Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

It’s Electric!

For Teachers 7th Standards
Shocking! Who knew so many great ideas existed for teaching middle schoolers about electricity? Find them all within this energetic framework. You'll light up at the variety of printable and web-based resources within! After building...
PPT
Curated OER

States of Matter

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
This presentation gives information about the kinetic theory behind particle motion at different energy levels and states.  The effect of temperature on energy content and the resulting changes in state are covered at a molecular...
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Working with Wind Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Teams design and build a windmill, under budget, that can lift an object. The groups evaluate and reflect on their own design, then on those produced by other teams. The goal is to determine which design is the most...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Glued into Science—Classifying Polymers

For Students 6th - 12th
Explore the unique characteristics of polymers. A complete activity begins with a presentation introducing polymers. Following the presentation, young scientists develop a laboratory plan for creating substances using polymers. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jeopardy

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Here you will find 5 categories regarding atoms, the periodic table, and the elements.  The questions in this jeopardy game are about bonding, ions, oxidation number, and energy levels.
Interactive
PHET

Molecules and Light

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Does light affect molecules or does it go right through them? The simulation explores four different types of light: microwave, infrared, visible, and ultraviolet. Scholars alter the energy level of each as it is aimed at seven different...
Lesson Plan
Foundation for Water & Energy Education

How Can Work Be Done with Water Power? Activity A

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Environmentally friendly engineering teams construct a water wheel and experiment with its speed and the resulting amount of weight it can lift. Consider following this activity with two more of the same title by the same publisher when...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Life on the Ocean Floor

For Students 7th - 10th
Why would water 2700 meters deep suddenly become warmer? Explore this and other ocean floor discoveries through this reading response worksheet. Scholars read information about the organisms discovered by Alvin, a deep-sea submersible....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mathematics of Convection: Nature's Model for Energy Production

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers conduct a series of experiments to investigate density, buoyancy and climate. In this math lesson, pupils design and build a hot air balloon to demonstrate convection. They research and write a paper about solar chimneys.
Lesson Plan
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Virginia Department of Education

Atomic Structure: Periodic Table

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The fifth lesson of seven in the series outlines an in-depth analysis of the periodic table. After direct instruction, pupils take turns practicing in the group before beginning independent study. The assessments include a...
Activity
2
2
National Park Service

It's Not Easy Being Grizz

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Grizzly bears can be up to 600 pounds and require a great deal of food, especially to survive hibernation. Comprised of multiple games, the third lesson of five only uses one setup. Pupils run around a large field, sorting and collecting...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Ecosystem

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students become familiar with the temperate rainforest.  In this forest ecosystem lesson, students identify the producers, consumers and decomposers in the forest ecosystem.  Students sort cards and identify the trophic level...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #13 - Solarize a Toy

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Physical science or technology classes will be invigorated by this challenge: to convert a toy, game, or other device to run on solar power. In doing so, they will design the appropriate solar arrays. This is an A+ lesson, complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun: Earth's External Heat Engine - Part 1 of the Astronomy Model

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Designed by School Power...NaturallySM, this lesson familiarizes advanced earth science and physics learners about the variables that affect our supply of solar energy. They examine gas spectra and perform calculations. There is an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Considerations in Heating a Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Emerging engineers discover how important it is to conserve energy as fossil fuel supplies are being diminished. This is accomplished by working through a handout that explains energy requirements for heating a home during the winter....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #8 - Positioning Solar Panels II: Explorations with Stationary Panels

For Teachers 6th - 9th
This lesson is preparation-intensive, but well worth the investment. You will construct five or six portable testing stations with which lab groups will gather data on the best position for collecting sunlight with a solar panel. This is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power Play

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Once your physical science stars have a grasp of the different forms of energy, use this resource to get them putting the energy to work. Small groups choose from seven different project options and work together to build an energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crafting Models of Efficiency

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners build and compare models of both an energy inefficient and efficient classroom. In this energy efficiency lesson plan, students creatively use recycled materials to build two separate classroom models. They factor in concepts...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Catapults

For Students 4th - 8th
Ready, aim, fire! Launch to a new level of understanding as scholars build and test their own catapults. Learners explore lever design and how adjusting the fulcrum changes the outcome. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Chemistry of Refining Crude Oil

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Consider our energy sources: wood, coal, oil, uranium. Learners compare the pollution to energy produced for each. They practice fractional distillation of an alcohol/water mixture to simulate the process of refining crude oil....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junior Solar Sprint Series: Gears and Drive Belts

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Activate middle schoolers' minds with this physical science activity. Learners vary the diameter of gears and the number of teeth on them to find how energy output is affected. This writeup features well-developed background...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #1 - Solar Cell Inquiry

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Give youngsters the components of a solar-powered electric circuit and turn them loose to figure out how to connect them in order for a light to shine or motor to turn. They compare energy output of a solar panel to that of a battery. On...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Bubbling Plants

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars study a way to quantify the process of photosynthesis during a given time using the Elodea plant. They design a hypothesis that they test in the hands on activity. They compare the amounts of photosynthesis that occur...
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Keeping It Hot!

For Teachers 7th Standards
Hot off the presses, this collection of thermal energy activities, lessons, and printables is sure to amaze. Demonstrate how thermal energy moves about in a system using simple materials. Pupils demonstrate their understanding...