Saving Energy, Saving the World

Saving Energy, Saving the World
An Internet Hotlist on Energy Conservation

created by Pat Flanagan
STPSB Energy Conservation Specialist

Introduction
TEACHERS: In addition to using books and magazines to find out about saving energy, why not also use the power of the Internet? The links below will get you started. To use the 'Discovery Education' links, log in using your school code if you are not yet registered. If registered, use your ID and password and search for the video using the title given.

The Internet Resources

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge for 2010-2011 - The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is the only national sustainability challenge that empowers students in every grade level to develop and share environmental solutions that just may change the world. Prizes up to $100,000.

Sites students can use independently

Careers in Energy - Explore the surprising variety of interesting careers available at an energy company, and 'interview' some of our employees to find out what it's like to work at Xcel Energy.
Disney’s Friends for Change project Green - Helping kids help the planet.
Do Something.org - Do Something believes you have the power to make a difference. It is our aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of doers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. At DoSomething.org we provide the tools and resources for you to convert your ideas and energy into positive action. Be part of a generation of doers.
EPA Climate Change Kids Site - Climate change may be a big problem, but there are many little things we can do to make a difference. Use this site to learn more about climate change and what you can do to help. Play climate change games and use links for more information. Teacher's stuff included.
Earth Hour Kids - Fun games, activities, quizzes and more to help kids learn how turning off the lights for one hour can save the Earth.
Elena the Power Girl - Help Elena solve the energy shortage.
Energy Pirates - Pirates help landlubbers learn how to save energy using games for lower grade students.
Energyville - Power your city and discover your financial, enviromental, and security impact.
Flex Your Power Challenge - Flex Your Power's website is your resource for energy efficiency and conservation information. Take the Challenge!
Funergy - Two games and quiz about saving energy.
HBO Family: Greenville - Explore Greenville and save the planet!
Join the Lorax and Help Protect the Environment - Let the Lorax help turn you into an Energy Star!
Josh and Sarah's Electric Adventure - Story book: Grandpa tells Josh and Sarah about changes electric usage from his childhood to the present.
NASA Global Climate Change Kids Website - Climate Kid’s NASA’s Eye on the Earth--explore this site to find out how to help save the planet.
National Geographic Green Scene Kids Blog - It's All About Being Green! National Geographic Kids is all about inspiring kids to care about the planet! The Earth needs everyone's help to stay green and healthy for animals, plants, people, and bugs. You Know What We're Talking About Kids love animals, love to play outside, check out ponds, creeks, rivers, beaches, puddles, and all the creatures in the forest, in the desert, and even those creepy bugs lurking in the basement! But many species are at risk, endangered or threatened and we ALL have to take time to take care of the planet. We'll print the tips, stories, and ideas from experts around the globe, but we need you to tell us what you're doing in your house, school, and community to make a difference. Do you recycle? Are you careful about how much water you use for brushing your teeth and taking a shower?
Ollie Saves the Planet - Welcome to Ollie Saves the Planet! Join Ollie to REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, and RETHINK what you do with Waste, Water, Energy, Air, and Biodiversity—under the principle of sustainability.
Planetpals.com—Earthzone - Earthzone is full of EARTH fun and facts! Meet Earthman and His Pals, they will help you learn about the universe. Take quizzes, color, play, or make something today! Become a member. Send friends e-mail stickers or greetings. Most of all be a pal, clean and green!
Power Up - A game about power choices
Recycle City - An activity to find out how a city's residents reduce, reuse, and recycle
Roofus' Solar and Efficient Home - Roofus' home is energy smart. Find out what makes it run.
The Green Squad - Kids taking action for greener, healthier schools.
The Greens - A site for kids about looking after the planet
Thristin's Water Cycle - Automated explanation of the water cycle
Virtual Power Plant Tour - Grab a hard hat and come along as we go behind the scenes at a power plant. You’ll learn where the electricity you use every day is made. See the whole process up close, from coal to current!
Wanted: Super Heroes to the Rescue - Create your own super hero with energy-saving Super Powers.
Watt’s That - An interactive Jeopardy-like game with questions about energy
Wind with Miller - Follow Miller's directions to build a wind turbine and find out how it works.

