Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Circuits and Conductors

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the concepts of circuits and conductors. In this circuits and conductors lesson set, 4th graders watch demonstrations of circuits and look at images to identify whether they are complete circuits. They test...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Circuits

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners study how bulbs work by studying a series circuit and its components. In this electricity study lesson, students complete a SmartBoard online activity to study a bulb light in an electrical circuit. Learners discuss what would...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is That Icebox Green?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create a timeline of the development of electrical appliances. In this physics lesson, 7th graders explore energy consumption over the past 90 years. They create a poster about their chosen electrical device detailing its...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lightning

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Young scholars investigate lightning. In this lightning lesson, students demonstrate how static electricity is in the air by observing how a balloon reacts to a charge.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The REAL Transformers

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders create a model of a hydroelectric generator. In this physics instructional activity, 9th graders discuss how energy can be transformed from one form to another. They make a flow chart for different energy generating plants.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Opposites Attract

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the properties of magnets and static electricity. They participate in experiments that demonstrate the behaviors of charged particles, and record their data on a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Power using Kirchhoff’s Rules

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders cite real life applications of Kirchhoff's rules. In this physics lesson, 12th graders calculate current, power and voltage using Kirchhoff and Ohm's laws. They explain the different components and uses of transformers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reliability Check of Power Grid

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students complete a simulation on power grid reliability check. In this physics lesson plan, students discuss the consequences of power grid failures. They complete a simulation worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Student Power Use

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners calculate the energy usage in their bedroom. For this physics lesson, students compare their energy consumption during school days and weekends. They recommend ways to save energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Turned on the Lights?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss how energy is transformed from one form to another. In this physics lesson plan, 7th graders design and build their own hydro generator. They identify the factors that affect its energy production.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Howdy Neighbor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students role play a power grid set up to show how increased load affects the grid. In this physics lesson, students explain the importance of electricity in their daily lives. They identify the key components of the power grid.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Efficiency: It really IS important!

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Learners compare the energy needed to produce new products versus recycling. In this physics lesson plan, students brainstorm ways to save energy. They create a presentation about the correlation between conserving energy and energy costs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing State

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the cooling and heating of water. In this online science experiment lesson, students work in groups to make predictions regarding freezing and boiling points and then test those predictions as they complete the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How We See Things

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explain that when a beam of light is reflected from its surface, it changes direction. In this virtual science experiment lesson plan, students complete an activity that requires them to investigate how flat mirrors reflect...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Materials

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students describe and compare common properties of various classroom materials. In this science/matter lesson, students observe common classroom items and the materials they are made of to complete a list of common properties.
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Exploring Energy: What Is Energy?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
...Then the water heater exploded like a bomb. Using a video of an exploding water heater, the resource presents the definitions of energy, potential energy, and kinetic energy to be used in later lessons of the unit.
Lesson Plan
University of Texas

Free-Body Diagram

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Preparing for an AP test is about more than bubble sheets and memorization. The two activities in this resource require a direct application of skills learned throughout an AP Physics course.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy: The Big Picture

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students research about energy related topics. In this earth science lesson plan, students discuss ways to save energy. They create a presentation about their research and share it with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Pick-ups

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the push and pull of magnets. In this magnetics activity, students are introduced to the idea that there are forces that happen on earth which cannot be seen, such as electrically charged objects, magnetic force...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ecological Impact of River Dams

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate their environment by completing an in-class experiment.  For this ecological lesson, students define the roles of dams and how electricity is created by them.  Students utilize plastic jugs, sand and tap...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will the Lights Go Out?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners diagram nuclear power plant, describe process for generating electrical power, discuss nuclear disasters in the 20th century, and draw conclusion about value of nuclear power for the future.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Battery From a Lemon

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders construct a voltaic battery. They change chemical energy into electrical energy by inserting copper wire into a lemon. They discover the tingle of the wire on their tongue is due to the movement of electrons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Long Live the Sharks and Rays

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study shark and ray adaptations that have helped their survival.  In this animal adaptations lesson students view a video and work in groups to research specific types of sharks and rays.
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Series and Parallel Circuits

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars demonstrate simple circuits and find the differences between parallel and serial circuits.  In this electronic lesson plan students work in teams to test different designs using a low voltage light bulb.