Energy Curricula*

Grades K-4

Alliance to Save Energy Downloadable Lesson Plans
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, many schools spend more on energy costs than on computers and textbooks combined. A number of these free, downloadable curricula are used in the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Schools Program—a unique, collaborative effort by teachers, administrators, and facilities and maintenance staff which reduces school energy costs while at the same time educating students. Each of these plans can be downloaded as a PDF file and printed out.

Are you an Energy Saver STAR?
Developed by the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, Are You an Energy Saver Star?  asks students to collect data on energy usage and perform energy audits in a number of capacities.  The results are then analyzed to see where the most conservation could be achieved.  Adheres to state standards in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.  Best suited for grades 4-7. 

Clean Energy for a Clean Environment
Produced by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts, Clean Energy for a Clean Environment encourages students to learn more about green power, interview individuals in their area using green power, and engage in activities to spread the word about green power.  Includes downloadable guide for teachers, meets many Massachusetts Department of Education Curriculum frameworks.

Energy Hog
The Alliance to Save Energy’s Energy Hog program is an online computer activity that reveals "energy hogs" in our homes that can be eliminated, thus saving energy and protecting the environment.  The website also includes the Energy Hog Challenge, a set of classroom activities that can be downloaded for free at http://www.energyhog.org/.  Correlates to National Science Education Standards as well as Colorado state standards.  Appropriate for 3rd-6th grade students. 

Knowledge is Power
Originally created for use in Texas, Knowledge is Power is an energy efficiency curriculum supplement for grades K-8.  These lesson plans on energy conservation and energy efficiency are correlated to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards and include starter activities, extensions, and discussion questions.

National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Curricula
The NEED Project provides an extensive library of standards-based curricula for teachers of grades K-12. Examples of the many resources teachers can download are: free lessons on wind energy in four levels, hands-on solar kits, energy infobooks in four levels, energy efficiency and conservation lesson plans, curriculum on saving energy for students and families, and transportation fuels lessons. Several NEED lessons also feature connections to language arts, geography and economics. Lessons are available for all grade levels K-12 and adhere to National Science Education Standards.

Project Learning Tree: Energy and Society
PLT's Energy & Society program provides formal and non-formal educators with tools and activities to help students in grades PreK-8 learn about their relationship with energy and investigate the environmental issues related to energy's role in society. Energy & Society helps students develop critical thinking skills to make decisions about their personal energy use. In addition to hands-on activities, Energy & Society integrates music and dance to enhance the study of energy issues.  Follow the link located above for ordering information.

Grades 5-8

Alliance to Save Energy Downloadable Lesson Plans
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, many schools spend more on energy costs than on computers and textbooks combined. A number of these free, downloadable curricula are used in the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Schools Program—a unique, collaborative effort by teachers, administrators, and facilities and maintenance staff which reduces school energy costs while at the same time educating students. Each of these plans can be downloaded as a PDF file and printed out.

Are you an Energy Saver STAR?
Developed by the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, Are You an Energy Saver Star?  asks students to collect data on energy usage and perform energy audits in a number of capacities.  The results are then analyzed to see where the most conservation could be achieved.  Adheres to state standards in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.  Best suited for grades 4-7. 

Clean Energy for a Clean Environment
Produced by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts, Clean Energy for a Clean Environment encourages students to learn more about green power, interview individuals in their area using green power, and engage in activities to spread the word about green power.  Includes downloadable guide for teachers, meets many Massachusetts Department of Education Curriculum frameworks.

Discover How Trees Produce and Save Energy
The National Arbor Day Foundation’s National Poster Contest offers free lesson plans and activities demonstrating the link between trees and energy.  Correlates to National Science Education Standards and National Social Studies Education Standards.

Energy Efficiency Lesson Plan Database
Produced by Connecticut Energy Education, these energy efficiency lessons provide students and teachers with activities to bridge the subjects of Fundamentals of Energy and Climate Change, and provide activities for students to make their own solutions to energy issues.  Lessons include Ecological Footprint Calculator, Home Energy Quiz, and 10% Challenge. These lessons are best suited for grades 7-12 and adhere to Connecticut State Education Standards.

Energy Hog
The Alliance to Save Energy’s Energy Hog program is an online computer activity that reveals "energy hogs" in our homes that can be eliminated, thus saving energy and protecting the environment.  The website also includes the Energy Hog Challenge, a set of classroom activities that can be downloaded for free at http://www.energyhog.org/.  Correlates to National Science Education Standards as well as Colorado state standards.  Appropriate for 3rd-6th grade students. 

Get Energized!
Get Energized!, developed by the Bureau of Land Management ’s Campbell Creek Science Center in Anchorage, Alaska, is designed to increase children's understanding of energy and to empower him or her to take personal actions that will help address our nation’s energy challenges.  Through engaging formats, the program enables children to discover more about energy in a self-directed way. The CD-ROM also includes an educator’s guide that coordinates additional activities with the various sections of the program and relates them to national science and social studies standards.

Knowledge is Power
Originally created for use in Texas, Knowledge is Power is an energy efficiency curriculum supplement for grades K-8.  These lesson plans on energy conservation and energy efficiency are correlated to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards and include starter activities, extensions, and discussion questions.

National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Curricula
The NEED Project provides an extensive library of standards-based curricula for teachers of grades K-12. Examples of the many resources teachers can download are: free lessons on wind energy in four levels, hands-on solar kits, energy infobooks in four levels, energy efficiency and conservation lesson plans, curriculum on saving energy for students and families, and transportation fuels lessons. Several NEED lessons also feature connections to language arts, geography and economics. Lessons are available for all grade levels K-12 and adhere to National Science Education Standards.

