Archives: Resources

Switch Classroom

Switch Classroom is free online course that provides a structured curriculum that comprehensively covers energy resources by using engaging videos, presentations, quizzes and other high-level activities and can be adapted to meet the needs of each class.

• Grade 10
• Grade 11
• Grade 12
• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Grade 8
• Grade 9

Energy Sources and Choices

In this lesson, students think about ways they use energy in their daily lives and identify the sources of energy involved.

They consider different sources that can be used for heating and transportation and choose one to learn more about. Students discuss concepts of energy efficiency, energy conservation and sustainability and generate questions about energy sources and choose one to learn more about.
*French Resources are Available as Attachments

• Grade 11
• Grade 12

Bringing Energy Topics Into Your Classroom

This series of web pages begins with the physics of energy and proceeds through a discussion of energy in biological systems and throughout the earth system.

Energy’s influence on human society is explored from the point of view of different sources of energy, the ways in which we use energy, how we make decisions about energy, and the society-wide impacts of energy use. Taken together, these concepts describe energy literacy.

• Grade 10

Electrical Safety

In this lesson, students examine objects that plug in to begin thinking about ways we use electricity in our daily lives.

Students then go outside into the school community on a scavenger hunt, looking for signs of electricity before exploring important electricity safety rules to keep safe.

• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Kindergarten

Canada’s Most Wanted Energy Wasters

Canada’s Most Wanted Energy Wasters increases students’ awareness of their energy wasting habits and reinforces simple energy-saving behaviors.

In this activity, students construct wanted posters for “energy crimes” that they have committed over the past week.

• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5

Exploring Canada’s Energy Future

This guide has been created to support teachers in using the Exploring Canada’s Energy Future Interactive Tool with their students available at www.cer-rec.gc.ca/energyfuturesdata.
*Resources provided in French

• Grade 10

Nuclear Science Week – Resources

Nuclear Science Week is an international, broadly observed week-long celebration to focus local, regional, national and international interest on all aspects of nuclear science.

Nuclear Science Week takes place each year on the third week of October, and each day provides for learning about the contributions, innovations and opportunities that can be found by exploring nuclear science.

• Grade 10
• Grade 11
• Grade 12

Energy Games and Puzzles

Introduce renewable and non-renewable resources using colouring sheets or the energy bingo games.

• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Kindergarten

Thermal Energy – Why Do Some Containers Keep Stuff Warmer Than Others?

In this activity, students investigate two different types of cups to determine which one keeps liquids warmer longer.

• Grade 7

What is Energy?

In this exploratory activity, learners experiment, observe and determine how various toys change from one form of energy to another.

Learners play with a pull-back race car, a groan tube, a popper, physics flyer, and balloon car to explore energy, its forms (heat energy, sound energy, etc.) and how it changes forms from potential to kinetic energy. This activity helps learners visualize the abstract concept of energy and apply it to everyday life.

• Grade 8

Input vs. Output

Using the Law of Conservation of Energy as a centerpiece, this activity explores the transference of energy between different objects and the transformation of energy into different forms – potential and kinetic.

• Grade 8

Solar Fountain Activity

This activity demonstrates how solar energy is transformed into electricity that we can use. Students will use solar panels to power a small water pump and build a functioning fountain. In doing so, they will learn how a solar panel works, collect data and test variables, and apply their observations to their engineering process as they improve their designs.

• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Grade 8