The Green Room: Teaching About Energy

Journal Article | December 2010

Winter is the perfect time to get students thinking about their energy use and introduce them to conservation methods. Students can monitor the energy use of a classroom appliance and even compete in a nationwide energy…

Science 101: What exactly is energy?

Journal Article | February 2007

It isn’t an easy task to explain what energy is. For that simple answer, let’s head to your average science textbook and retrieve the following: “Energy is the ability to do work.” Okay, but what does that mean? What do…

Breezy Power: From Wind to Energy

Journal Article | June 2009

This lesson combines the science concepts of renewable energy and producing electricity with the technology concepts of design, constraints, and technology’s impact on the environment. Over five class periods, sixth-…

Tried and True: Energy Scavenger Hunt

Journal Article | November 2011

This column provides classic demonstrations and experiments with a new twist. This month’s issue describes an activity that was designed for our eighth-grade physics class to teach the concepts of how electricity is…

Building Energy Efficiency: Energy auditing allows students to work with the community and learn new technology

Journal Article | April 2001

The author developed a project-based curriculum called the "EnergyNet Energy Audit Project," to teach students about energy. Students look for wasted energy—energy being consumed without benefit to people—in a building…

Focus on Physics: Radiant Energy and Global Warming

Journal Article | November 2017

This column helps teachers build an understanding of physical principles. This month's article discusses electromagnetic radiation.

Teaching Through Trade Books: Energy Explorations

Journal Article | December 2017

This column includes activities inspired by children’s literature. Young students should understand that sunlight warms the Earth and be able to make decisions about maximizing energy by using different types of…

The Green Room: The Pros and Cons of Nuclear Energy

Journal Article | February 2013

This column focuses on making your teaching more environmentally friendly. This month’s issue shares classroom activities that explore nuclear energy.