location and geography. They talk about the...