Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Nuclear Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Extensive background material, clear objectives, and more are provided to help you teach an introduction to nuclear power. Learners will be able to explain how nuclear power is generated and how it compares to coal-created power. Provide...
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Natural Gas and Pennsylvania’s Future

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Beginning with a general discussion about natural gas, methane, and hydrocarbons, a few videos and diagrams are projected to support the lecture. Individuals participate in a brief activity by drinking juice through a straw, and then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The BristleBot

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here you will find detailed instructions for constructing BristleBots, simple robots run by miniscule vibration motors. There is no lesson plan, just a procedure for producing these fun little contraptions. They could be used as an...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Energy Efficiency

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
Using the resource is probably the most efficient way to learn about efficiency. The 18th installment of a 25-part Energy Systems and Solutions unit has pupils investigate energy efficiency through discussions and associated activities....
Lesson Plan
US Environmental Protection Agency

Mapping Greenhouse Gas Emissions Where You Live

For Teachers 5th - 10th
After investigating the US Environmental Protection Agency's climate change website, your environmental studies students discuss greenhouse gas emissions. They use an online interactive tool to look at data from power production...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Household Energy Conservation and Efficiency

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Are your household devices eating up a lot of energy? Pupils investigate household energy efficiency through a set of activities. They find ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce consumption. This is the 21st installment of a...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

May the Magnetic Force Be with You

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
Class members use mathematics in order to better understand magnetic forces and their interaction on charged particles. After a demonstration of the interaction between a magnet and an electron beam using a CRT computer monitor,...
Lesson Plan
Rochester Institute of Technology

Artificial Hearing

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Your sense of hearing depends upon tiny hairs deep inside your ear and if you lose these hairs, you lose your hearing. Here, groups explore hearing through the decibel measurement of common sounds. As a class, participants discuss...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Home Electrical Safety

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explain the danger of incorrectly wired plugs. In this physics lesson, students construct their own safe plug. They share the finished project in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Build a Charge Detector

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how electrical force takes place between two objects by building an electroscope. They apply the electroscope to determine an objects' charge intensity and to see what factors influence electric force.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electromagnets

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students are introduced to the relationship between electricity and magnetism. Using a compass, they observe and record the effects of placing the object near magnetic fields and electric currents. They also experiment using a steel and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Light Up a Light Bulb!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the concept of how electricity works in the lighting of a light bulb. They construct a circuit in order to follow the path of electricity and test how it can travel in a wire system. Then the light bulb is lit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light the Bulb

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore electricity. In this power experiment instructional activity, students determine what is required for lighting a bulb. Students develop an understanding of open and closed circuits, and how energy is formed
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wire Maze

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate what causes electrical circuits to work. They construct a wire circuit and pass a paperclip through the maze, trying not to touch the wire, and answer discussion questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Bright Idea

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars establish an understanding of electricity and then demonstate that understanding by creating a basic experiment involving a lemon battery. They reflect on the importance of electricity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invention of Faraday Cage

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students demonstrate how Faraday's cage work by building their own electroscope. In this physics lesson, students explain how Faraday's cage work. They cite several applications of this principle in the real world.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Series/Parallel Circuits

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of series and parallel circuits. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They have class discussion and the lesson includes information for the teacher to use.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Current Thinking About Magnets

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Pupils construct their own magnet and wire device. In this inquiry activity, students investigate the factors affecting the strength of magnetic forces. They manipulate different variable to determine their effect.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coin Battery

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners explore basic principles of electricity and create their own battery.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Windmill activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore how to build an efficient windmill design by taking into account how the lift and drag caused by the movement of wind can be used to make the blades of the turbine move. Through their readings, hypothesis and by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

3-D Magnetic Field

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a magnetic field.  In this investigative lesson students design their own magnetic field so that they can see how magnetism and electricity work.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parallel Circuits

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students investigate the way an electrical circuit works. In this physics lesson, students use voltmeters and ammeters to measure voltage. They construct a circuit using provided circuit kits.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Circuits

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners draw a schematic diagram of parts needed to build an op-amp. In this physics lesson, students test the operation of their machine. They graph and analyze data using excel.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Light Bulbs

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders compare filaments in different light bulbs. In this science instructional activity, 5th graders view the filaments of light bulbs under a microscope.