Resources to use with your students

10 Books for the Green Preschooler - Books to teach preschoolers to appreciate the environment
3M Young Scientist Challenge - Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is the premier national science competition for students in grades 5 through 8. The Young Scientist Challenge is designed to encourage the exploration of science and innovation among America's youth and to promote the importance of science communication. In 1999, Discovery Communications launched the competition to nurture the next generation of American scientists at a critical age when interest in science begins to decline. In 2008 3M joined forces with Discovery Education in a quest to nurture the next generation of American scientists with an innovative and interactive science program open to every middle school student in America. Over the last ten years, more than 600,000 middle school students have been nominated to participate in the competition, and winners have gone on to speak in front of members of Congress, work with the nation's top scientists, and pursue academic careers in the sciences.
7 Books That Will Have the Preschooler Set Teaching You How to be Green - Summaries of books to help preschoolers understand the concept of “Going Green”
Academic Earth - Thousands of video lectures from the world's top scholars. Resource for teachers covers many science topics, etc.
Act Green - Scholastic Publishing’s site promoting going green
Celebrate Earth Day EPA Site - On April 22, 1970, 20 million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day. It was a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire. Now Earth Day is celebrated annually around the globe. Through the combined efforts of the U.S. government, grassroots organizations, and citizens like you, what started as a day of national environmental recognition has evolved into a world-wide campaign to protect our global environment.
Children's Environmental Literature - The Children’s Environmental Literature Bibliography is available for download courtesy of Wisconsin's Project WILD, Project Learning Tree and Project WET programs. This popular resource was initially developed in 1997 and has been revised as a reading list for early childhood providers and to help teacher's meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind legislation (NCLB). The bibliography contains more than 400 books, over 300 of them new additions. For easy teacher reference, the books are grouped according to topic area and age group.
Classroom Earth - Classroom Earth is an online resource designed to help high school teachers include environmental content into their daily lesson plans.
Classroom Energy! - Classroom Energy! was created to provide useful and fun real-world information on a key component of our everyday lives: energy.
Cleaner and Greener for Schools - Schools, teachers, students, and families can help reduce pollution through the Cleaner and Greener Environment Program. Cleaner and Greener provides K-12 schools with curriculum materials, resources, activities, and recognition to spark student interest and educational achievement.
ClimateChallenge.org - The Challenge unites 42 organizations and over 630 local groups in 56 states and provinces. Together we have worked to pass 100s of local and regional climate policies. Together we are building a movement for A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE!
Com Ed's Energy Efficiency World - Energy Efficiency World uses information, experiments, games, and activities to teach students the many forms of energy, how to use it efficiently, and how wise energy use helps the environment.
Conservation - Saving energy doesn't have to be painful. Learn good reasons to save energy, and actions you can take right now to help protect the environment and use energy more wisely.
Cool School Challenge - The Cool School Challenge aims to motivate students, teachers, and school districts to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions schoolwide. At the heart of the Cool School Challenge is the philosophy that big changes start with small steps, and that taken together, simple individual actions create a world of difference.
EEK! Environmental Education for Kids - Welcome to 'EEK!' - brought to you by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This electronic magazine is for kids in grades 4-8. Surf around and learn more about the great outdoors.
EPA Environmental Education for Middle School Students - Environmental Basics; Environmental Club Projects; Careers, Interns, and Scholarships; Environmental Youth Awards; Fun Activities, etc. Check it out!
EPA Environmental Kids Club - Environmental education information and activities for students ages 4 to 9 (pre-K to 4th grade). Teacher's information included.
Earth Buddies--Think Quest Project - Calling All Kids! Are you ready to learn how you can save the environment? Did you know that you have the power to SAVE THE EARTH? It's true! You've probably heard about some of the bad things that are happening such as global warming, water pollution, and deforestation. We created this site so kids like you can learn about these problems and how to fight them.
Earth Day Online - The EnviroLink Network has served as the online clearinghouse for environmental information since 1991.
Earth Day U.S. Government Portal - Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Earth Day and every day is a time to act to protect our planet.
Earth Day, Every Day - Take this quiz to see how much you know about saving energy!
Earth Hour - On March 27, 2010, an estimated one billion people around the world came together to call for action on climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for just one hour—Earth Hour. This global event shows clearly that by joining forces, each of us takes a strong stance to protect the planet for ourselves and for future generations. Learn more about how Earth Hour began, what we’ve accomplished; and how, together, we can turn a symbolic event into a true movement.
Earthday Network 2010 - Protecting the Earth and its people every day-- Information about the 40th anniversary of Earth Day—April 22nd, 2010
Eco-Schools USA - Eco-Schools is an internationally acclaimed program that provides a framework to help educators integrate sustainable principles throughout their schools and curriculum. Eco-Schools USA is a holistic program. It strives to make environmental awareness and action an intrinsic part of the life and culture of a school, including students, teachers, administrative staff, non-teaching staff and parents, as well as the local community. Eco-Schools USA works to extend learning beyond the classroom and develop responsible environmental attitudes and commitments, both at home and in the wider community. Whether you are a teacher, student, administrator or facilities manager, the Eco-Schools USA program can benefit your school and local communities.
Ecokids Canada's Environmental Destination for Kids - Games, activities, contests, homework help, and more for kids interested in the environment.
Energy 101 - Links to games, activities, and lesson plans to help students understand energy and the importance of saving energy.
