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Educational Resources

NREL provides a variety of educational resources to help students, teachers, and parents educate their kids about renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, including hands-on projects and curriculum suggestions for elementary school, middle school, and high school students as well as teachers.

Elementary School

• Biomass
  • Experiments with Biomass: Grades 4-6
  • Power from Potatoes: Grades 2-3
• Energy Efficiency
  • Energy and the Environment: Grades K-3
  • Energy Conservation: Grades 3-6
  • Energy Conservation, Uses, and Limits: Grades 3-6
• Renewable Energy
  • Science Energy Literacy and Activities: Grades 3-4
• Solar
  • Fun with the Sun: Grades K-2
  • Getting Energized: Grades 3-5
  • Make a Solar Cooker: Grades K-2
  • Solar Coloring Book: Grades K-2
  • Solar Water Heating: Grades K-4
• Wind
  • Experiments with Wind to Produce Energy: Grades 3-6
  • Pinwheels: Grades K-2
  • Wind Turbine Coloring Book: Grades K-2

Middle School

• Biomass
  • Biogas Generator: Grades 6-8
  • Ethanol – What It Is And How To Make It: Grades 6-8
  • Student Handbook and Activity Book: Grades 6-8
• Buildings
  • How To Build an Energy Efficient Home: Grades 7-9
• Energy Efficiency
  • School Energy Audit: Grade 8
• Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
  • Making Power from Hydrogen Poster
  • Student Handbook and Activity Guide: Grades 6-8
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)
  • NESEA Newsletters: Grades 7-9 (PDF's 1-8)
  • NESEA Solar Kit Lessons: Grades 7-9 (PDF's 1-15)
• Renewable Energy
  • Renewable Energy Activities Choices for Tomorrow (REACT): Grades 7-9
• Solar
  • How Solar Cells Convert Light to Energy: Grades 7-9
  • Solar Energy Science Projects: Grades 7-9

High School

• Biomass
  • Biogas Generator: Grades 9-12
  • Teacher's Guide to Ethanol: Grades 9-12
  • Student Handbook and Activity Book: Grades 9-12
• Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Efficiency Science Projects: Grades 9-12
  • School Energy Audit: Grades 9-12
• Renewable Energy
  • Introduction to Renewable Energy Technology: Grades 9-12
  • Renewable Energy Science Projects: Grades 9-12
• Solar
  • History of Solar Cells: Grades 9-12
  • How Solar Cells Convert Light to Energy: Grades 9-12
  • Photovoltaics in the Classroom: Grades 9-12
  • Solar Energy Science Projects: Grades 9-12
• Transportation
  • NESEA Cars of Tomorrow: Grades 9-12 (PDF's 1-4)
• Wind
  • Teacher's Guide to Wind Energy: Grades 9-12

Energy Institute for Teachers' Lessons

• Electrocity-On Line Game for Energy Simulation
  • Energy Simulation Games
  • ElectroCity
  • Environmental Science – Electro
  • Energy Simulation Games
• Energy Efficiency — Energy Audit
  • Conducting a School Energy Audit presentation
  • Exploration of Electrical Use in the Classroom
  • Lesson 6: Conduct a School Energy Audit
  • Energy Audit (8th Grade)
  • National Energy Education Development Project Curriculum
  • Lighting In the Library Teacher's Guide
  • Lighting In the Library Student Worksheets Steps 1–9
  • Lighting In the Library Student Worksheets Steps 10–22
  • All About Energy Primer
  • Come Home Lights — Bright Ideas
  • Lighting Technology Primer
• Solar Panels
  • Factors Affecting Power Output by Photovoltaic Cells Lesson
  • Factors Affecting Power Output by Photovoltaic Cells Design Lab Form
  • Formal Lab Report
  • Investigating Temperature Effects on PV Arrays Lesson
  • Investigating Temperature Effects on PV Arrays Lab
• Wind Measurements — Ping Pong Ball
  • Ping Pong Ball Anemometers Lesson
  • Ping Pong Ball Anemometers Worksheet

For additional lesson plans, projects, and other activities for grades K-12 on energy- and environment-related topics, visit EERE’s Teach and Learn Web site and the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network.

For information on the basics of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, visit Learning about Renewable Energy.

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