Energy for keeps.org has a great activity called GOING FOR A SPIN: Making a Model Steam Turbine. This activity would great for your students who are visual or kinetic learners to see a how a steam turbine works. You could use for Day # 1 (Biomass Energy) to show the students how biomass energy can be produce through steam when burning wood or garbage.
Tribal Energy and Environment Information Clearing House is a great article for a teacher’s resource because the article goes into detail about where the sources of Biomass are found in the United States and why those states can produce more biomass energy than other states. These article also three maps of the United States that indicate where the biomass resources are accessible in the United States, biomass normalized by county area, and what type of biomass resources are in the United States. (Tribal Energy and Environment Information Clearing House)
National Geographic has an encyclopedia entry that explains in detail about what types of materials that originates from plants and waste. This entry also talks about the different ways that biomass energy can be converted into several types of sources. The encyclopedia entry also explains the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass energy as a resource. This link also has a list of vocabulary words that are in the entry with definitions to along with it. This source would be a resource for teachers about Biomass energy.
Energy Kids: Biomass is a website that is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about what biomass energy is and how it is made and why we use certain materials that originate from plants and waste. Energy Kids: Biomass also talks about the different types of biomass energy. This website also explains the positive and negative impacts from producing biomass energy.
U.S. Department of Energy has a pdf with 5 classroom activities about geothermal energy including: How to construct a model Turbine. The U.S. Department of Energy says that the How to construct a model turbine activity will help the "understand that the thermal energy in steam, when coupled with a turbine, can be converted to mechanical energy that can be used to generate electricity."(U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). This activity would be great for day #2 (Geothermal Energy)
Eco Kids Explore: Geothermal Energy video talks about the three types of geothermal power plants and the process that each plant takes to make geothermal energy. This would be a great video to watch before you start the activity how to construct a model turbine on day #2 (Geothermal Energy) to give the students an understanding of how the turbine works to create steam and how the steam creates geothermal energy.
Energy Kids: Geothermal is a website that is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about what where geothermal energy comes from and how it is made in three types of power plants. Energy Kids: Geothermal also talks about the different types of geothermal energy. This website also explains the positive impacts from producing geothermal energy.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is a great resource for teacher about offshore wind energy. This article goes in depth about the how long wind energy has been used. This article also explains where offshore wind energy might be harnessed in the United States. The bureau of Ocean Energy Management also explains in this article how wind turbines are used in the ocean to generate energy. It also explains how the energy is transported from the ocean to the United States.
How Wind Turbines Work - 3D Animation is a video that explains how wind turbines generate energy. This video is great for elementary students because it explains the steps in simple way that students are able to understand. This video would be a great video to show on day#3 (Wind Energy) before you do the wind machine activity with the class.
PBS has a lesson plan for wind energy that has a handout that students have to find information about wind energy using the internet resources given. This wind energy lesson plan also has a great activity that could be used on day#3 (wind energy) to give them a hands on experience about how wind turbines work to generate wind energy. The lesson plan also has a great section of resources for teachers.
U.S. Energy Information Administration has a great pdf that could be used as a handout about Wind Energy. This Pdf is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about how wind energy is created and the history of wind power. This pdf also talks about the different types of wind energy. This pdf also explains about the different wind turbines and how they work to create energy. It also explains the benefits and drawbacks from using wind energy.
Hydroelectric Power-How it Works Video talks about how people throughout the year has harnessed hydroelectric energy. The hydroelectric power-how it works video also talks about were hydro-stations are located and what types of bodies of water is need to create hydroelectric energy. This video also explains how water is used to create hydroelectricity. This video would be a great piece to day#4 (Hydroelectric Energy).
ehow: Hydropower Facts for Kids is an article that explains where the major hydroelectric sources can be found in the world. This article also talks about the different types of hydroelectric energies, the pros and cons of using hydroelectric energy, and other interesting facts about hydroelectricity. This would be a great article for students to learn about hydroelectric energy on day #4 (Hydroelectric Energy).
National Geographic has an article about how long hydroelectric power has been harnessed to produce electricity. This article explains the different parts of a hydro power plant. The National Geographic article also talks about how much electricity can be harnessed from hydroelectric energy. The article talks about how the biggest hydroelectric plant is on the Columbia River in northern Washington. The article also talks about the positives and negatives from using hydroelectric energy. This article could be used as a resource for day #4 (Hydroelectric Energy).
National Geographic has a great educational video about solar energy. This video describes how the sun generates so much energy in one day in the United States that it would take a year to use up that energy. The video talks about how mankind has already harvested the suns energy through solar energy, but since solar panels are expensive we haven't used solar energy as much as the other resources. The video also talks about how Mojave desert in California generates more solar energy that any other solar power plant in the United States (National Geographic). This video would be a good video for day #5 (Solar Energy).
Duke Energy has a pdf for kids about Solar Energy that explains how solar energy is generated to create energy from sun. Duke Energy pdf explains how much watts a photovoltaic panel generates. Dukes Energy pdf also goes over the benefits of using solar energy and where in the United States can solar energy can be produced. This pdf would be a great handout for day#5 to help the students learn about solar energy and it will be a good source for the lesson plan on day#5 (Solar Energy).