Energy Chest - Welcome to Energy Chest, a treasure-trove of information and activities to support energy studies in UK schools. Energy Chest has been developed for pupils aged 8-14 years and is divided into three modules: Energy in Buildings Energy and the Environment Energy Sources The site includes basic information on energy and its use, curriculum activities, notes for teachers and a library of links to other energy and environmental sites.
Energy Hog - Learn how to defeat the 'Energy Hog' and improve the energy efficiency in your home.
Energy Kid's Page - Energy facts, fun, games, history, K-12 classroom activities, and more. Great resource for writing reports, Science Fair projects, and classroom energy experiments.
Energy Quest - Energy Quest is the award-winning energy education website of the California Energy Commission.
Energy Smart Schools Energy Awareness Activity Book - A thirteen page booklet of information, games, and activities to raise the energy awareness of students in grades 4 to 8
Energy Star Kids - Interactive pages with tips on how kids can save energy every day and learn more about why energy efficiency is so important to protecting the environment.
For Kids of All Ages - Interesting things about water,fish, dams, and energy—bilingual
General Environmental Education Resources - Links to Environmental Education sites
Green Education Foundation - Green Education Foundation (GEF), a non-profit organization, is committed to creating a sustainable future through education. GEF provides curriculum and resources to K-12 students and teachers worldwide with the goal of challenging youth to think holistically and critically about global environmental concerns and solutions.
Green Home Guide—Interactive tools - Use these interactive tools to figure out just how green your home and lifestyle are and to learn ways to boost your green credentials.
Hands-on Science Centers Worldwide - This page contains pointers to public museums with a strong emphasis on interactive science education. Sorry, many links do not work, but those that do are worth the time it takes to find them.
High School Environmental Center: Waste & Recycling - This page provides an overview of the Superfund program, highlights key steps in the Superfund cleanup process, explains how the program is enforced, describes EPA's Superfund offices, and links to other EPA hazardous-waste programs.
High School Environmental Resources - This site will inform you about environmental issues and help you protect the environment.
Hydromania - Welcome to Hydromania, a hands-on, ready-to-use science curriculum exploring nature and energy! This exciting curriculum was designed by teachers for grades 4 through 6, with each lesson matched to relevant Oregon and Washington benchmarks. Your students will love science as they compete in the Metric Olympics, launch their water rockets, build and race boats, make rock candy, create water turbines and electromagnets, and much more. Many of the lessons could also be used for middle school grades as well-- they are simply great, active science lessons. Download what you need for FREE!
Junior Energy--We've got a bright idea to protect our planet! - Junior Energy's mission is to work in classrooms and schools to help children discover how they can positively impact the planet by engaging their parents, family, friends and neighbors in small, simple actions.
Kid's Korner Energy Efficiency Super Saver Certificate - Award this certificate after visiting the Kid's Korner website.
Kids Korner--Energy Education is Fun! - Great site to teach students about energy and energy efficiency. Uses text, diagrams, activities, and lesson plans for teachers. Lesson plans and color sheets geared to k-1 students. Text and diagrams for older students could be used independently with accompanying worksheets.
Kids Saving Energy - Games, tips, and facts just for kids who want to save energy!
Learn about Energy.org - Ohio Energy Project: Kids Teaching Kids website. Ohio’s Anderson High School Energy Club’s website to teach K-12 students about energy and how its use hurts the environment.
Learn and Serve America - America’s young people – from kindergartners to university students – have the desire, energy and ability to make a real difference in their communities. Service-learning offers a unique opportunity for them to get involved in a tangible way by integrating community service projects with classroom learning. Service-learning engages students in the educational process, using what they learn in the classroom to solve real-life problems. Students not only learn about democracy and citizenship, they become actively contributing citizens and community members through the service they perform.
Learning about Renewable Energy - Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are key to creating a clean energy future for not only the nation, but the world. This Web site describes NREL's research in renewable energy technologies, and also provides information on energy efficiency and various applications of renewable energy. (High School—also has resources for 6 to 8th grades)
Lessons on the Lake - An educator's guide to the Pontchartrain Basin
Lose Your Excuse - Join millions of kids to learn how to use energy wisely.
Low Impact Living - Learn how you can reduce your environmental impact.
Master Copy for Energy Activity booklet - Master copy for 10 page Energy Activity booklet for students. Students can complete the booklet and correct their answers using the key on the back of the booklet.
NEED Curriculum Guides - An online list of materials produced by the National Energy Education Development Project-- teacher guides, student guides, booklets, flipbooks, songs, plays, and more to support energy education and energy savings.
NEED Student's Guide for 'Saving Energy--Learning and Conserving' - 7-12 grade students complete these activities to explore energy use and conservation using the school as a learning laboratory.
NEED Teacher's Guide for 'Saving Energy--Learning and Conserving' - These activities explore energy use and conservation using the school as a learning laboratory. Grades 7-12
National Environmental Education Week 2010 - National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), the nation's largest environmental education event held each year the week before Earth Day, inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K-12 students. EE Week connects educators with environmental resources to promote K-12 students’ understanding of the environment.
National Geographic Energy Conservation Quiz - Take our interactive quiz and see how much you know about carbon emissions and how to reduce them.
Natural Resources - A teacher fact sheet on natural resources with links to supporting websites.
Natural Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems - Throughout time, humans have learned to exist in many locations on the earth. The interaction of humans with the environment (surroundings) in these locations has often brought major changes in that environment. Some changes were good, some were bad. Many times the bad changes were caused by humans making too much of a change in the environment, by using or abusing the natural resources (anything found in nature) present.
