Curated OER
Science Trail
Students take a trip on a science trail to explore how corn and soybeans can be made into fuel. They make a list of byproducts that come from soybeans. Afterward, they participate in the activities related to the creation of ethanol such...
Curated OER
Wind Power
Fourth graders develop an understanding of how engineers use wind to generate electricity. They will build a model anemometer to better understand and measure wind speed. They discover that engineers design wind turbines that generate...
Curated OER
Does Cloud Type Affect Rainfall?
Student uses MY NASA DATA to obtain precipitation and cloud type data. They create graphs of data within MY NASA DATA. They compare different cloud types as well as precipitation types. They describe graphs of the precipitation and cloud...
Curated OER
Energy and Resources
Students identify renewable and nonrenewable resources. In this energy lesson, students explore the consumption issues regarding oil use and consider methods of resource management. Students research alternative resources and present...
Curated OER
From Sunlight to Electric Current
Students explore concept of current in electrical circuits. They examine how energy from the sun can be used to power everyday items, including vehicles.
Curated OER
Energy Conservation
Class is divided into groups of 2-4 students. They then are given a list of 36 items that are found in our homes and which use electricity. They are going to pretend that because of an energy shortage, they have to pick only twelve items...
Curated OER
Our Amazing, Powerful Sun
Students examine where energy comes from and how it can be used. In this solar energy lesson plan students explore different aspects of the sun.
Curated OER
Grass as Biomass
Students explore energy properties by listening to a sustainability lecture in class. For this biomass lesson, students identify what biomass is, how it can be transformed into a usable energy and how it complements the energy cycle....
Curated OER
Ice Cube Experiment
Students explore the rate at which ice melts. In this science lesson plan, students place ice cubes on colored index cards and place them in direct sunlight. Students observe which ice cubes melt fastest and slowest.
Curated OER
Heat Transfer
Young scholars examine heat transfer using energy efficient houses. In this heat transfer lesson plan students calculate the heat that is transferred between a system and its surroundings.
Curated OER
How Photocells Work
Give small groups of physical scientists tokens that represent electrons in a photovoltaic cell. They play a dice game in which they move the tokens around, representing the flow of electrons through the p-n junction of a semiconductor...
National Institute of Open Schooling
Environmental Concerns
Every year, more than 14 billion pounds of garbage is dumped into the oceans of the world, most of which is plastic and toxic to ocean life. Lesson 32 in the series of 36 focuses on environmental concerns, specifically pollution. Under...
Science Matters
Wave Watching
Seismologists use the direction and arrival times of p waves and s waves to determine the distance to the source of an earthquake. The engaging lesson has students line up to form human waves. Through different movements when attached,...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Mutations Are Changes in Genetic Information
A red delicious apple tree with a simple mutation means we now benefit from the existence of golden delicious apples. Learn how simple mutations change genetic information in DNA sequences. Using biographies, videos, and animations,...
National Institute of Open Schooling
Hydrocarbons
The vast majority of hydrocarbons humans use help fuel cars, homes, and provide energy. A comprehensive lesson teaches pupils all about hydrocarbons. From alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes to benzene, classes study the preparation of these...
Curated OER
Making Waves with the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Learners explore various types of electromagnetic waves, the range of the spectrum, and common sources of electromagnetic waves.
Curated OER
Fossil Fuel and the Ticking Clock
Students study energy sources to learn about fossil fuels and environmental concerns. In this energy sources instructional activity, students watch demonstrations for various energy examples. Students find hidden pennies, make a bar...
Curated OER
Solar Matters
Learners design an energy resource wheel and demonstrate how to use it to access information about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
Curated OER
Thinking about Energy
Young scholars navigate through a web-based survey to help engage curiosity about energy concepts. They describe how prior perceptions influence examineing of energy concepts. They evaluate comprehension about concepts of energy.
Curated OER
Create Hydrogen Energy
Young scholars complete an experiment to understand changes to the environment over time. In this hydrogen lesson plan, students discuss electrolysis and conduct an electrolysis experiment. Young scholars observe and record...
Teach Engineering
Water Power
Young hydrologists observe a waterwheel which helps them investigate the transformations of energy that occur when the blades of a hydro-turbine are turning. They work together in pairs and pretend to be engineers who are building a new...
Curated OER
Biological Molecules
Ninth graders examine the structure and function of biomolecules. In this food molecule instructional activity, 9th graders will examine various types of biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic...
National Institute of Open Schooling
Radioactive Pollution
Radioactive pollutants can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or injection. The last lesson in a series of 36 introduces pupils to radioactive pollution. They study its sources, both natural and man-made, its...
PBS
Cloud Clues
It's cloudy with a good chance of learning! An inquiry-based lesson begins with an exploration of transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. Young scientists then connect their learning to the different cloud types as they take the...