Grade Level: 7th–12th Grade | Duration: 50 minutes (+ optional extension) This hands-on STEAM lesson combines electrical engineering, ecology, and creative design as students build a working solar-powered paper circuit and use it as the foundation for imagining an “agrivoltaic campus.” Students construct a closed-loop circuit connecting a small solar panel and LED with copper […]
This two-day lesson uses the Financial Times’ interactive “Climate Game” as a decision-making simulation where students take on the role of global policymakers working to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Energy is in action around us – from our classrooms to our communities! Broken into 4 class sessions, with an optional activity at the end, Energy in Action is a collection of guided lessons and interactive activities to help your class discover where Alabama’s electricity comes from, how utilities are shaping our clean energy future, and what we can do to save energy at home and at school.
Grade Level: 7th Grade | Duration: 50 minutes (+ optional extension)
This hands-on geography and mathematics lesson engages middle school students in analyzing global renewable energy production through map work, data analysis, and percentage calculations. Working in collaborative groups, students locate 30 countries on a world map, calculate the percentage of each country’s energy production that comes from renewable sources, and rank nations by their “green energy” commitment. The activity combines spatial reasoning skills with proportional mathematics while exploring how geography, culture, and policy influence sustainability efforts worldwide. Students discover dramatic variations in renewable energy adoption—from countries achieving 100% renewable production to those with nearly zero renewable output—prompting critical discussion about the factors that enable or constrain green energy transitions across different global contexts.
This hands-on STEAM lesson engages high school students in real-world mathematical modeling as they calculate their household energy consumption and design an energy-efficient solar-powered home. Students work through formulas to determine annual energy costs for common appliances, then apply their findings to make informed decisions about appliance selection within the constraints of a 25-panel solar system. The activity integrates science, mathematics, and financial literacy while promoting critical thinking about renewable energy and sustainable living. The lesson addresses multiple Alabama College and Career Ready standards, including investigating renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, using mathematical modeling to solve real-world financial problems, and constructing evidence-based explanations about resource management and human sustainability.
This role-playing activity introduces students to environmental and climate justice through the diverse perspectives of six fictional characters whose lives are affected by or connected to environmental issues. Students listen to first-person narratives ranging from an eleven-year-old with asthma who can’t play basketball on smoggy days to a NOAA research scientist analyzing climate models, then create and present their own environmental justice character stories. The lesson addresses Alabama College and Career Ready English Language Arts standards across all high school grades, focusing on comparing perspectives from diverse viewpoints, composing narrative writings, participating in collaborative discussions, and delivering oral presentations.
This two-day WebQuest guides high school students through independent research on eight different energy sources, building digital literacy skills while exploring the environmental and human impacts of both renewable and nonrenewable resources. Students use credible online sources to complete a comprehensive graphic organizer, then synthesize their research into an evidence-based written explanation advocating for sustainable energy choices. The lesson culminates in peer discussion and debate, developing students’ ability to communicate scientific positions effectively. The activity addresses multiple Alabama College and Career Ready Science standards related to Earth and Human Activity, including investigating energy sources’ environmental impacts, explaining how natural resources influence human activity, and constructing explanations about the relationships among resource management, sustainability, and biodiversity.
This timeline activity guides students through the history of energy innovation from Ben Franklin’s 1752 kite experiment to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. Students explore how individual inventors, scientists, and organizations contributed to the industrial revolution and its lasting global impact on economies, societies, and politics. The lesson is offered in two versions—one with independent research and one using pre-made timeline cards—making it adaptable for different classroom settings and technology access. The activity addresses Alabama College and Career Ready Social Studies standards across multiple grade levels, covering industrialization’s impact on American life, technological inventions during the European Industrial Revolution, and the transition from agrarian society to industrial nation.