Nuclear Physics Past, Present, and Future - Understanding the atom was exclusively a pursuit of scientists for a long time. There was a time when the workings of these tiny particles were of no consequence to ordinary people. That time ended over fifty years ago, when scientists irrefutably demonstrated the power of the atom to the world, yet there are many who still fail to comprehend the physics behind this awesome technology. Addressing a general audience, we explain the physics behind this technology, connecting it to popular history, current issues and prospects for the future. Additionally, we provide a forum for users to discuss material presented on this site and express their thoughts regarding various issues. Enjoy reading the interactive material, taking the self-tests, and debating political issues with others. Most of all, have fun.
Online Earth Day Ideas for Schools - Resources with information and activities for Earth Day
Out of the Rock - National Energy Foundation Site on energy sources found in rock.
Physical Agriscience Kit Energy Conservation Quiz - Take this quiz to see how much you know saving energy and landscaping to save energy.
Power Sources - Find out where energy comes from and how electricity is created. Get a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each energy source.
School Energy Audit - An EcoKids information pack on helping your school to become more energy efficient
Science Fair Projects World - We have a Large collection of Hundreds of Free Illustrated Science Fair Projects Ideas and Science Project Experiments for Elementary School, Middle School & High School. All the projects are illustrated with high-quality diagrams and easy to follow instructions. Note: Most of these projects are demonstrations of scientific phenomena and would be better used to arouse interest in science. Some of the activities could be developed into projects if the reaction of different materials were measured and recorded using the scientific method.
Sunsite Funsite - An introduction to solar energy
Sunwind Solar Industries Inc. - 'Solar Energy Kits', 'Lessons', and 'Notes & Links' you can use when teaching alternative energy sources. Be sure to check out the “Notes & Links” for additional resources.
TVAkids.com - The Tennessee Valley Authority created this website to teach children about the production of electricity and ways to help the environment with Green Power. The site has information, inactive game, videos, lesson plans, links to other sites, and much more. Teachers can use the Energy Sourcebooks for hands-on lesson plans and the website Treasure Hunt questions to check student understanding. Both of these resources are found in the “For Teachers” section.
Teachers’ Corner –Southeast Rebuild Collaborative - The purpose of this curriculum is to provide an exciting, hands-on, and comprehensive introduction to the concept of energy and its uses that can be presented to a group of students in a short time (1-2 hours) in conjunction with the SunChaser2 mobile education unit. Instead of exposing students to a rapid fire succession of disconnected or irrelevant facts, this curriculum instead strives to lead students to trace out the three primary paths by which energy flows in our world, and illustrate the differences. Students are lead wherever possible by asking them a series of questions and providing them with hands-on examples.
The Adventures of Vermi the Worm - The Adventures of Vermi the Worm is an animated, interactive game that teaches the basics of vermicomposting and its benefits, plus other waste management strategies like the 3Rs--reduce, reuse and recycle!
The Atoms Family - Educational activities relating to different forms of energy presented by Dracula, the Mummy, Frankenstein, and other monsters
The Climate Project - The Climate Project consists of more than 3,000 dedicated volunteers worldwide who have all been personally trained by Al Gore to educate the public about climate change. TCP has official branches in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Spain, UK, and Indonesia. TCP presenters have delivered 50,000 presentations and reached a combined global audience of more than 5 million people. Our hope is that by raising the awareness of our fellow citizens about this crisis and informing them about potential solutions, all of us, together, can preserve the climate balance on which humanity and our planet depend.
The Futures Channel--Connecting Learning to the Real World - The technology behind harvesting wind, as a renewable source of energy, has undergone major advances in recent years. Far from randomly installing turbines on a windy hill, wind farming has become a precise technology to determine the most optimum location for each single turbine, any one of which can produce enough energy to power 750 homes.
The Happy Earth Day Activity Book - A twelve page booklet of activities students can complete to help celebrate Earth Day. Suitable for grades 3 to 6
The Secret Lives of Energy - The material on energy could also be used in any 9th through 12th grade physical science, chemistry, or physics class, by adding or subtracting curriculum material or varying the time spent.
The Wilderness Society's Earth Day Site - Welcome to The Wilderness Society's Earth Day website. We have lots here for you and your students. Check out our curriculum and activities for Earth Day.
The Zerofootprint Challenge - Is your school green? Prove it. The Zerofootprint challenge encourages students across the world to take climate change into their own hands by competing to reduce their school’s environmental impact. Join to measure your footprint, then challenge another school to a race to reduce! Make your school an active part of the fight against global warming by joining the challenge.
Think Energy Career Education - Energy is a diverse field, with many job opportunities. Working in energy can mean working for utilities, for gas and oil companies, for government and research groups, for energy education or environmental regulation agencies, for nonprofit energy awareness and conservation organizations, or for many other energy related agencies.
Think Green Classroom - Waste Management and Discovery Education have partnered to engage students in learning about the environment. Teachers will find standards-based lesson plans, tools and hands-on activities to enliven classroom learning and at-home extensions. Students will find video clips and step-by-step interactive activities to expand their knowledge of the planet we share.
Tips and Links for Implementing a School-Wide Energy Efficiency Program - Are you interested in launching a school-wide energy efficiency program? Use these ten steps from the Alliance’s Green Schools Program to get you started.
Touchstone Energy Kids Zone - Touchstone Energy Kids Zone is a cool place where you can learn about electricity, energy savings and electrical safety. Energy is part of our daily lives. Every time you watch television or turn on a light you are using electricity.
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Student Corner - Learn about nuclear energy.
Watt Watchers of Texas - Watt Watchers of Texas is a free, state sponsored program to help schools save energy and money by getting students involved.
Welcome to the Energy Classroom - Links to websites about energy and conservation
You Can Be an Energy Super Saver - Ten ways to save energy at home for grades 3 to 12.
zerofootprint - Zerofootprint is an award-winning green-tech company that works with companies, governments, schools, cities and utilities to benchmark their environmental impact.

