To see descriptions of all available curriculum by grade, click here. To download a PDF of all available units, click here.

Dye in Water

Developing a Model of Thermal Energy, Atoms, and Molecules

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Chemical Differences in Emergency Energy Sources
Lesson Number:
2
Description:
Through a series of exploration and inquiry activities, students will explain kinetic molecular theory, atomic, and molecular structures. Students will be challenged to gradually increase the precision of their explanation of molecular-level structures and...
Energy Content:
Electrons
Materials Science
Potential & Kinetic Energy
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will develop a model through collaborative inquiry to explain thermal kinetic energy and predict the outcome when heat is added to a substance. Students will build argumentation from evidence skills through collaborative sense-making and gallery walk presentations. Students will develop a model of atomic and molecular structures.  
Pedagogy & Practice:
Establishing a Culture of Science
Group Work/Collaboration
Hands-on Materials
Multiple Learning Styles
Phenomena-Driven Instruction
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
2: Developing and Using Models
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Melody Childers
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-PS1-4
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Reading: Literature
ELA: Speaking & Listening
ELA: Writing
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Math: Graphing & Representation
Math: Measurement
Math: Ratios & Proportions
Estimated Activity Length:
9 hours
Simple Solar Water Heater

Making the Standard Solar Heater

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Experimenting with Solar Heaters
Lesson Number:
1
Description:
In part one of the activity students will be asked to create a simple solar heater, measure the temperature change in a vial of water, then calculate the heat energy transferred to a vial of water. Students will construct the solar heater, place a set amount...
Energy Content:
Potential & Kinetic Energy
Solar Thermal
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
In this activity students will learn that sunlight energy can be transformed into other forms of energy and that the amount of sunlight energy captured by an object can be quantified and measured.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design
Group Work/Collaboration
Hands-on Materials
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
2: Developing and Using Models
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Nathan Franck
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-PS1-4
MS-PS3-5
MS-PS4-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing
Math: Algebra
Math: Functions
Math: Graphing & Representation
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Energy Transformations

What is Energy?

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Boats
Lesson Number:
1
Description:
Students will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of energy through observing a variety of energy transformations and develop a foundational vocabulary for identifying and discussing energy concepts. Students will make observations about how energy is...
Energy Content:
Electrical Energy
Electricity and Magnetism
Energy Fundamentals
Light (Visible)
Potential & Kinetic Energy
Sound
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will obtain the foundational knowledge of energy sources and forms of energy. In addition, students will learn that energy can transfer from one form to another. Students will build the understanding that there are different types of energy and many can not be directly observed.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Hands-on Materials
Multiple Learning Styles
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
4-ESS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening
ELA: Writing
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Energy Transformations

What is Energy Transfer?

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Boats
Lesson Number:
2
Description:
Students will continue to build an understanding of the fundamentals of energy through observing and describing a variety of energy transformations and build on their foundational vocabulary for identifying and discussing energy concepts. In this stage of the...
Energy Content:
Electrical Energy
Energy Fundamentals
Light (Visible)
Potential & Kinetic Energy
Solar Photovoltaic
Sound
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will obtain the foundational knowledge of energy sources and forms of energy. In addition, students will learn that energy can transfer from one form to another. Students will be able to match images of energy transformations to their respected vocabulary.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Hands-on Materials
Phenomena-Driven Instruction
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Foil Barge

What is Force?

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Boats
Lesson Number:
3
Description:
Students will build a barge out of tin foil and describe the forces acting it. The barge itself is designed only with the constraints that passengers within the barge will not get wet, allowing for students to experiment with different shapes and densities as...
Energy Content:
Energy Fundamentals
Potential & Kinetic Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will identify the Laws of Motion and learn about the forces acting on the system. There are multiple forces acting on a boat, some of these forces include, acceleration, friction, gravity and thrust.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design
Group Work/Collaboration
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
2: Developing and Using Models
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
4-PS3-4
3-5-ETS1-1
3-5-ETS1-2
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour

Gears vs. Pulleys on Solar Cars

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Cars
Lesson Number:
1
Description:
Students will design an investigation to test differences between solar vehicles. This is an excellent follow-up lesson to the solar boat activity or any other activity in which students have already experimented with other types of solar vehicles. However,...
Energy Content:
Potential & Kinetic Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will design an investigation to test differences between solar vehicles. They will make claims based on backing evidence, without having directly tested their vehicles before this point. They will use background knowledge regarding pulleys and gears in order to begin the design process. Students will determine which specific design they will be moving forward with for the next lesson.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
5-PS2-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
30 min

Solar Cars Science Investigation

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Cars
Lesson Number:
2
Description:
Students will design a science investigation to test solar car with a pulley or with a variety of gear sizes. In the previous lesson, they were introduced to the different types of systems that can be employed on their car. In this lesson they will use the “...
Energy Content:
Potential & Kinetic Energy
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will design an investigation to test solar vehicles. They will determine which particular materials they will use in the testing of their chosen format. Students will allow for redesign to take place by determining variables that can be manipulated in a measurable format. Students will determine data that will be useful to collect in the testing of their vehicle design.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design
Group Work/Collaboration
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
2: Developing and Using Models
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing
Math: Graphing & Representation
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Checklist

Solar Ovens: Frontload Vocab. And Preview Standards

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
2
Description:
Vocabulary and standards will be reviewed throughout all of the lessons, but this day is dedicated to front loading the vocabulary and previewing the standards. Students will use their energy workbook to keep track of vocabulary from this point forward...
Energy Content:
Potential & Kinetic Energy
Solar Thermal
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will preview vocabulary and standards in order to better comprehend future lessons.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Multilingual Strategies
Author:
Debbie Abel
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
4-PS3-4
3-5-ETS1-1
3-5-ETS1-2
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Sources of Energy

Energy Review: Practical and Technical Perspectives—What is Energy?

Grades:
4-8
Description:
Students will take a short field trip around the school to identify different types of energy.
Energy Content:
Electrical Energy
Energy Fundamentals
Potential & Kinetic Energy
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
To access prior knowledge about different forms of energy
Pedagogy & Practice:
Field Work
Group Work/Collaboration
Research-Primary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Author:
Erin Sturtz
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
MS-PS3-2
MS-PS3-5
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min