Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ice Ain't Easy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars are told that objects in contact with one another reach an equilibrium temperature. A hot object placed in a cool liquid always cool off. It never happens that the object gets hotter and cool liquid gets colder. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All The News

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Young scholars simulate newspaper critics in the topics of heat and temperature. They write a scientific critique of evidence and claims used in a newspaper article and research using KIE software. They write notes on the letter to the...
Lesson Plan
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Keeping Cool

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate the air conditioner units around the school. They chart the temperature by placing a thermometer in different situations and decide how to keep cool and save energy in the summer.
Lesson Plan
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Don't Marry the Mole!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the power of solar energy. In groups, they create their own pizza box solar oven to discover the power of the sun and how it is a source for heat and light. To end the lesson, they use the internet to examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rising Water!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atmospheric Processes - Radiation

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students investigate how different surfaces absorb heat, and how the physical characteristics of a surface have a powerful effect on the way a surface absorbs and releases heat from the sun.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Adobe

For Students 5th - 8th
In this adobe worksheet, students read about adobe soil and how it was used for building because of its insulating properties. Students complete 3 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cool Times with Heat

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners work with thermometers to complete problems about temperature. They investigate cooling patterns, how location affects temperature, and what happens when water having different temperature is mixed. They measure temperature in...
Lesson Plan
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Daily Radiation "Balance"

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the amount of radiation in the Earth's atmosphere. They calculate the total amount of incoming and outgoing radiation over a day and determine how "balanced" the radiative system is over a particular location.
Lesson Plan
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Sun Friendly Homes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners 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.
Worksheet
Texas State Energy Conservation Office

Unit 2 - Section 2 - Fuels for Everything

For Students 6th
In this alternative energy instructional activity, 6th graders read and study the varying types of fuel.  Students read examples and ways that alternative fuel can be used.
Worksheet
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States of Matter and Gas Laws

For Students 10th - Higher Ed
In this matter activity, students review the states of matter and the gas law formulas and equations. Students then complete 7 multiple choice questions and 6 problems.
Worksheet
Curated OER

School Survey

For Students 4th - 5th
In this school energy learning exercise, students read the questions about school's energy sources, the way school's can recycle, and how energy can be wasted or saved in schools.
Lesson Plan
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The Urban Heat Island Effect - Lesson 2 (Grades 8-9)

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners use the scientific process to show that when various surfaces are exposed to similar environmental conditions, surface temperatures may vary. They examine the "urban heat island" phenomenon and analyze why it increases energy...
Lesson Plan
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(S-1A) Weather and the Atmosphere

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the way vertical convection transports heat from the surface upwards, and associated pressure and temperature profiles of the atmosphere.
Lesson Plan
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The Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar Water Heater Kit

For Students 5th - 8th
In this earth science worksheet, students identify and experiment how hot water gets in a solar water heater. Then they respond to four short answer questions that follow related to the experiment.
Lesson Plan
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Evaporation and Condensation

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore how temperature affects the processes of evaporation and condensation.
Worksheet
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Chemical Compounds

For Students 10th - Higher Ed
For this chemical compounds worksheet, students identify the types of intermolecular forces present in the given substances, calculate the heat required to convert a liquid to gas, and explain the ideal-gas law. This worksheet has 5...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waterwheel Work

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the history of the waterwheel and common uses for water turbines today. They construct an experimental waterwheel using a two-liter plastic bottle, measure the rate of revolution of a waterwheel, and complete a...
Lesson Plan
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Make a Refrigerator

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the concept of heat transfer as experienced in wearing winter clothing and analyzing the refrigerator.
Lesson Plan
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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...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Tropopause

For Students 8th - 10th
In this tropopause worksheet, students read about the temperature of the air in the tropopause or the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth. They answer four critical thinking questions about this layer and the energy changes that...
Lesson Plan
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Parts of a Solar Panel-Part II

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover how a mini-solar panel is constructed by behaving like detectives. Students examine an actual solar panel, measure the solar panel's voltage and use drawings to describe what they observe before completing questions...