Lesson plans

A Day in the Life - Students practice simple data collection, tabulation, graphing, and analysis in this energy awareness exercise. Next, they design a conservation plan. Finally, they study how to implement the plan. (Suggested grade level 10-12)
A Home Energy Audit - This activity turns you into an instant BUILDING INSPECTOR. Your assignment: Identity whatever helps or hurts energy conservation in a specific building. You can become a kind of detective looking for “culprits” that waste energy and money. (Suggested grade level equals 5th to 12th)
All About the Sun--Effects of the Sun on our Planet - Using information gathered from the Stanford University solar website students explore the effects of the Sun on Earth.
Cost Effective Buying - Students learn how to evaluate energy-related purchases in terms of cost- effectiveness; i.e., time to 'payback,' 'rate of return on investment' (Suggested grade level equals High School)
E Jobs Trading Cards - This lesson will teach students about a variety of environmental jobs. It will give them the opportunity to research jobs, their descriptions and qualifications, and then share the information with their classmates, while participating in a fun art activity. (Suggested grade level equals 5th)
EE Week Resources - EE Week's goal is to connect educators with environmental resources to promote K-12 students' understanding of the environment. EE Week offers hundreds of resources for educators -- lesson plans, videos, professional development opportunities and information on grants and awards -- on a variety of topics. All of the resources you will find on this site have gone through a rigorous review process to ensure they are correlated to learning standards, scientifically accurate, free of bias and appropriate for an audience of K-12 students and educators.
EPA ENERGY CONSERVATION - POLLUTION PREVENTION (P2) EDUCATION TOOLBOX Tools for Helping Teachers Integrate P2 Concepts in the Classroom United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA-905-F-97-011 August 1997
EconEdLink - A premier source of classroom tested, Internet-based economic lesson materials for K-12 teachers and their students
Ecosystem Matters - An activity and resource guide for Environmental Educators
Energy Efficiency 'Let's Save Energy' Lesson Plan - This K-1 lesson shows various ways students can save energy in their homes as well as introducing the concept of energy conservation.
Facing the Future Free Curriculum - Standards-based resources related to global issues and sustainable solutions.
Green Careers Web Quest - This lesson is a web quest that allows students to answer the question, “Is there a green career that you would enjoy having?” (Suggested grade level equals 8th)
Green reading for Educators - Bibliography of books that raise environmental awareness for teachers
Greening Schools: Energy -Audits - Links to energy conservation lessons and audits for middle-school to high school students.
Increasing energy conservation awareness in elementary school students - An energy education program — Knowledge Is Power! (KIP) — in California's Ojai Valley, uses peer to peer interaction and experiential learning to educate elementary school students. A marionette show, interactive solar-powered laboratory, energy footprint project, and a school energy audit are all part of the curriculum. Educational consultant Michael Stark submitted this effective practice in August, 2003 as part of a project for CalServe.
Infinite Power: Renewable Energy Lesson Plans - Lesson plans for grades K-12 with teacher resource guides, student worksheets, and assessments.
K-12 Educators Curricular Units - NESEA's K-12 Education Department offers several educational materials including curriculum guides, hands-on activities, and other resources. Some units are free and downloadable through prior grant funding. Click on the individual unit and either a description will pop up or the unit will download automatically as a PDF. Units with only the description will need to be ordered as a hard copy.
Kid Wind Project - Lesson plans for teachers and directions for students to create wind use projects.
Lesson Plan: Incredible Shrinking Habitat (Grades 4-7) - Focus Question: • What is the impact of development and habitat loss on wildlife populations? Learning Objectives: • The students will be able to describe the impact of development on wildlife populations. • The students will be able to recognize that habitat loss is a critical issue facing wildlife populations.
Lesson Plan: The Impact of Climate Change on Prairie Potholes (Grades 4-8) - Focus Question: • What happens to the Mallard Duck population when the prairie potholes disappear? Learning Objectives: • The students will be able to understand the importance of the prairie potholes to the waterfowl population that depend on this region for reproduction. • The students will be able to recognize the correlation between the quality and quantity of prairie potholes and the waterfowl that use this region for reproduction.
