Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun Friendly Homes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students design and build a model solar energy home. In this technology lesson, students test the efficiency of their model houses by measuring temperature at regular intervals. They analyze data and share results with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Efficiency

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders work cooperatively to investigate the efficiency of various household appliances. They share their findings in three to five minute oral presentations.
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

How Power Plants Work 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
In this second of three lessons on power plants, future engineers find out how we generate electricity and how coal-powered plants operate. They work in small groups to make electromagnet generators to light LED bulbs. A set of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Passive Solar Design

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners study what passive solar design is for buildings and structures.  In this solar design lesson students identify passive solar design techniques.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capturing the Sun's Warmth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the variety of ways to use solar energy. They investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design. They explain how passive solar...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: Renewable Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine renewable energy sources such as solar, water, and wind. They experiment to determine how renewable energy is transformed into electricity. They investigate the role of engineers who work in the field of renewable energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snack Attack: Food Packaging Activity

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students design and create packaging material for food. For this snack attack lesson, students design a package to protect a food item from heat and water. Students consider costs of materials, design, and test the package to see if it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Build an Anemometer

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students determine what an anemometer is and how it measures wind speed. They decide on a place to put a wind turbine by using an anemometer. They examine the role that engineers play when using wind speed to determine a place for wind...
PPT
Curated OER

Backpacks and Hills

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This machines PowerPoint reviews effort and force in relation to work and informs students about different types of machines and the different ways forces are applied and how they work to increase efficiency.
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Renewables Workshop

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Youngsters examine resource maps to find out which states are using solar and wind power and discuss as a class various other renewable energy sources. They use a provided data table to record pros and cons to each technology, build and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Power

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover how engineers use solar energy to heat buildings. They investigate the thermal properties of different materials. They evaluate the usefulness of each material.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy, Work and Power

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the differences between potential and kinetic energy.  In this physics instructional activity students view a video and apply what they learn about energy to apply it to real world situations. 
Lesson Plan
Rochester Institute of Technology

Chemical Reactions and Electricity

For Teachers 6th - 12th
After a discussion of chemical reactions and electricity, scholars break into groups and follow a scripted activity to discover if fruit can power a clock. After a concluding discussion, the class a presented with a challenge.
Activity
Teach Engineering

Energy Conversions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
What energy conversions occur in the operation of a device? Small groups investigate devices and the energy conversions that occur. The groups create energy flow diagrams with added conversion processes for each of the devices...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Energy in Our Lives Carousel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Don't waste any more energy trying to find a great resource on energy. The third installment of a 25-part Energy Systems and Solutions unit focuses on energy use in pupils' lives. They consider how their daily routines consume energy and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breathing Victory

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students know that participation in sports requires energy. They comprehend that we get energy form the foods that we eat and the air thta we breathe. Converting food and air into usable energy is defined as celluar respiration. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Laws of Thermodynamics

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of a thermodynamic system. The difference between a state and phase is defined as part of the experimental explanations given in writing. Students conduct experiments to demonstrate laws of science like...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Energy Do You Use?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars take a survey of energy-consuming appliances in their homes and calculate the daily cost of operating these machines. They identify those appliances that consume the most energy and consider ways to reduce the amount of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breathing Victory

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners discuss anaerobic respiration and how it relates to sprinting. After discussion of related processes, students create a brochure that explains the complex processes behind every muscular interaction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Types of Trains

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore different types of trains. In this science lesson, 3rd graders study the "Orphan Train" and write a paragraph about what it would feel like to be riding a train during this time period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alternative Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the five major alternative energy sources. In this physical science lesson, students assess the advantages and disadvantages for each type of energy. They complete a concept map using information they researched.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Gas Lesson-How Natural Gas Forms

For Teachers K - 9th
Students examine background natural gas and how it is formed and what it is made of. Titles within the series include How Natural Gas Forms, What Happens to Natural Gas when it is burned, and How Natural Gas can be used. Provides very...
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat Engines and Their Efficiency

For Students 11th - 12th
In this section of the textbook, learn about the second law of thermodynamics and how it relates to the function of heat engine. Section will also explain how to calculate net work and efficiency of cyclical processes such as a heat...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Heat Engine

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will learn about heat engines, explore pressure volume diagrams, and figure how to calculate ideal efficiencies of heat engines.