Curated OER
Producers and Energy Transfer
Fifth graders discuss the relationship between producers, consumers, and decomposers as they look at the energy pyramid. While working in small groups, they create an ecosystem that includes all or some of the given categories, and they...
Curated OER
Hold Off on the Headphones
Students explore hearing loss caused by sound waves. In this physical science lesson plan, students will start by learning about waves and wave characteristics and move into sound waves. Students will study how sound effects their...
Curated OER
What Does the Sun Give Us?
Pupils study the sun and how solar energy works. To learn about renewable energy, they complete a lab activity using a pizza box as a solar heater. Quite clever!
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 3
Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble! Find out what drives a turbine to generate electricity and whether or not it has an impact on the environment. A discussion and lecture is divided by a hands-on activity in...
Mr. E. Science
Characteristics of Waves
Waves, waves, and more waves. Here, class members look at the many types and characteristics of energy waves including transverse, longitudinal, standing, seismic, p-waves, s-waves, and l-waves.
Curated OER
Kinds of Energy Word Search
In this energy word search puzzle, learners identify types of energy and related terms. They identify 18 words from a given list. An answer sheet is provided.
Curated OER
Design Your Own Rube Goldberg Machine
Students participate in a culminating activity for a unit on Energy and Simple Machines. They are challenged to incorporate simple machines in to a complex mechanical system. While designing and testing their machine they will also...
Curated OER
Can You SEA Walls?
High schoolers explore how wave energy that is generated and transferred in the ocean. They explore the aspects of a wave and how its energy affects the ecology of the seashore. Students engage in an activity that uses the nature of...
Curated OER
Wow Waves (Waves on the Fly)
Students formulate hypotheses on wave behavior and test them. In this physics lesson, students compare and contrast transverse and compression waves. They determine the wavelength of transverse waves.
Curated OER
Wind Power! 2
Fourth graders explore how engineers transform wind energy into electrical energy by building their own miniature wind turbines and measuring the electrical current it produces. They see how design and position affect the electrical...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #13 Solarize a Toy
Students work in teams they select a low-power toy, game, or electrical deive to "solarize," or convert to solar power. They determine the operating voltage of their chosen device and design a solar array to provide this level of...
Curated OER
Let the Sun Shine!
Students investigate how the sun can be used for energy. They read a handout, discuss the pros and cons of passive solar building design, develop flashcard questions, and identify jobs that can be helped by solar energy.
Curated OER
TE Activity: You're in Hot Water
Students study different ways of using solar energy. They design a solar water heater and determine how much water it can heat in a set amount of time. They examine how the heaters work by solar radiation and convection.
Curated OER
A Day In My Life
Students brainstorm how they can conserve energy in their daily lives. For this energy lesson plan, students discuss how they use energy and ways to conserve it.
Curated OER
Introduction, Advance Organizer, and the Problem
Learners describe the three-phrase process for designing and developing energy-efficient buildings. They develop solutions and identify ways to make homes more comfortable and productive in regards to energy.
Curated OER
Kaleidoscope
Students explore energy by creating a light project in class. In this kaleidoscope lesson, students discuss the properties of light and how mirrors can reflect the energy in different directions. Students view a diagram of light...
Curated OER
The Physics of Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air
Students study hummingbirds and how they use Newton's law. In this motion lesson students complete several activities and view videos of hummingbirds.
Curated OER
Summer Science Lesson Plans
You can use these lesson plans to incorporate some science into your summer.
Curated OER
Watershed Landscape
Students demonstrate how water flows by building a human watershed using themselves. In this ecology lesson, students compare and contrast point-source and non-point source pollution. They write what they have learned from this activity...
Curated OER
The Energy Equation
Students explore human energy components. In this personal health lesson, students determine how food, sleep, and exercise impact human energy levels as they play BAM! Body and Mind interactive games. Students create motivational...
Curated OER
Allocating Energy from a Photovoltaic System
Students analyze the power ratings of appliances they use on a daily basis and for the amount of time used each day. After examining their electric energy usage, students develop examples of compromises that could be made in order to...
Curated OER
Problem Based Inquiry Learning
Tenth graders research Nuclear Energy and Radioactivity, how is this form of energy used for the good of mankind in solving the energy crisis and the hazardous aspect of using this form of energy. They cooperatively work in groups to...
Curated OER
How Much Energy is a Kilowatt Hour?
Students study the conservation of energy. In this energy instructional activity students explain the differences between potential and kinetic energy.
Curated OER
Power Blackout Assessment
Learners discuss the importance of power grids in power generation. In this physics lesson plan, students explain the impact of power failure. They investigate the power blackout in 2003 and discuss their findings.