TeachersFirst Resource Listings

Subject Results by title Records 1 to 8 of 8

Grades 5 to 8

Created by the Environmental Protection Agency, this visually appealing site is filled with interactive story books, climate animations, and cleverly designed animations for students. Links include Climate Change (What is It), Climate & Weather, Greenhouse Effect, What is the Climate System, Climate's Come a Long Way, The Climate Detectives, Games, Climate Animations, Climate Change Calculator, Stuff for Teachers, So What's the Big Deal, We CAN Make a Difference, and Can We Change the Climate. Use this site to supplement a unit on the Greenhouse Effect or as a springboard for Internet Earth Day activities. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Have cooperative learning groups research the many links and activities at this site. Challenge groups to create a multi-media presentation: blog entry, wiki, PowerPoint, web page, or video.

High School Science - BCISD

Grades 9 to 12

This website provides about ten lesson plans (PDF files) that incorporate technology into science lessons designed for high school students. Some of the lessons are interdisciplinary and include several subject areas. The lesson plans provide state standards (for Michigan), assessments and explicit details about the activities. There are interactive activities, printable worksheets, discussion topics and much more. Some of the specific topics include fossil fuels, the periodic table, density, climate comparisons, and lego robot competition. The technology activities provided require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
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In the Classroom:
Do yourself a favor and check out this free website when planning your high school science lessons. Get your interactive whiteboards ready and utilize these ready-to-go activities.

Powering a Nation - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Grades 6 to 12

Who is right when it comes to energy, its creation, and its use? Many of the issues are difficult to understand, and all sides are usually not heard. This site offers a great introductory animated presentation explaining many of the concepts and problems. Students hear the stories about industries, people affected, and the ways that our society contributes to energy problems. After sharing the initial presentation, scroll down the page to read and/or watch more about “Climate Refugees,” “Mining the Mountains,” “Debating Coal’s Future,” and several other topics. New topics are added frequently. And at the time of this review, this site was kept very up to date. Articles and resources offer different angles on energy issues. Look for articles that are all about the lives of all people, how energy works, energy issues of today, and the future of energy. The variety of topics at this site is great, as is the material. If you teach science, social studies, geography, or current events, don’t miss this site.
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In the Classroom:
Share the video clips on your interactive whiteboard or projector for some deep class discussion and debate. Use any of the articles as a starting point in class or simply to introduce an energy unit, then revisit new issues throughout the unit. For example, read "Power from Plants" to learn about biofuels, their use, and future for energy. Read about a few biofuels. Students can then find information on other biofuels, their use, and problems with the use. Students can find data on use of fuels, analyze and make recommendations, create literature such as brochures, wiki or blog pages, or other displays to show information for others to understand. Create a debate in your classroom using the opposing voices for and against use of certain fuels. Why not have cooperative learning groups create multimedia presentations to present their findings. Give the groups some options, such as creation online posters using a site such as Wallwisher, (reviewed here). Have students create informational commercials and share them using a tool such as SchoolTube reviewed here. Or create a class wiki on types of energy researches, the good, bad, and ugly! Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries – check out the Teacher’s First Wiki Walk-Through reviewed here.

Solar Energy Education - Tucson Electric Power Company

Grades 0 to 10

Learn about how solar energy begins and is used by all living things. Areas of the animated information can be clicked to find even more details about the formation of fossil fuels, photovoltaic cells, and differences between seasons. A text only version of the site can be accessed. A glossary provides easily understood definitions of many of the terms. Activities for teachers to use include: "Solar Energy Activity," "Photovoltaic Energy Activity," "Solar Thermal Energy Activity," and "Chemical Energy Activity." These are available as an Adobe PDF download. Additional resources are provides as weblinks that can provide additional information. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. You can get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this animated site for students to gain background information about Solar Energy. Students can then work in groups to investigate various concepts from the animation. Student groups can also investigate renewable vs. nonrenewable energy sources following this introduction. Students can create posters using conventional materials or many of the multimedia applications for a digital version. Students can create a pamphlet, draft a letter, or editorial for change in energy policies, etc. With younger grades, share the website on an interactive whiteboard or projector.

Video: CFL Light Bulbs in Plain English - Common Craft

Grades 2 to 12

This website offers a short video (about 3-minutes) highlighting the enormous benefits (both to your bank account and environment) of using CFL bulbs (rather than the old traditional light bulbs). The video focuses on energy, environment, electricity, ways to save money on your electric bill, how CFLs decrease and prevent pollution and global warming, and how easy they are to use!

This site does have a small advertisement at the bottom of the screen, click on the X to remove the advertisement. There is code provided to embed the video. The site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Share this site in your science class on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Challenge students to research another way to conserve energy and save money in their family budget. Have students create their own "in plain English" style video. All they need is a tripod, video camera (flip video would work), paper drawings, and a script. Share the "student-created" videos on a tool such as TeacherTube (explained here) and embed them in a class “Energy-saving” wiki. You may want to consider providing this link on your class website for parents to view at home.

Virtual Oil Well - American Geological Institute

Grades 9 to 12

This fun and interactive game presents students with a real-life scenario: You have inherited two million dollars and mineral rights to an eight-square mile tract of land; however, to collect the inheritance, you must commit to drilling for oil on the land. The objective is to find the oil before your money runs out. The site provides guidance in the form of a glossary, background information, and virtual consultants, but the task is anything but easy! This is truly a challenging and thought-provoking activity that will strengthen your students’ problem-solving skills and reveal the complex process behind drilling for oil. You might want to divide your class into small groups for this interactive experience.
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Watts on Schools - American Electric Power

Grades 1 to 12

There is something for everyone in this collection of fun, collaborative, solar energy activities and lesson plans. Topics, organized by grade level and subject area, include physical properties of the sun, fossil fuel formation, the greenhouse effect, and senate debates on energy issues. The lesson plans are creative, well organized, and aligned to national standards. Many interdisciplinary connections are provided. This is an outstanding resource for science teachers at every level. Adobe Acrobat required.
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We can change the world challenge - Siemens

Grades 5 to 8

Use the virtual lab activities on the Siemens Challenge website to investigate energy-related topics. Choose from "Wow, Windmills," "How Big Is Your Footprint," "Ponder This," "Everyday Fossil Fuels," "The Ever-changing River," and more. Each activity begins with an introduction, investigation where factors are changed, and results. Registration and login is not required for the virtual labs. A teacher section contains great lesson plans dealing with fuels and biodiversity as well as many others. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Introduce units with the virtual lab to build background information. Assign each group a different factor to manipulate, and have them report back to the class with their results. Students can then identify factors needed to understand the concept as well as questions. Have students research or provide them the information to answer their questions. Use the lesson plan and extension activities for understanding. Students can join in the Siemens Challenge or create a proposal in their community or school to improve use of natural resources and biodiversity.

Records 1 to 8 of 8

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