Planet Connecticut
Developed by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Planet Connecticut is an interactive education program that increases student awareness of commute alternatives and how making different lifestyle choices can contribute to a cleaner environment and a better quality of life.  Activities can be used for any 6th-9th grade classroom in the state and correlate to several math, science, and geography state standards in Connecticut.

Powering Our Future
Powering Our Future is an interactive education program for grades 4-12 focused on energy use, electricity, renewable energy, and energy conservation.  The lessons in this program address Arizona Department of Education academic standards in science and social studies, as well as mathematics and language arts.  The site is designed for use in conjunction with Powering Our Future written materials.  Ordering information is available on their website at http://www.poweringourfuture.com/.

Project Learning Tree: Energy and Society
PLT's Energy & Society program provides formal and non-formal educators with tools and activities to help students in grades PreK-8 learn about their relationship with energy and investigate the environmental issues related to energy's role in society. Energy & Society helps students develop critical thinking skills to make decisions about their personal energy use. In addition to hands-on activities, Energy & Society integrates music and dance to enhance the study of energy issues.

Travel Solutions to Global Warming
Developed by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Travel Solutions to Global Warming isa 5-8th grade curriculum that explores the relationship between the carbon cycle, fossil fuels, and levels of CO2 in the atmosphere through experiments and graphing.  Students follow up by using a personal trip log to discover their own CO2 production and how to minimize it.  Correlates to several math, science, and geography state standards in Connecticut.

Voyage from the Sun
Voyage From The Sun is a 20-lesson classroom science module designed to introduce 4th-9th grade students to the major ways in which energy is important in living systems. Voyage encourages students to explore the story of Earth's energy. Students examine how they use energy, where it comes from, and how human impact on natural habitats affects the natural energy flow. Voyage From The Sun supports science reform efforts by building bridges between biology, the physical sciences, math and language arts.

Grades 9-12

Alliance to Save Energy Downloadable Lesson Plans
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, many schools spend more on energy costs than on computers and textbooks combined. A number of these free, downloadable curricula are used in the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Schools Program—a unique, collaborative effort by teachers, administrators, and facilities and maintenance staff which reduces school energy costs while at the same time educating students. Each of these plans can be downloaded as a PDF file and printed out. 

Clean Energy for a Clean Environment
Produced by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts, Clean Energy for a Clean Environment encourages students to learn more about green power, interview individuals in their area using green power, and engage in activities to spread the word about green power.  Includes downloadable guide for teachers, meets many Massachusetts Department of Education Curriculum frameworks.

Energy Efficiency Lesson Plan Database
Produced by Connecticut Energy Education, these energy efficiency lessons provide students and teachers with activities to bridge the subjects of Fundamentals of Energy and Climate Change, and provide activities for students to make their own solutions to energy issues.  Lessons include Ecological Footprint Calculator, Home Energy Quiz, and 10% Challenge. These lessons are best suited for grades 7-12 and adhere to Connecticut State Education Standards.

National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project Curricula
The NEED Project provides an extensive library of standards-based curricula for teachers of grades K-12. Examples of the many free resources teachers can download are: lessons on wind energy in four levels, hands-on solar kits, energy infobooks in four levels, energy efficiency and conservation lesson plans, curriculum on saving energy for students and families, and transportation fuels lessons. Several NEED lessons also feature connections to language arts, geography and economics. Lessons are available for all grade levels K-12 and adhere to National Science Education Standards.

Powering Our Future
Powering Our Future is an interactive education program for grades 4-12 focused on energy use, electricity, renewable energy, and energy conservation.  The lessons in this program address Arizona Department of Education academic standards in science and social studies, as well as mathematics and language arts.  The site is designed for use in conjunction with Powering Our Future written materials.  Ordering information is available on their website at http://www.poweringourfuture.com/.

  

Want more ideas?

Check out these educational resources on energy:

Alliance to Save Energy
ASE provides K-12 curricula and other educational resources pertaining to energy consumption and conservation.

Energy Ideas Clearing House
The Energy Ideas Clearing House provides a wealth of links related to energy education and conservation.

Energy Star
Energy Star’s Change a Light, Change the World campaign involves middle and high school students in switching from regular incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient compact fluorescents.   The campaign includes curricula, resources, and online pledge forms that students can use to track their progress in switching from regular to compact fluorescent bulbs.

Energy Kid’s Page
Developed by the Energy Information Administration, these resources on energy production and consumption are suitable for grades K-12.

Imagining Tomorrow: Alternate Energy Futures
A project of the Foresight Project, Imagining Tomorrow is a new and innovative national creative writing and video contest for high-school students that focuses on the subjects of clean energy and global climate.  The website contains Starting Points, questions, and resource links for students and teachers, as well as online publication of winning entries for additional discussion. Contest entries are due by March 31, 2007; $10,000 is committed for national awards. 

The NEED Project
The mission of the National Energy Education Development Project is to promote an energy conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government and community leaders to design and deliver objective, multi-sided energy education programs. Learn how to become a member of their educator network and gain access to their many energy education resources by clicking on the above link.

Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign
A program of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Plant for the Planet seeks to plant one billion trees around the world over the course of 2007 in an effort of offset energy usage and slow global warming.  The program provides information on how to plant trees locally and encourages schools, businesses, and community groups around the world to take part in the pledge.

Wisconsin KEEP (K-12 Energy Education Program)
KEEP's mission is to initiate and facilitate the development, dissemination, implementation and evaluation of energy education programs.  They offer educational resources pertaining to home, school, and renewables energy education, as well as online resources for professional development.

Do you have energy curricula that you'd like to share? Send it to EEWeek@neefusa.org 

*The curricula listed on this webpage have been selected in light of their adherence to state, federal, and/or NAAEE educational standards and are thus suitable for classroom use.