NASA SciFiles 'Sound Activities' - Link to primary and elementary activites on sound energy.
National Environmental Education Week - National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) is the largest organized environmental education event in the United States. It increases the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of educational preparation, learning, and activities in K-12 classrooms, nature centers, zoos, museums, and aquariums. In 2007, 1,453 EE Week partners taught over 3.5 million students about the importance of caring for the natural environment.
Project Learning Tree - Project Learning Tree® is an award winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK-grade 12. PLT, a program of the American Forest Foundation, is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad. PLT continues to set the standard for environmental education excellence.
Resources/Curriculum for teachers - New York Energy Smart: Teacher’s resources and curriculum on energy basics, energy topics, hydrogen education, classroom materials, and more.
Save Energy with the Lorax - This is a lesson that will teach kids the importance of saving energy and ways that they can help our environment by saving energy at home and at school. (Suggested grade level equals 3rd)
School Power Naturally - Activities and lessons on energy.
Science Net Links Lesson Plan for grades 3 to 5 - Energy Busters: Home Energy Conservation--Each student will complete a home energy survey and develop an energy conservation plan for their home. This plan will be based primarily on the analysis of their survey.
Science Net Links Lesson Plan for grades K-2 - Just Turn It Off-Energy is often expended when it need not be. Students will investigate the importance of turning off lights, toys, machines, and appliances.
Science Net Links for grades 6-8 - Renewable Energy Sources--Students will investigate a variety of renewable energy resources, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Science NetLinks: Energy Busters: Home Energy Conservation - Lesson Plan for grades 3-5: Purpose: Each student will complete a home energy survey and develop an energy conservation plan for their home. This plan will be based primarily on the analysis of their survey.
Study Sphere--Energy - Links to energy education sites.
Summertime, Soda, and Solar Energy - Insulating to Keep Heat in or Out - At the completion of this activity, you should be able to compare different insulating materials for their abilities to keep heat in and to keep heat out, determine the best material for insulating against heat loss and against heat gain, explain why insulation is an important part of a solar energy collector, and 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.
TVAkids.com Teachers’ Resources Energy Sourcebooks - These lesson plans and activities help students explore alternative energy sources and become better aware of ways to protect the environment and our natural resources. Each curriculum – elementary, junior high, and high school – can be downloaded in one large file (Complete Text) or individual chapters (all are PDF files that require Adobe Acrobat Reader ).
Teach Engineering Resources for Grades K-12 - This teacher resource, TeachEngineering.org, helps teachers enhance learning, excite students and stimulate interest in science and math through the use of hands-on engineering.
Teacher Resources on Energy Education - Manuals with lesson plans for energy education.
The Clubhouse Kids Make a Difference: An Energy Savings Adventure - The Clubhouse Kids Make a Big Difference: An Energy-Saving Adventure introduces students to the importance of saving energy. While reading about children their own age, the story builds comprehension skills while also teaching students how they can make a positive difference for the planet by being more energy-efficient.
The NEED Project - National Energy Education and Development Project--Addresses all areas of energy education for grades k-12.
US Dept. of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: K-12 Energy Lesson Plans & Activities - On this site you'll find links to more than 350 lesson plans and activities on energy efficiency and renewable energy for grades K-12. Each includes a short summary that identifies curriculum integration, time, materials, and national standards.
What's Up in the Environment? - Use the Scientific Method to conduct an energy audit of your school.
Wisconsin KEEP K-12 Energy Education Program - Developed for educators, students, and parents who are interested in learning more about energy consumption and conservation in their homes, this page will continue to expand, so check back often and let us know if you think something in particular should be added. Thank you and enjoy!
“WATTS up Mr. House” - This lesson is designed to be a kick off activity to engage and motivate the students, while fully involving parents and community members. The purpose is to help students and parents understand that by making some small, yet simple changes within your home, it can reduce electricity consumption in your home by nearly half.

