Energy Activities for Teachers and Students

Most of these activities were developed by the National Energy Education Development Project in cooperation with the Energy Information Administration.  A teacher guide provides extension activities that use this website as a resource. A selection of energy related stories, hands-on activities, and research articles are provided for different age groups.

Primary (K-3)   Elementary (4-7)   Intermediate (6-9)   Secondary(9-12)

  Career Corner   Teacher Guide (pdf)
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Primary Explorations (Grades K - 3)

   Energy Activities with Energy Ant (pdf)- booklet of assorted energy stories and activities
   The Tale of Johnny Energy Seed and The Tale of Annie Soakley (in one pdf)
   The Tale of Wendy Wizard (pdf)
   The Tale of Little Big Fuel (pdf)
   The Tale of Fern Fossil (pdf)
   Energy and Machines (pdf)
   Energy in Food (pdf)
   Transport Sort (pdf)
   Biogas Story (pdf)
   Open and Closed Circuits (pdf)
   Chocolate Chip Cookie Mining (pdf)
   Energy Picture (pdf)
   Racing Jars (pdf)
   Exploring Solar Beads (pdf)
   Active Energy Sources - game (pdf)
   Energy Source Puzzles (pdf)
   Sound the Alarm! (pdf)
   Dichotomous Key of the Energy Sources (pdf)
   Energy from the Sun (pdf)
   Motion (pdf)
   Sun or Shade? (pdf)
   A Slide is a Simple Machine (pdf)
   Spin the Saltine! (pdf)
   Student Energy Survey (pdf)
   Home Energy Survey (pdf)
   School Energy Survey (pdf)
   How Does a Thermometer Work? (pdf)
   The Invisible Energy in Light (pdf)
   If you bury these objects, How Many Years will it take for them to disappear? (pdf)

Elementary Explorations (Grades 4 - 7)

   Energy Activities with Energy Ant (pdf) - booklet of assorted energy stories and activities
   Energy in Food (pdf)- worksheet
   Wind Energy Play (pdf) - "Harry Spotter and the Chamber of Windy Myths"
   Wind Logic Puzzles (pdf) - "Wind Logic Puzzles"
   Insulators and Conductors (pdf)
   Energy Picture (pdf)
   Energy Scavenger Hunt (pdf)- earn an energy expert certificate
   20 Questions- web activity developed by Mary Taft, Soule Road School in Wilbraham, Massachusetts
   Energy Pioneer - George Washington Carver (pdf)
   Simple Machines - Pulleys (pdf)
   Coal Flowers - game (pdf) (courtesy of the American Coal Foundation)
   Active Energy Sources - game (pdf)
   Energy Source Puzzles (pdf)
   Chocolate Chip Cookie Mining (pdf)
   Exploring Solar Beads (pdf)
   Hydrogen and Electrolysis (pdf)
   What's A Short Circuit? (pdf)
   What Can You Do With a Field of Corn? (pdf)
   Will Your First Car Be An Electric Vehicle? (pdf)
   Or will it be an Ethanol-fueled Car? (pdf)
   Exploring Liquids (pdf)
   Exploring Friction (pdf)
   Exploring Light (pdf)
   Make Solar Collectors (pdf)
   Geothermal Puzzle (pdf)
   Heavy Backpacks (pdf)
   Simple Machines: Lever (pdf)
   Will Your First Car be a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)? (pdf)
   Energy Sources slideshow assignment - developed by Patricia Wilks, New Market Elementary School

Intermediate Explorations (Grades 6 - 9)

   Energy Analysis (pdf)- using energy graphs and data
   Wind Logic Puzzles (pdf) - "Wind Logic Puzzles"
   Chemical Models (pdf) - Hydrocarbons
   Energy Guide Labels (pdf)- comparing appliances
   Series and Parallel Circuits (pdf)
   New Biomass Technologies (pdf)
   Simple Machines - Pulleys (pdf)
   Carbon Sequestration (html)
   Energy in the Round - Solar (pdf) (see Intermediate InfoBook from the NEED Project)
   New Technologies - three short articles(pdf)
   The Energy in Hurricanes(pdf)
   Hydrogen and Electrolysis (pdf)
   LNG-Liquefied Natural Gas (pdf)
   The Blackout of 2003 (pdf)
   Natural Gas in the News (pdf)
   Crunch the Numbers - Energy in the U.S. (pdf) - answers
   Energy Source Web Quest (pdf)
   Balancing Forces (pdf)
   Calibrating Thermometers (pdf)
   Cook (with your own Solar Cooker) a Hot Dog (pdf)
   Natural Refrigeration (pdf)
   Solar Distiller (pdf)
   Intermediate School Building Energy Survey (pdf)
   The New Wind Turbine (pdf)
   Measuring Electricity (pdf)
   Underwater Oil Recovery (pdf)
   Petroleum Scavenger Hunt - developed by Melanie Harper, Ector Middle School

Secondary Explorations (Grades 9 - 12)

   Energy Analysis (pdf)- using energy graphs and data
   Chemical Models (pdf) - Hydrocarbons
   Wind Logic Puzzles (pdf) - "Wind Logic Puzzles"
   Distributed Energy (pdf) - article
   Oil Market Basics - teacher's guide(pdf), webquest quiz(pdf) and answer key(pdf)
   New Biomass Technologies (pdf)
   Energy on Ice - Methane Hydrates (html) - adapted from the NEED Project
   Carbon Sequestration (html)
   New Technologies - three short articles(pdf)
   Controlling Hurricanes(pdf)
   WIPP - Waste Isolation Pilot Project (pdf)
   The Blackout of 2003 (pdf)
   Gamma Ray Bursts (pdf)
   Offshore Wind Energy, The Solar Sailor, and Marine Life on Offshore Rigs  (all in one pdf)
   Secondary School Energy Survey (pdf)
   Drilling a Well Today (pdf)
   Glow-in-the-Dark Toys (pdf)
   Measuring Electricity (pdf)
   Underwater Oil Recovery (pdf)

Career Corner - courtesy of the National Energy Education Development Project

   Careers in Energy Management (pdf)
   Careers in Hydropower (pdf)
   Careers in the Nuclear Industry (pdf)
   Careers in Offshore Energy (pdf)
   Careers in Oil and Natural Gas (pdf)
   Careers in Petroleum- Offshore Oil Rigs (pdf)
   Careers in Solar Energy (pdf)
   Careers in Wind Energy (pdf)