Energy from the Sun (Rookie Read-About Science) is a book by Allan Fowler that explains complex scientific knowledge about solar energy in a simple way that students in elementary school can understand. This book also has a glossary that explains the definitions of important concepts about solar energy. This book would be great book to read on day #5 (Solar Energy).
Energy kids: Solar Energy is a website that is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about what solar energy is and how it is made. Energy kids: Solar Energy talks about the different types of solar energy and the different technologies that we use to produce solar energy. This website explains the positive and negative impacts from producing biomass energy. This website also talks about where in the United State solar energy source can be found.
Harnessing Power from the Sun is a children's book by Niki Walker talks about what is solar energy. Harnessing Power from the Sun also talks about why and how solar energy is becoming a good source of energy to replace the energy sources that we are using like fossil fuels. This book goes into detail about the different types of technologies that can generate solar energy. This is a good book that the students can use to learn about Solar energy.
The Kids' Solar Energy Book: Even Grown-Ups Can Understand is a cartoon book by Malcolm Wells and Tilly Spetgang that take place in a classroom. This book will show the students how solar power works. This book will also teach the students what types of technologies are used to generate solar energy. This book is a great resource because not only are the students are learning about solar energy, but they are having fun while doing it.
National atlas.gov is a great resource for teachers because it has articles about the five renewable energy sources. Each article explains how each energy source is created. The article also talks about how we use each energy resources for electricity, heat, fuel. The articles also talks about where each source can be found in the United States. Each renewable source comes with a map of the United States that indicates where these renewable resources can be found.
8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST is a website that has an online activity about the using alternative energies instead of fossil fuels with a rubric for the activity. 8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST also has informational links about all of the energy resources that is being used today. 8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST 8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST also has a worksheet called Alternative Energy Webquest worksheet that is a great way to record what they found out about the different renewable energies.
Neok12 is a great website for teacher to find lesson plans, activities, and educational videos about the five renewable resources. This website is also great for students to do quizzes and play games that have to do with the five renewable resources. This website can be used for any of the five days for resources or games.
Science and Public Policy Institute has a pdf that shows what Arizona's climate. This pdf could be used as a packet for the students because it will help them to determine whether or not the five renewable energies can be produce in Arizona's climate. This pdf can be used on all five of the days because the students can find out if these resources need a certain climate to produce energy.
The Governor's Office of Energy Policy is a pdf that shows a pie chart of how much renewable resource does Arizona use compared to fossil fuels. this pie chart would be great to use on day one to explain that we use too many fossil fuels for energy and one day we will run out of fossil fuels. So this is your chance to find which renewable resource is best for Arizona.
Tribal Energy and Environment Information Clearing House is a great article for a teacher’s resource because the article goes into detail about where the sources of Biomass are found in the United States and why those states can produce more biomass energy than other states. These article also three maps of the United States that indicate where the biomass resources are accessible in the United States, biomass normalized by county area, and what type of biomass resources are in the United States. (Tribal Energy and Environment Information Clearing House)
National Geographic has an encyclopedia entry that explains in detail about what types of materials that originates from plants and waste. This entry also talks about the different ways that biomass energy can be converted into several types of sources. The encyclopedia entry also explains the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass energy as a resource. This link also has a list of vocabulary words that are in the entry with definitions to along with it. This source would be a resource for teachers about Biomass energy.
Energy Kids: Biomass is a website that is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about what biomass energy is and how it is made and why we use certain materials that originate from plants and waste. Energy Kids: Biomass also talks about the different types of biomass energy. This website also explains the positive and negative impacts from producing biomass energy.
U.S. Department of Energy has a pdf with 5 classroom activities about geothermal energy including: How to construct a model Turbine. The U.S. Department of Energy says that the How to construct a model turbine activity will help the "understand that the thermal energy in steam, when coupled with a turbine, can be converted to mechanical energy that can be used to generate electricity."(U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). This activity would be great for day #2 (Geothermal Energy)
Eco Kids Explore: Geothermal Energy video talks about the three types of geothermal power plants and the process that each plant takes to make geothermal energy. This would be a great video to watch before you start the activity how to construct a model turbine on day #2 (Geothermal Energy) to give the students an understanding of how the turbine works to create steam and how the steam creates geothermal energy.
Energy Kids: Geothermal is a website that is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about what where geothermal energy comes from and how it is made in three types of power plants. Energy Kids: Geothermal also talks about the different types of geothermal energy. This website also explains the positive impacts from producing geothermal energy.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is a great resource for teacher about offshore wind energy. This article goes in depth about the how long wind energy has been used. This article also explains where offshore wind energy might be harnessed in the United States. The bureau of Ocean Energy Management also explains in this article how wind turbines are used in the ocean to generate energy. It also explains how the energy is transported from the ocean to the United States.
How Wind Turbines Work - 3D Animation is a video that explains how wind turbines generate energy. This video is great for elementary students because it explains the steps in simple way that students are able to understand. This video would be a great video to show on day#3 (Wind Energy) before you do the wind machine activity with the class.
