Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Photovoltaic Cells and Systems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This interesting document suggests nine different activities for shedding light on photovoltaic cells. A bit of background information is furnished for you, as well as many, many resource links. Listed for each activity are a learning...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossil Fuels: Facing the Issues

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore energy by researching fuel usage on Earth. In this fossil fuel lesson, students define fossil fuels, the energy created by burning them, and the impact on the environment when using them. Students conduct pollution...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Cooking

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students complete a solar radiation activity. In this solar radiation instructional activity, students complete an experiment to learn about solar radiation. Students make solar tea by using the energy of the Sun to brew tea.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating and Using Biomass Gases

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the definitions of biomas gasification and generate their own biomass gas.  In this renewable energy lesson plan students collect gases and roast a marshmallow. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival Still

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain how to desalinate water using solar energy.  In this solar lesson students complete a lab activity and explain capillary water. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Hot Dog Cooker

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Learners create a solar hot dog cooker. In this solar energy lesson, students use various materials such as tin foil and cardboard to build a hot dog cooker. Learners cook their own hot dogs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Pizza Box Solar Oven

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students build a solar oven. In this solar energy lesson, students follow directions that show them how to build a solar oven made from a pizza box that can heat up food.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Hurricanes As Heat Engines

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners conduct Internet research to track the path of Hurricane Rita. They record the sea surface temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during and after the hurricane and draw conclusions about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the...
Organizer
Curated OER

What is Thermal Energy?

For Students 4th - 8th
In this thermal energy worksheet, students will write down two facts about thermal energy and then they will draw a conclusion based on these two facts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How the Amount of Solar Energy Absorbed by the Earth is Dependent Upon the Earth's Position

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the angle of light and how it faces the earth. They conduct a series of investigations with the following two objectives. Students determine if the angle of light is a factor in the absorption of heat. They correlate...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

I’ve Got the POWER Wind Energy Potential at Your School

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The 20th lesson in a 21-part series connects the wind data and expectations of a turbine to whether such devices should be built in your area. Scholars begin with estimating the wind potential at school by using long-term climate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Go With the Flow!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students experiment with heat transfer in a countercurrent system and describe the importance of conduction in heat-energy transfer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evaporation Introductory Lesson

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the concepts of evaporation and the water cycle. They describe the relationship between heat energy, evaporation and condensation of water on Earth and identify the sun as the source of energy that evaporates...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar S'Mores

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students investigate solar energy. In this solar energy lesson, students compare how heat is absorbed in light-colored objects and dark-colored objects by making S'mores.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar S’Mores

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students cook with the power of the sun. In this solar energy lesson, students explore solar cooking as they apply scientific principles to cook s'mores.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conserving Energy Resources

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research on energy conversion. After they have researched several types of energy resources, teams of two to four create posters which depict how these resources can be conserved.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #1 Solar Cell Inquiry

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Young scholars use a selection of solar panels, lamps, motors, and an AA battery to get as many motors or lights to operate as they can in an allotted time period. For each successful arrangement, they draw a diagram of their setup,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CO2: How Much Do You Spew?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students analyze the energy consumption of a household to see the amount of carbon dioxide they add to the atmosphere each year.  In this energy consumption lesson students calculate carbon emissions and discuss sources of carbon...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking into Surface Albedo

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students demonstrate how the color of materials on Earth affect the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.  In this solar energy lesson students complete a lab to explore how the color of materials on the Earth's surface impacts...
Lesson Plan
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Biomass: Biogas Generator

For Teachers 6th - 8th
It's a gas. Middle schoolers build a biogas generator following the directions in this resource. After a few days of observation, they demonstrate that the gas given off by the decomposing manure is flammable. The activity concludes as...
Lesson Plan
Rochester Institute of Technology

Electrical Energy

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
My friend told me how electricity is measured and I was like Watt! In the hands-on activity, learners explore electricity by building circuits, both parallel and series. They also determine how increasing the number of light bulbs and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat of Vaporization of Liquid Nitrogen

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Young scholars determine the heat energy needed to vaporize (boil) one gram of liquid nitrogen.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Energy: Become a Sun Chef!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students design and construct a solar cooker. They use the Internet to research solar collectors and the process of changing light energy into heat energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat Misconceptions

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders determine that gloves do not provide heat, but rather, they insulate or hold in any heat that is in their hand. They discuss the different temperatures found in ecosystems around the world. What do animals that live in...

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