Background information on energy and grants for teachers

2010: What's Next for Energy Efficiency? - Video on the future of energy efficiency
Community Action for Energy - Need support to help you realise your energy saving project in the community? You've come to the right place. We can help you whatever stage your energy project is at.
EPA Climate Change Site - EPA's Climate Change Site offers comprehensive information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society – communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments.
EPA Environmental Education Site - Discover what you can do to help your environment.
EPA Teaching Center - This site is for both formal and nonformal educators who wish to teach about the environment. It offers background information on a variety of topics, lesson plans, and activities that work in and out of the classroom. You will also find information on workshops, conferences, grants, awards and a variety of other information that will assist you in your educational goals whether you teach in a traditional classroom setting, an outdoor classroom, a community center or in your home.
Earth 911: The Nation's Premier Environmental Resource - Find recycling centers in your zip code and much more!
Energy Net - Join Energy Net to help your school save energy. There is a fee to join.
Energy Quest: Teachers' Resource Directory - List of energy education resources for teachers.
Energy Science and Technology Virtual Library - At this site you will find over 500 databases and Web sites containing information and resources pertaining to science and technology of interest to the Department of Energy, with an emphasis on the physical sciences. Sponsored, developed, and maintained by the Department of Energy's Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI), EnergyFiles combines information, tools, and technologies to facilitate access to and use of scientific resources. We appreciate your continued support of EnergyFiles and hope it proves to be a valuable tool in your research endeavors.
Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick—What’s your score? - Compare your household’s energy use to others across the country and get recommendations for improvement.
Energy Star for K-12 School Districts - Partnering with ENERGY STAR is a commitment to your students as well as to the environment.
Energy Teachers.Org Favorites>Lesson Plans and Unit Ideas - 806 Links Relevant to Energy Production and Use
Energy Vibe - The human solution to our energy challenge
Global Environmental Education, Lacking Energy - Educating young people about current and future environmental hazards is paramount to changing behavior and preparing the next generation to confront our myriad environmental challenges.
Good Stuff? Behind the Scene Guide to the Things We Buy - Have you ever wondered where chocolate comes from, if antibacterial soap is good for your family, or how to recycle an old computer? If you've had these or other questions about the environmental and social impacts of the products you buy and use, Good Stuff is for you. It contains many of the tips, facts, and links you'll need to start making more informed purchases that benefit your health and the environment.
Green Earth Project - The Green Earth Project provides schools, teachers, and students with information resources and tools to be 'green.'
Green Reading for Environmental Education Week - Bibliography of books that raise environmental awareness for elementary, middle, and high school students
Greenopolis - You've come to the right place to keep up with the latest in green news and stay informed. Knowledge is key to living a more sustainable life and teaching others to do the same.
Living on Earth - Living on Earth with Steve Curwood is the weekly environmental news and information program distributed by Public Radio International. Every week approximately 300 Public Radio stations broadcast Living on Earth's news, features, interviews and commentary on a broad range of ecological issues. The show airs in 9 of the 10 top radio markets and reaches 80% of the US.
NEETF National Environmental Education Foundation - At the National Environmental Education Foundation, we provide objective environmental information to help Americans live better every day. At a time of conflicting and challenging messages about the state of our environment, we provide trusted knowledge, resources and opportunities to improve our lives and the health of the planet. Working with a network of health professionals, weathercasters, land managers and teachers, we create and leverage public-private partnerships to promote daily actions for helping people live well while protecting and enjoying nature.
SEEK - Minnesota's home of environmental education resources
School Power Naturally Solar Kit Lessons - Lesson plans on solar power
Students Leading the Way - Success stories of the Green School Program
THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS - Ways to: SAVE ENERGY | SAVE MONEY | SAVE THE PLANET
Teaching Energy Conservation - Ideas and links for teachers to use when teaching energy conservation.
There's a Map for That: National Geographic Introduces the Global Action Atlas - Energy efficiency is just one component of National Geographic's Global Action Atlas, an international network that connects people to causes and grassroots projects, and then gives them the chance to volunteer, donate, advocate or simply share information to increase awareness.
Will You Join Us - Join us in one of the most important efforts of our time - using less. The world demands more energy each day. With supply increasingly being challenged by demand, it’s time we all took action. We all need to rethink what we're doing and how much we're using. These tools will help you find more ways to use less energy.
Worldwatch Institute: Vision for a Sustainable World - Worldwatch Institute delivers the insights and ideas that empower decision makers to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs. Worldwatch focuses on the 21st century challenges of climate change, resource degradation, population growth, and poverty by developing and disseminating solid data and innovative strategies for achieving a sustainable society.

