Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Shocking Experience

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners differentiate between current and static electricity, conductors and insulators, explain how energy is converted from chemical to electrical, measure voltage of batteries, collect data on voltage, and predict voltage of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy for Earth: The Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Super science learners examine the sun's production of energy by the process of nuclear fusion. Hands-on activities make this lesson engaging for middle schoolers. The lesson is made up of four parts. Part I is an introduction to the sun...
Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Light the Bulb!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate electrical circuits and how light bulbs are powered. In this electricity and power lesson plan, 3rd graders study the vocabulary necessary which includes the different types of circuits, electrical currents, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Lighting Audit Preparation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work together to develop a school lighting audit plan. They practice using new vocabulary related to an energy audit. They also identify the components of a school lighting audit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Lighting Audit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify the data included in an energy audit. They perform an audit on the lighting in their school building. They complete a worksheet and discuss lighting issues with school staff.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Physics Lab

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students investigate electricity. For this Physics lesson, students experiment with insulators and conductors of electricity. Students use batteries as the energy source for the experiment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floating and Falling Flows

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discover fluid dynamics related to buoyancy through experimentation and optional photography. Using one set of fluids, they make light fluids rise through denser fluids. Using another set, they make dense fluids sink through a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Lighting Audit Data Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze the data collected in the school lighting audit. They work together to write recommendations for more efficient lighting for their school. They practice using new vocabulary and working together with others.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Technology (3A) Post Lab

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss how energy is created. In this energy lesson, 3rd graders look at how a city receives energy and how it is made. They create their own generator using a pin wheel and pipe cleaners. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy and Me: Moons Over New Haven

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the features of different moons orbiting the planets. In this astronomy lesson, 3rd graders explore the different phases of the moon using an interactive online website. They compare and contrast the features of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Physics Pre-Lab

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students view a static electricity demonstration. For this Physics lesson, students compare static and current electricity. Students watch an electricity slide show and sing the Electricity song.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science -Physics (2B) Pre Lab

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders look at different types of energy. In this energy instructional activity, 2nd graders define energy and the difference between kinetic and potential energy. They see examples with falling books and a slinky.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Air

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students conduct an experiment to determine whether plants need air in order to survive and grow. They discuss natural resources, analyze slides, and observe and record data from the experiment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need soil to survive and grow. They plant two seeds, one with soil and one without, make predictions, and record and analyze the seed germination results on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classroom Meteorologists: An Experiential Approach to Learning about Seasons and Weather

For Teachers K
Students examine several concepts about weather in the seven lessons of this unit. This year long activity helps students to gather data seasonally about wind, clouds, precipitation, and temperature. Earth's three climate zones are...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Star Types-Color and Surface Temperature

For Students 7th - 9th
In this types of stars learning exercise, students complete a table with the color and star type for 17 stars. They are given their luminosity and surface temperature along with a chart that has characteristics of stars to use as reference.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blowing and Flowing

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders compare and evaluate the rate of erosion from water and wind on three type of landscape: bare land, land with sparse vegetation, and land covered by dense vegetation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electromagnetic and Physical Waves

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars compare and contrast electromagnetic and physical waves. In this wave lesson plan, students discover that all waves reflect, refract, and diffract energy. Young scholars work in small groups to experiment with waves and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Incandescent Light Bulb

For Teachers 5th - Higher Ed
Students study the history of the light bulb and how an incandescent light bulb works.  In this electricity lesson plan students complete several experiments on the light bulb.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflections

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are given materials with various textures and light sources to investigate specular reflection, diffuse, reflection, angle of incidence, and angle of reflection. Students draw and label an everyday scenario showing specular and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invisible Energy in Light

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students investigate radiant energy. In this earth science lesson, students use solar beads and clear sunscreen to observe radiant solar energy. Students note observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy and the Environment

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders define alternative energy form, design models which show how the energy source can be used, and explain the purpose of dams.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Technology of Light

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners study the different types of light bulbs. In this exploratory lesson students complete several activities and create an electrical circuit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lighting Our Way

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars read a variety of web-based articles to explore the history of human understanding of light. They investigate light waves and read about the work of Albert Einstein.