Carnegie Mellon University
Consumer Preferences in Lighting
What is a watt? This tongue-twisting, mind-bending question and others are answered through this lesson plan on the different lighting options available. With the support of a PowerPoint, teach your physical science class about units of...
Curated OER
Roving Reporter
Learners write a report about energy use. In this conservation lesson plan, students interview adults about their use of renewable and nonrenewable energy. Learners synthesize this information and write a report from the point of view of...
Curated OER
Work
In this work worksheet, high schoolers review the equation for work, potential and kinetic energy, and the Law of Conservation of Energy. This worksheet has 22 fill in the blank and 7 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Pendulum Power
Eighth graders study the Law of Conservation of Energy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. they create a pendulum out of either a rope with a bowling ball or barbell tied to one end.
Curated OER
Review Sheet for Matter Test
In this matter activity, students answer five questions about the law of conservation of mass. They identify substances as solids, liquids, gases or mixtures and they identify given items as matter or energy.
Curated OER
A Cut Above the Rest Administration Procedures
Students analyze how the Law of Conservation of Energy applies to the design and use of scissors. Working in groups, they determine the output work for a standard pair of scissors.
Curated OER
Balloon Ball Bounce
Students explore the rebound of balls. In this energy conversion lesson, students explore the physics behind the rebound of various types of sports balls. Through the experimental design process using balloons, students investigate and...
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Save the Earth: It's Everyone's Home!
Students research ways to conserve and reduce energy and resources. In this reducing waste lesson, students work in teams to experiment with water and losing resources. students brainstorm about ways to conserve and reduce energy and...
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A Hilly Ride
Fifth graders investigate situations that show how kinetic and potential energy are exchanged. They determine how friction is a source of energy transfer from kinetic to thermal energy by experimenting with a car and track. They answer...
Curated OER
How Long Will It Last?
Students turn on a flashlight and leave it on until the energy is used up (12-36) hours. They estimate or preduct how long they think the energy in the batteries will last. They then estimate how long a birthday candle will burn, giving...
Curated OER
Student Power Use
Students calculate the energy usage in their bedroom. In this physics activity, students compare their energy consumption during school days and weekends. They recommend ways to save energy.
Curated OER
Taking Charge of our Earth and its Resources
Students identify natural resources, discuss conservation and protection of them, and identify how pollution is harmful to the environment. Seven lessons on one page.
Curated OER
No Creation-No Destruction--All in a Baggie
Students investigate the concepts of conservation of mass and simple chemical reactions. Students complete lab experiments and record all observations as well as conduct experiments on their own to determine which reactions created...
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A Potpourri of Thermo Questions
In this thermodynamics instructional activity, students match terms to their definitions such as enthalpy, equilibrium, bond energy, and heat capacity. This instructional activity has 20 words to match.
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Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources
Fifth graders, after brainstorming why conservation of resources is important, distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources. They make a list of different types of natural resources on the board and then sort them into two...
Curated OER
Thermochemistry
Young scholars begin familiarizing themselves with the concept of energy, systems and state functions. They are introduced to the following concepts: Conservation of Energy, Systems, Heat, Entropy, Enthalpy, and Gibbs Free Energy.
Curated OER
Sun Friendly Homes
Students design and build a model solar energy home. In this technology lesson plan, students test the efficiency of their model houses by measuring temperature at regular intervals. They analyze data and share results with the class.
Curated OER
In Search of Reused and Recycled
Students identify recycled and recyclable products by reading their packaging They understand the impact of solid waste on landfills and relate the idea of conserving natural resources to the importance of recycling and buying recycled...
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TE Activity: The Great Divide
Students simulate the distribution of nonrenewable energy resources using cookies. They determine how the world's growing population effects the equitable distribution of these resources. They look at how engineers work to develop...
Curated OER
Save A Reef!
Students identify the major threats to coral reefs and the ways that they benefit from humans. In this coral reef conservation lesson students create a public education program on coral reefs.
California Academy of Science
Greening Your Middle School
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...
Carnegie Mellon University
Understanding Electricity Mix Tradeoffs
Use the accompanying presentation and colorful technology sheets to introduce your class to the 10 different energy technologies. Connect kids to an interactive computer tool that allows them to combine different types of power...
California Academy of Science
Building Better Buses: Transportation Design Challenges
Scholars learn about a series of three challenges when they design a bus system for a small town. They determine the bus routes and then figure out the best type of fuel to use before considering the cost of going electric. Learners...
Curated OER
What is Logging?
Future forestry fanatics absorb information about the impact of the logging industry and then answer ten questions. Everything is included on one webpage, so consider having learners write out their answers on a separate piece of paper....