Increased energy efficiency and reduced reliance on fossil fuels are both essential if people are to have any chance of avoiding escalating energy prices and the grim reality of catastrophic climate change. By increasing the diversity of energy sources people can also achieve increased security, reducing their dependence on imports. As…

One of the most captivating things about plants is the way they capture the Sun's energy, but this can be a difficult topic to cover with elementary students. Therefore, to help students to make a concrete connection to this abstract concept, this series of solar-energy lessons focuses on leaves and how they act as "solar collectors." As students…

In the "Solar Sprint" activity, students design, test, and race a solar-powered car built with Legos. The use of ratios is incorporated to simulate the actual work of scientists and engineers. This method encourages fourth-grade students to think about multiple variables and stimulates their curiosity when an activity doesn't come out as…

Reviews two new curriculum materials kits, including the Wide World of Energy and the Playmobil System. (SL)

This is one of a series of units for environmental education developed by the Highline Public Schools. The emphasis of the 10 lessons in this unit is on energy, the earth's resources, and the use of earth resources, by man and other living things. The materials are designed for use at grade 1, but could be used in higher grades. Each lesson…

The concept of energy consumption can be learned by role playing, using jelly beans as units of energy with children as primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. Follow-up questions are suggested for further discussion. (PS)

Describes a two-day conference with an assembly of eighty four- and five-year-old children as delegates. Through this conference, students learned what energy is, how it works and devised methods of energy conservation. (EB)

One hundred energy education activities comprise this manual for elementary school teachers. Two or three lessons, which deal with each of seven energy-related conceptual schemes, are provided for every grade level. These experience-oriented activities emphasize questions, observations, and class discussion. Lesson plans include directions for…

Described are six interdisciplinary energy instructional packets developed by the National Science Teachers Association. Packets are designed to complement existing curricula and include topics for elementary and secondary levels. (SL)

This book is number 3 of a series of elementary science books that presents a wealth of ideas for science activities for the elementary school teacher. Each activity includes a standard set of information designed to help teachers determine the activity's appropriateness for their students, plan its implementation, and help children focus on a…

An experiment on the heat conductivity of different materials are described. Applications for energy education in the elementary classroom are implied. (MDR)

Presented are seven folios of energy activities for elementary school students. Each set is devoted to different energy-related themes: (1) What is energy? What does energy do? Where does energy come from?; (2) We find energy in many places; (3) Energy does all the work in the world; (4) The Earth's energy sources are limited; (5) Energy changes…

This resource guide is designed for use by teachers. Units are included on the energy crisis, environmental awareness, and decision making concerning shrinking energy resources. Both short-term and long-term problems and alternatives are discussed. Group and individual activities are suggested. Charts and graphs, suitable for making…

This storybook discusses the concepts of matter, energy, life, and time. The ideas of ecology, natural resources, and recycling are presented in a format which can be easily read by elementary school students. (CW)

Topics in this paper include: sources of computer programs, public domain software, copyright violations, purposes of computers in classrooms (drill/practice and interactive learning), computer assisted instruction, flow charts, and computer clubs (such as App-le-kations in Charlotte, North Carolina). A complete listing of two computer programs…