Renewable Energy Education: Teacher Resources
Check the resources here for lesson plans on solar and other renewable energy technologies, energy conservation, and more!
Academy of Energy Education
The Academy is a joint effort between Johnson Controls, Inc., and the National Energy Foundation. All Academy programs are designed for use throughout the school year and include lesson plans, classroom materials, posters, built-in student and teacher recognition, incentives, and more.Alliance to Save Energy
Download free hands-on, multidisciplinary educator lesson plans, many of which are used in the Alliance to Save Energy Green Schools project, a unique collaborative effort by teachers, administrators, and facilities and maintenance staff that reduces school energy costs at the same time it educates students. Each of these plans can be download as a PDF file and printed out.American Wind Energy Association
Developed the Wind Energy Teachers Guide, which can be downloaded as a PDF file. The guide includes technology information, classroom activities, and additional resources.
Dr. E's Energy Lab
Learn about wind, solar, geothermal and alternative fuels at Dr. E's Energy Lab. The site also features general pages on renewable energy and energy efficiency tips.
Clean Energy Basics
Use the links on this DOE page to help your students learn more about renewable energy technologies.Energy Information Administration Kids’ Page
Answers basic questions about energy and includes sections on renewable and non-renewable energy resources, energy history, and links and publications.Energy Pathways: SunChaser2 Curriculum
Provides 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.Energy Quest
Energy Quest, operated by the California Energy Commission, has dozens of energy education web pages, including pages on solar, wind, and other renewables. All are rated "Safe for Kids."
Energy Smart Schools
America's schools spend more than $6 billion each year on energy. DOE estimates they could save 25 percent of that money — $1.5 billion nationally — through better building design, widely available energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies, and improvements to operations and maintenance. Saving money, however, is just one aim of the Energy Smart Schools campaign.Franklin Institute: Investigating Wind Energy
The Franklin Institute Science Museum developed this educational unit for teachers to use in their classrooms. he activities take an inquiry approach. The series of activities is designed to be done in order, with each building on the previous. However, if you face time constraints, each activity can stand alone.
Geothermal Education Office
Promotes public understanding about geothermal resources and its importance in providing clean sustainable energy while protecting the environment. GEO produces and distributes educational materials about geothermal energy to schools, energy/environmental educators, libraries, industry, and the public.
Green Schools
A project of the Alliance to Save Energy, Green Schools offers lesson plans for teachers, along with other useful resources. This program focuses on energy efficiency rather than renewables, but is useful nonetheless.How Hydropower Plants Work
This simple three-part lesson explains hydropower basics. Includes links.How Solar Cells Work
This simple three-part lesson explains solar cell basics. Includes links.Hydro for Kids: A Curriculum
The activities in this teacher guide offer students an opportunity to explore hydropower. Exploring the scientific and social links between the hydrologic cycle, rivers, and electricity is an important part of students' understanding a part of their daily environment.Hydromania
A hands-on, ready-to-use science curriculum exploring nature and energy. The curriculum was designed by teachers for grades 4-6. Students can compete in the Metric Olympics, launch water rockets, build and race boats, make rock candy, create water turbines and electromagnets, and much more. Many of the lessons could be used for middle school grades as well.KEEP Activity Guide
Provides teachers with 44 hands-on, interdisciplinary lessons and over 100 Energy Sparks, or suggested teaching variations, that are aligned with Wisconsin’s academic standards and make energy relevant to students’ lives. The full activities include all required handouts, assessment strategies, and comprehensive descriptions of the activity.National Energy Foundation
A nonprofit educational organization and a national leader in teacher training, student programs, instructional materials, development and distribution. NEF's mission is to provide teaching and learning opportunities which promote a better understanding of energy, natural resources, and the environment. NEF develops, produces, and provides cost-effective and affordable supplementary instructional materials about natural resources to aid educators and administrators in the teaching process.Renewable Energy Lesson Plans
Developed by Texas State Energy Conservation Office, these lesson plans are grouped into three age levels designed for elementary school (grade 4), middle school (grade 6), and high school (grade 9). However, the lesson plans can be used in other grades as well, or by parents and home schoolers to teach their children about renewable energy.Solar Energy Unit: Can You Harness the Power of the Sun?
This hands-on solar energy unit is intended for students in grades 8 to 9.Schools Going Solar
Did you know that many schools across the country are equipped with solar energy systems that not only provide solar electricity, hot water, good quality lighting and other benefits to the school building, but also help students augment their math and science studies, and even help them stay healthier and earn better grades overall? Find out more at this website, operated by Interstate Renewable Energy Council.Solar Now, Inc.
Located in the Sunroom at Beverly High School, Beverly, Massachusetts. The Sunroom overlooks a 100-kilowatt photovoltaic array and a 10 kilowatt wind-turbine, which are the primary teaching tools used in its programs. Solar Now is dedicated to renewable energy advocacy and education, as well as research about renewable energy resources around the world, with particular emphasis on PV.Solar Matters: A Solar Energy Science Unit for Intermediate Students in Grades 4 Through 8
An online solar energy science unit developed by the Florida Solar Energy Center. The purpose of this unit is to create an awareness of the power of solar energy, the importance of it in our lives, and its impact on the future of energy development.Solar Wonders
Also developed by the Florida Solar Energy Center, this unit was developed to help high school teachers educate their students about solar energy and its impact on our lives.Sunsite Funsite
An interactive solar energy education website from Tucson (Arizona) Electric Power.Stanford Solar Center Lesson Plans
Provides a collection of multi-disciplinary, interactive exercizes and activities based on the Sun and solar science. Geared toward students in grades 4 to 12.Tucson Unified School District Solar Curriculum Module
Offers a wide-ranging collection of educational activities related to solar energy, with an emphasis onPV. Also addresses other renewable and conventional energy sources, environmental concerns related to energy use, and energy conservation.Watts on Schools: Solar Energy Activities
Watts On Schools is project of American Electric Power that is helping to bring solar power to schools in communities throughout Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The solar energy activities at this link help students think about solar energy while learning something in the process. Sound like fun? It is! (Note: activities are PDF).Wind Energy Teachers Guide (PDF)
Produced by the American Wind Energy Association, this guide provides teacher information, ideas for sparking children's and students' interest, suggestions for activities to undertake in and outside the classroom, and research tools for both teachers and students.
