Energy

This month we focus on Web sites about energy, including power generation from renewable and non-renewable sources and energy conservation.

Elementary and Middle School

Go straight to Energy, Fueling the Future, from the London Science Museum for a fabulous introduction to the energy issues. Wander through the Energy Quizzes, with stories, games and fascinating facts sprinkled all along the way. Or go directly to the Energy Info Zone to pick your activities a la carte, including short animations explaining energy types and concepts, simple games, and a glossary.

The Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association Kids Korner, supplies a comprehensive overview of energy and power for elementary students. Explore electricity, hydropower, nuclear power and alternative energy like fuel cells, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass, as well as energy efficiency and the history of energy. There’s a section on safety, and the Energy Fun Factory outlines some simple experiments and shows how to read the electric meter.

The Energy Kids Page from the federal Energy Information Administration provides is a great starting place for elementary or middle school students. The Energy Facts section covers sources of energy like oil, gas, and solar power, and energy conservation. The Classroom Activities section provides handouts and activities for K-12 and ideas for science fair projects.

Learning Power from the Southern Company features Power Plants in Action, with animations explaining how gas, coal, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants work.

Dr. E’s Energy Lab from the US Department of Energy (DOE) gives very basic information on renewable energy and efficiency for young students. Roofus’ home features information on solar technologies such as solar hot water, solar electricity and solar cars.

The Alliant Energy Kids site explains energy basics such as how electricity is made and how it gets to your home, how we use natural gas, or how different kinds of renewable energy work.

The Energy Star Home Tour is an interactive tour that demonstrates ways to save energy in a typical home. Users can explore the home room by room and click on appliances, windows, walls and other features to see how energy can be wasted or saved.

The Energy Chest is part of Britain’s National Grid for learning. The site provides clear and simple information with a focus on action, such as exploring your school to find ways to save energy or visiting a power plant to learn how they produce energy.

Take the Family Home Energy Quiz from the New York Public Service Commission to introduce a unit on energy conservation.

Try Funergy from Britain’s National Grid for learning for games about saving energy.

High School

The Geography of Energy from the London Science Museum provides an overview about energy from early power sources to energy choices for the future. In the Types of Energy section, for example, users assess coal and wind as energy sources, then choose the energy mix for three countries with different needs.

Energy Sources from the US Department of Energy (DOE) supplies information on bioenergy, coal, electric power, fossil fuels, fusion, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, natural gas, nuclear, oil, renewables, solar and wind power.

The Global Energy Guide from the BBC outlines renewable and non-renewable energy sources with simple graphics.

Learning About Renewable Energy from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) has information on biomass, geothermal, solar and wind energy, as well as advanced vehicles and fuels. Photographs and animations help clearly explain concepts.

Energy Videos from National Geographic include alternative energy, energy conservation, fuel cells, solar power and more. Follow the Wind Power links to find an interactive look inside a wind turbine.

Clean Energy from the Union of Concerned Scientists provides information on a variety of energy sources, from fossil fuels to geothermal. For each section, be sure to look at the sidebar on the right hand side of the screen to find the detailed information, such as “How natural gas works,” “How Hydroelectric Energy Works,” etc.

Generating Electricity from TXU Corporation (an energy generation company) gives brief illustrated descriptions of different generating systems such as fusion, hydroelectric, photovoltaic and others.

This Wind Energy Tutorial from the American Wind Energy Association provides lots of details about wind energy generation and policy.

Energy Generation: Taking a Step into the Future looks at the development of energy sources and energy conservation. This site was created by students for the ThinkQuest competition.

The Energy Planet contains information about energy sources, experiments, biographies of well-known people in the history of energy, and more. This is a student-created ThinkQuest site.

The Home Energy Saver from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory computes a home's energy use. Users can estimate how much energy and money can be saved and how much emissions can be reduced by implementing energy-efficiency improvements. The Energized Learning Site provides lesson plans to integrate use of the tool into middle or high school math/science classes.

The US Department of Energy provides A Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The site provides lots of information on saving energy in your home, vehicle and workplace, as well as information on renewable such as biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, ocean energy and more.

The Energy Star Web site from the US EPA and DOE provides loads of resources on the use of energy conservation techniques. Learn about efficient lighting and appliances, green building, home audits and take the interactive Energy Star Home Tour. Schools can launch energy efficiency programs and take the Energy Star Challenge.

Smashing the Atom provides the historical and scientific context to nuclear power. This site from the London Science Museum includes historic photos and animations, such as a step-by-step description of a fusion reactor.

The Story of Steam from the London Science Museum includes animations of old steam engines at work.

The Toshiba Science Museum provides interactive exhibits on many technology subjects including a virtual tour of several energy technologies such as fuel cells, nuclear power and hydrogen power.

Saved by the Sun from the PBS series NOVA is an in-depth look inside a solar cell and a look at new solar technologies.

Your Carbon Diet is a simple interactive that lets students click on typical household items and learn how reduce energy use and carbon load by using them more efficiently.

Teacher Portals

Wisconsin’s K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) facilitates energy education programs in Wisconsin schools. The Web site is loaded with information, student activities, professional development opportunities and more.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy K-12 Lesson Plans and Activities provide a wealth of information for teachers from the Department of Energy (DOE).

The NREL Education page highlights resources and opportunities for teachers.

The Department of Energy Educators Site provides links to a wealth of energy resources.

National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project provides resources for energy education programs. The Web site includes “Energy Books” curriculum resources and lots of science fair project ideas.

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