This unit provides background information and hands-on experiments to explore the different forms of energy and how energy is transformed from one form to another. Students explore transformations focusing on kinetic and potential energy, heat, light, motors, batteries, and electromagnetism —with age-appropriate, hands-on explorations that emphasize the scientific process, energy sources, electricity generation and more.
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The curriculum provides comprehensive, objective information and activities on the energy sources that fuel our country, including each of their economic and environmental impacts. Students explore the history of energy, energy in current events, and consider future energy development opportunities and challenges. They understand that certain energy sources may be better choices for specific energy needs, and they discuss and debate the energy sources we use today and will use in the future. NEED believes in teaching about all energy sources and helping students understand that there are many things to consider when making decisions about resource use.
Recently added to NEED’s suite of curriculum is the focus on Floating Offshore Wind, a unit developed in partnership with BOEM and NREL to help students explore the technology, siting considerations, and benefits of using floating offshore wind turbines in certain settings as the U.S. expands its offshore wind program.
NEED students learn about the atom and the particles that make up the atom. They understand electricity as an energy carrier, learn about electrons and how they move, and they build batteries and electromagnets. Students also explore circuits, learn how electricity is generated and measured, as well as research fusion and fission, photovoltaics and superconductors, electricity regulation, and politics and policy.
Students consider cleaner energy technologies, renewable electricity, and natural gas fired electricity generation. They research nuclear energy as a growing option for generating the nation’s electricity.
They work with SmartMeters to understand how electric and natural gas meters are utilized by many utilities nationwide. Understanding the technology of the meters and their impact on energy conservation efforts is important to how the nation’s Smart Grid and Smart Meter infrastructure grows. NEED believes in bringing a discussion of new technologies to the classroom. NEED kids learn, they teach others, and communities begin to understand.
