Renewable Energy Lesson Plans - Middle School

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Renewable Energy Lesson Plans
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Middle School - Grades 6-8

Wind Power in Texas (6-8)
Solar Electricity in Texas (6-8)
Solar Water Heaters (6-8)
Solar Water Heaters for Swimming Pools (6-8)
Construct and test three kinds of solar cookers to observe the differences in their efficiency. (6-8)
The importance of building orientation and window sizing in conserving energy. (6-8)
Insulation, windows and shading techniques and using efficient appliances in the home. (6-8)
Various sources and uses of biomass. (6-8)
Conventional and alternative transportation fuels (K-12)
Propeller design, building a horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines, efficiency of turbine blades, turbine generators, measuring wind speed, building a data-logging anemometer. (K-12)
From Photosynthesis to Ethanol (5-12)
Biofuel Utilization (5-8)
Investigate how changes in the DNA of plants result in higher levels of cellulose yields. (5-8)
Reaction Rates and Catalysts in Ethanol Production (5-12)
The balance of sunlight and water needed for optimum seed growth (5-8)
The impacts of renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the Earth and society (5-8)
Passive Solar Building Design (5-8)
Efficiency of different types of bulbs (5-8)
Create an action plan to reduce energy use in your home. (K-8)
Compare fluorescent light bulbs and standard light bulbs (K-8)
The economic and environmental impact of energy use and energy management in a society (5-8)
Compare the insulating ability of various materials.(5-8)
Students brainstorm with their families about ways they can save energy at home and then share the ideas with their class at school. (K-12)
Compare data to see if showers or baths are more energy efficient. (5-8)
Students boil potatoes and then place them in boxes lined with different insulating materials. The potato interior temperature is recorded after one hour. (5-8)
The principles of heat transfer and the technology of using geothermal energy to generate electricity (5-8)
Using a reversible PEM fuel cell, groups of students observe the electrolysis of water and record the amount of gases produced. (5-8)
Building and testing a hydroelectric generator. (5-8)
How can you put the energy of ocean tides to work? (5-8)
Solar Cooking (5-12)
Students observe the electrolysis of water using either photovoltaics or a battery as the electric energy source.
The scientific concepts of solar energy and photovoltaics (5-8)
Building a model solar car for competition in the Junior Solar Sprint. (5-8)
Can sunlight break down different kinds of plastics? Can hydrogen peroxide work with sunlight to break down dyes? Can sunlight be used to clean up water? Make a solar dehydrator.(5-8)
Making a Solar Oven (5-8)
Utilizing Photovoltaic Cells and Systems (5-8)
Measuring the power from the sun. Measuring the sun's spectrum. How much PV do you need?
Building a PV module. Testing current and voltage of a solar cell. Calculating the efficiency of a solar cell. Making a solar simulator. (5-12)
Measuring solar radiation. Length of day around the world . Capture solar energy (5-12)
What is the economically best choice between purchasing a hybrid or typical gasoline engine automobile? (5-8)
Transportation fuels by evaluating their advantages and disadvantages (5-12)
Calculate wind power potential in your city. Is solar, wind, or solar and wind the best method to generate electricity? (5-8)
Determine the best location for a wind turbine. (5-8)
Building the Basic PVC Wind Turbine (5-12)
Scale models and the issues surrounding models and their accuracy when developing a large wind farm.(5-12)
See the difference in the speed and smoothness of the wind at different altitudes above the earth (5-12)
A variety of ideas for building turbines and teacher handouts (5-12)
Teacher’s Renewable Energy Activities (6-8)
A quick, fun game to reinforce information about energy sources, forms of energy, and general energy information (5-8)
Energy derived from renewable resources is assumed to be available indefinitely. (6)
Measuring Solar Radiation (6-12)
Explain the importance of insulating homes to reduce heat loss from the inside in cold weather and heat gain from the outside in hot weather. (6-8)
Students experiment with a virtual solar cooker to discover the mathematical relationship among reflection, transmission and absorption. (6-8)
Solar Energy: Become a Sun Chef! (5-8)
Students will determine if there were any differences between simple ovens and improved ovens thus evaluating their designs. (6-12)
Create the natural fuel called ethanol. (6-8)
Demonstrate the benefits of using renewable energy resources to produce electricity and hydrogen as energy carriers that offer the greatest diversity and lowest environmental impact. (5-8)
The benefits of using hydrogen as a source of energy (5-8)
Fuel Cells: Driving the Future (5-8)
Fuel Cells: Powering Our Economic Future (5-8)
Yosemite Hybrid Bus Worksheet (7-12)
An investigation of biomass as a sustainable energy resource. (6-8)
Geothermal Energy in Latin America (6-8)
Students will measure the output of a PV cell under varying conditions using a DC multimeter. (6-8)
The effect of colored light on the voltages developed by PV cells (6-8)
Effects of the Sun on Our Planet (5-8)
The Design, Construction and Evaluation of a Solar-Powered Car (6-8)
An audio amplifier is connected to a solar cell to change the laser light signal into a sound signal. (8)
Waste-to-Energy Incineration (6-12)
Hydro-electric power production in the Columbia Basin (6)
Types of natural resources that are used to generate electricity. (6-12)
By using kites and caution tape you can help students see the variability in wind speeds due to turbulence and friction near the surface of the earth. (6-12)
Scale models and issues surrounding models and their accuracy when developing a large wind farm. (6-12)
Wind Turbine Blade Design (6-12)
What is a wind power curve and what does is tell us about a wind turbine? (6-12)
Build models of wind turbines and experiment with the types of changes that will increase efficiency. (6-12)
Build a working wind turbine model and then compare the amount of electricity produced by high and low wind speeds. (6-8)
An Investigation of Wind Power as an Energy Resource in Pennsylvania (6-8)
Students will design two different solar ovens to learn about heat transfer. (6)
Students build a solar hot dog cooker and test its ability to function. (6-9)
Geyser Demonstration Experiment
Renewable Energy Wordsearch Game (K-12)
Teacher’s Renewable Energy Activities (6-8)
Renewable Energy Quiz (6-8)
Renewable Energy Puzzle (6-12)
Computer-Based Energy Projects (5-12)
Determine and analyze energy trends in the United States over the past 50 years. (5-12)
How does using less energy help our environment? (5-12)
Junior Solar Sprint/Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Competitions (6-12)
Exploring Wind Energy (6-12)
Students design buildings as a case study in how renewable energy might be used today (6-12)
Identify the major construction, maintenance and design features that make a buildingenergy efficient. (7-9)
Students use satellite data to help determine greatest renewable energy potentials in any given region and to develop skills in graphing and reading graphs. (7-12)
Students explore different sources of energy and investigate the difference between renewable and non-renewable forms. (6-8)
Exploring Renewable and Non-renewable resources (game). (6-12)
After learning about different types of renewable energy, students will make a recommendation about which source would be appropriate for their school. (5-8)
Students will understand the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, will develop some ideas for integrating renewable energy sources into their lives, and will design a vehicle that operates on a renewable energy source. (6-12)
Students will work in groups to research nonrenewable and renewable energy resources using the Internet. Each group will develop a PowerPoint presentation to highlight strengths of the different energy resources. (4-7)
Students compare renewable and non-renewable energy resources and will create PowerPoint presentations highlighting their findings. (6-12)
Energy Crossword Puzzle (6-8)
Energy Crossword (6-8)
Renewable Energy Quiz (6-8)