Supercharge Your Classroom’s Energy Efficiency: Essential Resources for Educators in the Renew Our Schools Competition
We frequently get asked about additional resources for the classroom to introduce concepts of Energy Efficiency to all age groups. We believe that teaching kids about Energy Efficiency is most effective when you allow kids to see how they have an impact on energy. For us, this means allowing kids to get hands on with the many different forms of energy, and exploring all the different ways energy exists in their environment.
The Renew Our Schools program is all about empowering students to explore and apply energy-efficient practices. By participating, students gain practical insights into energy use, efficiency, and conservation, becoming more engaged in shaping a sustainable future. While our School Energy Action curriculum is robust, here are few more resources to help you expand your students’ energy knowledge!
1. U.S. Green Building Council Center for Green Schools Learning Lab
The Center for Green Schools Learning Lab, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is an online resource hub tailored specifically for K-12 educators. This platform offers a wide range of lessons on topics like sustainable design, renewable energy, and energy-efficient building practices. With Learning Lab resources, you can easily integrate sustainability concepts into your curriculum, using interactive lessons and student activities designed to spark curiosity and environmental awareness.
Each lesson in the Learning Lab emphasizes real-world applications, making energy efficiency concepts accessible and engaging for students. Plus, the lab covers everything from introductory energy concepts for younger students to more advanced sustainability practices for high schoolers.
Highlights:
- Free and subscription based content
- Lessons and activities tailored to K-12 students
- Content on sustainable building practices, renewable energy, and energy-efficient behaviors
- Resources that are easy to integrate into diverse subjects and curriculums
2. University of Wisconsin KEEP Energy Education Program
The Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) from the University of Wisconsin is a rich repository of energy education materials that helps teachers foster energy literacy. KEEP’s resources dive deep into energy concepts, from understanding energy sources and forms to exploring energy conservation strategies. With these lessons, students can learn how energy impacts their daily lives and environment, empowering them to become mindful of their own energy use.
KEEP’s lessons are designed with student engagement in mind, providing hands-on activities that make learning about energy dynamic and memorable. The program also offers resources for professional development, equipping educators with the knowledge and tools they need to lead energy education in their schools.
Highlights:
- Available for all educators nation wide (you don’t have to be a Wisconsin teacher to use these!)
- In-depth lessons on energy sources, conservation, and the role of energy in daily life
- Hands-on activities to make energy concepts engaging and memorable
- Professional development resources for teachers
3. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provides an outstanding range of resources dedicated to renewable energy and sustainability. NREL’s educational resources include classroom-ready lesson plans, project-based activities, and interactive tools. Covering topics like solar power, wind energy, and bioenergy, these resources are perfect for teaching students about the exciting possibilities of renewable energy.
NREL’s educational resources are suited for various grade levels and help bridge the gap between theoretical energy concepts and real-world applications. Through project-based learning, students get hands-on experience with renewable energy technologies, inspiring them to consider how these innovations can be part of a sustainable future.
Highlights:
- Lessons on renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and bioenergy
- Project-based activities that connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications
- Interactive tools to engage students in exploring renewable energy technologies
- If your school is in Colorado, they will come to you! Contact them about exciting live presentations!
Bring These Resources Into Your Renew Our Schools Competition
Using these resources from USGBC’s Learning Lab, KEEP, and NREL, you can build a robust, engaging curriculum that will help your students succeed in the Renew Our Schools competition. Not only will these lessons provide foundational knowledge, but they’ll also inspire students to think critically about energy use, helping them develop habits and solutions that benefit their schools, homes, and communities.
Empowering students to be energy-conscious goes beyond competition—it’s a step toward fostering a generation that prioritizes sustainable living. So dive into these resources and make energy efficiency a central part of your classroom!
Ready to get started? Explore these resources and give your students the tools they need to champion energy efficiency in their school and community!