Hands-on activities, projects, and contests

Bright Green Dream: A School Sustainability Challenge - Attention Students and Teachers: It's your turn to shine! If you could dream up the ultimate energy-efficient classroom of the future, what would it look like? Lutron Greenovation invites you to take a good look at your entire school—from the classroom to the science lab to the lunchroom and beyond—and tell us your big, bright ideas for improving energy efficiency. The winning entry in the Bright Green Dream School Sustainability Challenge will receive a $15,000 sustainable classroom upgrade, to be installed in your school later this year. Check out our complete submission guidelines and contest rules, then start dreaming— submissions close on September 25, 2009.
Discovery Education Science Fair Central - Step-by-step directions for creating a winning science fair project. This site is designed to help students do one of two things: design and conduct an investigative experiment (investigation) or design and engineer a practical solution to a problem (invention. Excellent resource for Science Fair coordinators, teachers, parents, and students.
Dr. Shawn's Super Science Fair Support Center - Get all the secrets of science fair success FREE plus tail-kicking science fair projects from Dr. Shawn, one of America's most renowned science educators.
Energy Action - Great ideas to get students involved in energy conservation activities.
Energy by Design: A Visual Arts Contest for Students - Put your students’ creativity and energy to good use! Energy by Design is a poster contest developed by Nicor and the National Energy Foundation for children grades K-8 designed to combine a student’s artistic talent with the ability to portray how to use energy efficiently.
Igniting Creative Energy - This educational competition is designed to encourage students to learn more about energy conservation and the environment. Student entries must reflect the theme 'Igniting Creative Energy' and demonstrate an understanding of what an individual, family or group can do to make a difference in their home or community. Students may express their ideas in the form of documented science projects, essays, stories, artwork, photographs, music or video or web site projects. They may also submit recent service projects, or results from the National Energy Foundation's own Energy Patrol activities. Please visit guidelines for further details.
President's Environmental Youth Awards - Since 1971, EPA has sponsored the President’s Environmental Youth Awards. The program recognizes young people across America for projects which demonstrate their commitment to the environment. Young people in all 50 states and the U.S. territories are invited to participate in the program.
School Building Energy Efficiency: Classroom Ideas - Classroom activities and Student worksheets promoting energy conservation with links to Energy Audit sites.
Science Fair Project Resources - Science Fair Project ideas, answers, and tools for serious students. Check out the projects of saving energy.
Students Powering Real Change - Energy Conservation for the Next Generation--website developed in Canada by BD Hydro
Super Science Fair Projects - Super Science Fair Projects is your complete step-by-step guide to experiments and ideas for kids K-college.
U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl - DOE launched its National Science Bowl competition in 1991 to encourage high school students to excel in science and math and to pursue careers in those fields. The National Science Bowl's high school competition now involves more than 13,000 students. DOE introduced the National Science Bowl's competition for middle school students in 2002. It now involves more than 5,000 students. The National Science Bowl is the only science competition in the United States sponsored by a federal agency.

Discovery Education links

Energy Resources for Students - Links to student contests, energy savings games, powerful facts, an energy glossary, and Energy Science Fair projects and plans.

Content by Pat Flanagan, patricia.flanagan@stpsb.org
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listenergycpf.html
Last revised Thu Sep 29 14:18:11 US/Pacific 2011