Enhancing Clean Energy Education: Resources for Educators to Inspire Tomorrow's Leaders
By Jie Ying, ACE NY Intern
In an era where climate change and environmental sustainability have taken center stage, equipping students with the knowledge and passion for clean energy is of paramount importance. Afterall, the planet’s young people are already on the frontlines. Recognizing this, a United Nations body earlier this week updated a key treaty intended to protect children's rights to strengthen their hand in fighting climate change.
Educators play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation's understanding of clean energy concepts and its significance. Fortunately, a plethora of resources are available to educators, enabling them to enhance their knowledge and teaching methods regarding clean energy. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most valuable resources that educators can tap into to inspire and educate their students about clean energy.
Department of Energy (DOE) Educational Resources
The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) offers a range of educational resources specially designed for teachers, including lesson plans, clean energy videos, science projects, and other activities for the classroom or at home to excite K-12 students about clean energy.
Source: https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/clean-energy-resources-educators
Clean Energy Videos
Energy 101: Share the fundamentals behind renewable energy and energy efficiency through these short videos.
360 and Virtual Reality Energy Videos: See a 360-degree perspective on energy with these videos.
K-12 Resources
Solar Decathlon site has education resources geared toward kindergarten through high school. These include energy efficiency and renewable energy curriculums, activities, and Solar Decathlon design and construction documents.
Energy Coloring Books and Other Publications
National Energy Education Develpoment Project
The U.S. Department of Energy partnered with the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) to create free energy education resources for classroom and educational use.
For more information and to download NEED energy education materials, visit http://www.need.org/
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Education Programs
NREL, a national laboratory under the DOE, offers educational programs and resources for teachers.
Source: https://www.nrel.gov/about/teachers.html
Visiting Faculty Program: Selected university/college faculty collaborate with NREL research staff on a mutually interesting project. Up to two students can participate in hands-on research at NREL during the summer.
Teacher Professional Development, Summer 2023: Provide professional development opportunities for formal educators to integrate renewable energy and energy efficiency into their curriculum.
STEM Teacher and Researcher Program (STAR): Provide a 9-week paid summer research experience for future K-12 STEM teachers.
Aspiring STEM teachers are paired with researchers and scientists at research laboratories like NREL. They gain firsthand experience in applied research settings, supported by ongoing professional development and networking opportunities.
Algae Summer Science Institute: Provide intensive, hands-on professional development for teachers on using algae as a renewable energy resource.
A 2-day workshop where teachers work through the Algae Foundation's Algae Academy curriculum, which is a 5-day program for K-12 students. The curriculum uses STEM kits and Next Generation Science Standards-aligned materials to teach about algae's potential as a renewable energy source.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
NYSERDA, an organization promoting clean energy in New York state, provides educational initiatives for teachers.
Their programs include teacher training workshops, curriculum resources, and grants for schools to implement clean energy projects. NYSERDA's website offers access to educational materials, case studies, and online tools to support clean energy education.
Clean Energy Training Resources: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Clean-Energy-Workforce-Development-and-Training/Resources
P-12 Clean Green Schools Initiative: The P-12 Clean Green Schools Initiative aims to improve the environmental sustainability of those schools by reducing school energy loads, decarbonizing their building portfolio, improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and providing clean energy educational opportunities. (Source: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/P-12-Initiative/P-12-Clean-Green-Schools-Initiative)
NYSERDA Resources for P-12 Schools: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/P-12-Initiative/Resources
New York City’s Climate Change Education Module
In partnership with Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched a climate module to provide free multidisciplinary lessons and activities to introduce students and teachers to a range of New York City-specific climate topics. The module includes a thorough climate education resource list, covering Climate Change Information and Resources, Climate Science Lessons and Worksheets, and Climate Change Systems Lessons and Worksheets.
Source: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/environment/climate-change-education-module.page
Online Platforms and Networks
Numerous online platforms and networks provide resources and support for teachers interested in clean energy education.
The National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project (Source: https://www.need.org/), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) (Source: https://www.nsta.org/), and the American Clean Power Association (Source: https://cleanpower.org/) are a few examples.
These platforms offer lesson plans, webinars, forums for educators to share ideas and collaborate, and access to online communities focused on clean energy education.
