In this lesson, students consider the ongoing role of light energy in humans' lives. Through a folktale about the Sun, students are reminded that sunlight is the primary source of light energy on Earth. Students investigate a variety of early light emitting devices and consider their benefits and drawbacks.

In this lesson, students are presented with a formative assessment probe, The Mitten Problem, to elicit ideas about sources of heat. Students design and conduct a follow up investigation to further explore their developing ideas about heat.

In this lesson, students examine the components of a portable light device - a battery operated flashlight. This initial exploration and the discussion it generates is used to begin a guided exploration of simple circuitry. Students attempt to light a bulb using a battery, a wire, and a light bulb.

In this lesson, students examine interactions between objects and practice making claims with supporting evidence. In the second part of the lesson, students link interactions to energy as they practice identifying the energy sources and the energy receivers in different situations.

In this lesson, students use direct observations and computer simulations to understand that heat is the transfer of thermal energy.

In this lesson, students discover the internal components of an incandescent light bulb. Students expand their circuitry knowledge by considering the pathway of electrical energy through a light bulb and by incorporating the bulb into an entire electrical system - a complete circuit. They also explore the concept of a system by considering the implications of a nonworking component of a light bulb.

In this lesson, students consider the energy transformations that take place as energy is transferred. Note: This lesson builds on concepts and activities covered by Lesson 2.

In this lesson, students design and carry out an investigation to monitor the temperature of water when equal volumes of hot and cold water are mixed.

In this lesson, students investigate the conductivity of various materials. Explorations lead to a beginning understanding of uses and safety concerns associated with conductors and insulators.

In this lesson, students expand their understanding of thermal energy transfers by focusing on the directionality of heat transfers. Students collect temperature data from two interacting containers of water and from their results infer that heat is transferred from warmer matter to cooler matter until both substances reach the same temperature.

In this lesson, students consider heat transfers that occur in every day situations and investigate three specific ways that heat moves: conduction, convection, and radiation.

In this lesson, students construct model water wheels using simple materials. Students test the water wheels and compare how efficiently each uses available energy.

In this lesson, students analyze the way they personally use energy and begin to examine energy use on a much larger scale. Students discover how reliant all sectors (residential, commercial, industrial, transportation) are on electricity and fossil fuels as energy sources. As they investigate the energy transfers involved in the generation of electricity, students consider the efficiency of the transfers involved in the process.

In this lesson, students investigate how electricity is generated on a wide scale basis. The major components of electric production: the turbine, the generator, and energy source are introduced in this lesson.

In this lesson, students discover that heat is conducted through different materials at different rates by performing a simple experiment. They begin to consider how knowledge of heat transfers can be used to safely and efficiently utilize heat transfers in everyday situations.

In this lesson, students explore turbines by designing and building blades for a simple wind turbine.

In this lesson, students investigate the insulating properties of variety of materials. Using their knowledge of heat transfers, students design an insulated water bottle.

In this lesson, students develop an understanding of energy efficiency and the importance of energy conservation by comparing different light bulbs. By comparing the amount of energy, heat, bulb life, and light output each bulb delivers, students learn that some bulbs provide the same light output using less electrical energy. The lesson culminates with a discussion about the broader impact of using energy wisely.

In this lesson, students idenitfy sources of unwanted heat transfer within their school and homes and make suggestions as to how these types of transfers can be slowed. Students further investigate how buildings are heated.