Curated OER
On The Move
Fourth graders solve basic mathematical problems. They identify and apply key terms and equations relative to physical science. They discuss how train engines use fuel to move a generator, which creates electrical current that moves...
Curated OER
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Kit
The National Energy Foundation presents this activity, which instructs students to follow directions to connect a solar electric panel to a buzzer. They charge the solar panel to cause the buzzer to sound. The process is repeated with a...
Curated OER
Plugged in to CO2
Students use a meter to measure the energy used and carbon produced by electronics and appliances. For this environmental science and technology lesson, students use a Kill-A-Watt meter to determine the electricity used by everyday...
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Nuclear Power Gets A Boost
Students examine nuclear plants and how they use fission reactions to generate electricity, compare fusion reactions to fission, and read about technology that may soon allow fusion to become practical for producing nuclear power...
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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.
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Wind Provides Electricity for Homes, Schools
Learners complete a KWL chart, then read a news article about the comeback of windmills. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a KWL chart and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and...
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...
Curated OER
Making New Electricity
High schoolers 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.
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Generation of Action Potentials in Nitella Giant Algal Cells
Students observe cytoplasmic streaming in Nitella cells. They examine the conduction of a wave of depolarization across other membranes, such as the axons of neurons. Students predict the effects of sending a small electric current...
Curated OER
Blade Design of Windmills
For this engineering worksheet, 9th graders experiment with the design of a windmill blade to generate more electricity by creating a step by step plan, drawing a diagram, recording data from trials, write a conclusion and a comparison...
Curated OER
Allocating Energy from a Photovoltaic System
How much electricity do you use in a day? Physics fanatics calculate their energy use by consulting a chart of the watts required to run typical household appliances. They compare power to amounts of electric energy used or generated....
Curated OER
The Strongest Pump of All
Students examine how the heart functions and the concept of how electrical currents can affect muscle contractions. In this cardiovascular lesson students identify P, QRS and T complexes.
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 1
First of three lessons, this is a great start to a unit on energy. As you demonstrate, learners discover different types of energy and how it is converted from one form to another. They then focus in on the generation of electricity by...
Curated OER
The Eiffel Tower is the Symbol of Paris
Fashioned in a simple format, the subject of this presentation is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and could be a model for future projects. Even if your class does not do a unit on famous sites in European cities, this could be used a a way...
Curated OER
Switcheroo
Pupils construct a simple switch and determine what objects and what types of materials can be used to close a switch in a circuit and light a light bulb.
Curated OER
The Invention of Faraday Cage
Learners demonstrate how Faraday's cage work by building their own electroscope. In this physics lesson, students explain how Faraday's cage work. They cite several applications of this principle in the real world.
Curated OER
Bulbs & Batteries Side by Side
Learners build parallel circuits, exploring how they function and looking at their unique features. They describe how current changes when batteries are added in parallel or removed from a parallel arrangement, demonstrate the process of...
Curated OER
Introduction to Elementary Circuits
Students explore how a circuit works and create a circuit to use energy from a battery to light a bulb. In this introduction to circuits lesson, the students study the parts of a circuit and have a class discussion of what would happen...
Curated OER
Design Project: Power Inverter
For this physics worksheet, students design and build a power inverter given a schematic diagram. They answer 3 short answer questions about the circuit they created.
Curated OER
Energy Efficiency: It really IS important!
Students compare the energy needed to produce new products versus recycling. In this physics lesson, students brainstorm ways to save energy. They create a presentation about the correlation between conserving energy and energy costs.
Curated OER
When the Lights Go Out!
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.
Curated OER
TECH:Wind Power
Students generate electricity using a wind generator. They convert the created electricity into different forms of energy. It is written as a module. Students explain the impacts on society and the environment that the current energy and...
Curated OER
Satellites and Solar Cells
In this satellite and solar cells instructional activity, students determine the electrical power generated by the solar cells on the IMAGE satellite. Students solve 3 problems including finding the usable area of the satellite,...
Curated OER
Forcing Electrons to Move
In this electrolytic cell learning exercise, students read about car batteries and how they produce electricity for cars to run. They answer six questions about electrolytic cells and oxidation-reduction reactions.