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,...
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More Power to You
Young scholars construct a simple galvanometer in order to detect the presence of an electric current as well as determine the amount of the current. Activity is divided into two parts, first part as group work and second as individual.
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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...
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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...
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Incandescent Light Bulb
Students study the history of the light bulb and how an incandescent light bulb works. In this electricity lesson plan students complete several experiments on the light bulb.
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Conserving Electricity: Turn It Off
Second graders explore causes of air pollution and relate them to energy conservation.
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Current Electricity: Electrical Circuit Activity
In this direction of electron flow worksheet, students determine whether current will flow when a switch is closed, then mark positive and negative signs in circles of batteries for circuits shown on diagrams.
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Watt's Up with the Electricity Bill?
Students study of how much electricity is used in their home and the actual cost for the electricity. They create a realistic conservation plan for their home focusing on the areas that tend to use a great deal of electricity....
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Basic Electric Circuits
Students calculate the resistance across a bank of resistors in a series, parallel and combined circuit. Using new vocabulary words, they define and describe them in a scientific manner. After stating Ohm's Law, they solve electrical...
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Peak Load Growth Along the Wasatch Front: What's Driving Electricity Demand in Utah?
Students study how electricity is used in Utah. They create an advertising plan to educate consumers about peak cycles and energy costs for the cycling service of electricity. They present their advertising plan to the class for...
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Using "Student Power" to Generate Electricity to Run a Portable Compact Disc Player
Students conclude that magnets and magnetic fields can produce electricity. Students also understand how a small motor works and how gears work. Students describe how energy can transform along a pathway.
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Lenz's Law
Students conduct a series of experiments on electromagnetic induction. In this physics lesson, students apply the right hand rule to determine the current direction and electromotive force. They test Lenz's and Faraday's law by observing...
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Science and Technology Timeline
Students develop a time line of discoveries that have occurred in their lifetime. In this time line lesson plan, students research scientifically or technologically related events of interest to them, write a brief description on a 4x6"...
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Energy
Wow! Colorful and simple, these 160 slides introduce the various forms of energy, along with a relevant image. Some of the images are animations, which help beginning physical scientists to visualize the flow of electrons or energy! This...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Safety vs. Energy
Political cartoons are a poignant way to examine energy sources. This analysis handout has scholars examining a cartoon by Joe Heller (a link to his gallery is included for possible extensions). Background information reminds pupils of...
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Conductors and Insulators
Fifth graders explore conductors and insulators. In this science lesson, 5th graders act as electrons moving through a wire. Students break into groups representing conductors and insulators and explore how they work with electrons.
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Ohm's Law
If your future physicists know how to construct simple circuits, include resistors, and use a multi-meter to measure voltage, then you might employ this instructional activity on Ohm's law. Each lab group investigates the...
Carnegie Mellon University
Hydroelectricity
Use a simple PowerPoint presentation to introduce you environmental studies class to hydropower. Hold a debate about the pros and cons of developing this form of alternative energy. Power up your class with this simple lesson on a topic...
National Energy Education Development Project
Exploring Hybrid School Bus Technology
The color School Bus Yellow was created in 1939 because science had proven peripheral vision detects yellow 1.24 times faster than other colors. Young scientists explore modern school bus transportation options and then discuss the...
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Clean, Green Power
Students explore and discuss alternative energy sources, and identify disadvantages of current fossil fuels.
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Light Saver
Turn off the lights! That's right it's time to start thinking about conservation and saving electricity. Here is a very quick and very simple Earth Day craft that kids can do in a wink. They'll make light-bulb-shaped door hangers that...
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Instruments and Measurement
Students circulate through stations to determine the proper instrument to make a certain type of measurement. They must make measurements of mass, volume, length, area, electrical current, temperature and force.
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Transformation of Energy-8th Grade
Eighth graders examine how electricity is produced in relation to the atom as well as what causes electric current to flow and what determines how much current flows through a circuit. These and other concepts of transformation of energy...
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Wind Power! 2
Fourth graders explore how engineers transform wind energy into electrical energy by building their own miniature wind turbines and measuring the electrical current it produces. They see how design and position affect the electrical...