PBS has a lesson plan for wind energy that has a handout that students have to find information about wind energy using the internet resources given. This wind energy lesson plan also has a great activity that could be used on day#3 (wind energy) to give them a hands on experience about how wind turbines work to generate wind energy. The lesson plan also has a great section of resources for teachers.
U.S. Energy Information Administration has a great pdf that could be used as a handout about Wind Energy. This Pdf is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about how wind energy is created and the history of wind power. This pdf also talks about the different types of wind energy. This pdf also explains about the different wind turbines and how they work to create energy. It also explains the benefits and drawbacks from using wind energy.
Hydroelectric Power-How it Works Video talks about how people throughout the year has harnessed hydroelectric energy. The hydroelectric power-how it works video also talks about were hydro-stations are located and what types of bodies of water is need to create hydroelectric energy. This video also explains how water is used to create hydroelectricity. This video would be a great piece to day#4 (Hydroelectric Energy).
ehow: Hydropower Facts for Kids is an article that explains where the major hydroelectric sources can be found in the world. This article also talks about the different types of hydroelectric energies, the pros and cons of using hydroelectric energy, and other interesting facts about hydroelectricity. This would be a great article for students to learn about hydroelectric energy on day #4 (Hydroelectric Energy).
National Geographic has an article about how long hydroelectric power has been harnessed to produce electricity. This article explains the different parts of a hydro power plant. The National Geographic article also talks about how much electricity can be harnessed from hydroelectric energy. The article talks about how the biggest hydroelectric plant is on the Columbia River in northern Washington. The article also talks about the positives and negatives from using hydroelectric energy. This article could be used as a resource for day #4 (Hydroelectric Energy).
National Geographic has a great educational video about solar energy. This video describes how the sun generates so much energy in one day in the United States that it would take a year to use up that energy. The video talks about how mankind has already harvested the suns energy through solar energy, but since solar panels are expensive we haven't used solar energy as much as the other resources. The video also talks about how Mojave desert in California generates more solar energy that any other solar power plant in the United States (National Geographic). This video would be a good video for day #5 (Solar Energy).
Duke Energy has a pdf for kids about Solar Energy that explains how solar energy is generated to create energy from sun. Duke Energy pdf explains how much watts a photovoltaic panel generates. Dukes Energy pdf also goes over the benefits of using solar energy and where in the United States can solar energy can be produced. This pdf would be a great handout for day#5 to help the students learn about solar energy and it will be a good source for the lesson plan on day#5 (Solar Energy).
Energy from the Sun (Rookie Read-About Science) is a book by Allan Fowler that explains complex scientific knowledge about solar energy in a simple way that students in elementary school can understand. This book also has a glossary that explains the definitions of important concepts about solar energy. This book would be great book to read on day #5 (Solar Energy).
Energy kids: Solar Energy is a website that is created for kids by the U.S. Energy Information Administration to explain about what solar energy is and how it is made. Energy kids: Solar Energy talks about the different types of solar energy and the different technologies that we use to produce solar energy. This website explains the positive and negative impacts from producing biomass energy. This website also talks about where in the United State solar energy source can be found.
Harnessing Power from the Sun is a children's book by Niki Walker talks about what is solar energy. Harnessing Power from the Sun also talks about why and how solar energy is becoming a good source of energy to replace the energy sources that we are using like fossil fuels. This book goes into detail about the different types of technologies that can generate solar energy. This is a good book that the students can use to learn about Solar energy.
The Kids' Solar Energy Book: Even Grown-Ups Can Understand is a cartoon book by Malcolm Wells and Tilly Spetgang that take place in a classroom. This book will show the students how solar power works. This book will also teach the students what types of technologies are used to generate solar energy. This book is a great resource because not only are the students are learning about solar energy, but they are having fun while doing it.
National atlas.gov is a great resource for teachers because it has articles about the five renewable energy sources. Each article explains how each energy source is created. The article also talks about how we use each energy resources for electricity, heat, fuel. The articles also talks about where each source can be found in the United States. Each renewable source comes with a map of the United States that indicates where these renewable resources can be found.
8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST is a website that has an online activity about the using alternative energies instead of fossil fuels with a rubric for the activity. 8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST also has informational links about all of the energy resources that is being used today. 8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST 8TH GRADE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WEBQUEST also has a worksheet called Alternative Energy Webquest worksheet that is a great way to record what they found out about the different renewable energies.
Neok12 is a great website for teacher to find lesson plans, activities, and educational videos about the five renewable resources. This website is also great for students to do quizzes and play games that have to do with the five renewable resources. This website can be used for any of the five days for resources or games.
Science and Public Policy Institute has a pdf that shows what Arizona's climate. This pdf could be used as a packet for the students because it will help them to determine whether or not the five renewable energies can be produce in Arizona's climate. This pdf can be used on all five of the days because the students can find out if these resources need a certain climate to produce energy.
The Governor's Office of Energy Policy is a pdf that shows a pie chart of how much renewable resource does Arizona use compared to fossil fuels. this pie chart would be great to use on day one to explain that we use too many fossil fuels for energy and one day we will run out of fossil fuels. So this is your chance to find which renewable resource is best for Arizona.