Energy Literacy Videos
Posted on October 29th, 2015 by Mary Lord
From weather patterns and food supplies to society’s daily electricity needs, energy drives everything. The U.S. Department of Energy’s new energy literacy video series highlights the seven principles that demonstrate energy’s role across the natural and social sciences, and is part of a broader set of education resources, lessons, and activities maintained by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
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Tags: Alternative Energy, Class Activities, Energy, Environmental science, Internet Resources, Sustainability, U.S. Department of Energy, Web Resources
What do 6th and 7th graders know about where energy comes from, how much we use, and how that affects our daily lives? EnergyTrends.org is hosting a video contest for public school students to find out. Deadline is midnight May 29, 2015. 
The American Association for the Advancement of Science, one of the groups that helped develop the Next Generation Science Standards is seeking science teachers to field-test multiple-choice items for a 45-minute assessment on energy in March, April, or May of 2015.
The DuPont Challenge is one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious essay competitions for students 13 and older in grades 6-12. It focuses on scientific and technological developments that create solutions to such pressing global challenges as food, energy, and protecting the environment.
In this activity, high school juniors and seniors learn such core chemistry concepts as reaction rates and thermodynamics by making and demonstrating their own Harry Potter-style “magic wands” (sparklers). The lab, which also can serve as a fun Advanced Placement course review, concludes with a class duel between wands of two different chemical compositions. 
In this fun activity developed by St. Thomas University engineering associate professor AnnMarie Thomas, students of all ages learn the basic principles of electricity by fashioning circuits from play dough, batteries, and LEDs. No soldering necessary!
Shell Eco-marathon is a global challenge that motivates high school and college students to drive farther than their peers on one gallon of fuel. Student teams participate in one of or both the Prototype (futuristic design) and UrbanConcept (roadworthy, fuel-efficient) classes. 
“The Power of Engineering” is the theme of the Technology Student Association’s 2015 TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) competition for middle and high school students. Groups hone their STEM skills and knowledge by addressing real-world challenges related to solar, nuclear, biofuels, and electrical energy, with top-ranked teams invited to participate in the national competition June 28 to July 2, 2015.
In this activity, students in grades 3 to 6 learn about force and friction by examining how basic rim bicycle brakes work and discussing the advantages of various designs. They then use low cost materials to devise a simple braking system, suggest improvements to current bicycle brake designs, and present their recommended changes to the class.
