Earth Day Science Lessons
and Projects for Alternative Energy

Alternative energy science projects explore wind power, water power, solar power, and biomass power with Earth Day hands-on demonstrations for teachers of preschool and kindergarten through grade 6 students in classes or homeschools.

Almost all our non-nuclear energy comes from the sun, either directly from solar panels, or indirectly, from the power of falling water, the force of wind, or the heat from chemical reactions involving the growing things we call biomass.

Gas, coal, and oil are products of biomass created by the sun that have have been buried, partially decomposed, for millions of years.

When air near the earth is heated by the sun, it rises high into the sky and cold air from elsewhere pours in to replace it. This pouring air is wind, and it is powerful enough to drive a sailing ship across the sea or turn the mighty blades of a generator in a windfarm.

Every day, the sun draws billions of gallons of water up from the sea into the air where it condenses into clouds. In time these clouds shower the water back to earth, where it flows down again to the sea. Mill wheels placed alongside that flow can produce wonderful, clean energy, as can generators below high dams.

Here is an easy demonstration of how sun creates biomass. The sun enables plants like corn and soybeans to grow and produce oils that in turn can be used to fuel machines producing alternative energy. Unlike gas and oil and coal, these sources of energy are renewable with every growing season.

Smog in a bottle Science Lesson Plan Demonstration

Smog in a bottle
Science Lesson Plan

Demonstration

One problem with traditional energy sources like coal, oil, and gas is that they produce gasses and tiny particles that can foul the air and produce smog when tiny droplets of water condense around them.

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Preschool Lesson Plans and Kindergarten Themes for Daycare, Kindergarten, HomeSchool or Home Activities.