It’s hard to believe but summer is already drawing to a close, which means millions of students across the United States are going back to school to boost their brainpower.
Of course, one of our favorite STEM topics is energy, which plays a vital role in nearly everything we do.
So whether you’re a teacher, parent or student interested in energy, we’ve got a few fun resources for you!
- BINGE-WORTHY VIDEOS: Curious about energy efficiency and renewables? The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has more than 20 informative Energy 101 videos that explain how these technologies work and why they are important for our clean energy future. The best part? They’re all under five minutes!
- MAPS AND QUIZZES AND TIMELINES, OH MY! The Energy.gov digital team has created all sorts of cool content to help you learn about energy, including Energy.gov’s Joules of Wisdom series, which highlights top things to know about key subjects and quizzes that test your knowledge about energy topics. To help you visualize energy data, we’ve made maps and graphics like this calculator, which compares different units of energy using things like burritos (yes, really). History buffs rejoice! We also have timelines that help you explore the history of nuclear security, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, nuclear power in space, the light bulb, electric car, wind energy, air conditioning and even electricity at the White House. More than 40 beautiful infographics explain how energy works and ways you can save energy and money at home.
- ALL THE ENERGY INFO: The Energy Information Administration’s incredibly easy-to-understand Energy Explained describes the basics of every form of energy, how we measure it and how it’s used.
- TEACHING ENERGY: Are you a teacher looking to energize your classroom? Check out Energy.gov’s Education and Workforce Development site for all sorts of energy-related lesson plans, labs, projects and other activities for grades K-12. You can also find an activity book with crosswords and energy facts and a coloring book on renewable energy that you can print at home or school.
- REAL-WORLD SKILLS: The Energy Department also has several resources and initiatives — including internships, research programs and student competitions — that give students the real-world, hands-on experience necessary to become the next-generation of energy leaders. Get inspired by these amazing Women in STEM, who broke down barriers and are making a big impact on America’s energy future.
Looking for even more inspiration? Go to Energy.gov all year long for videos, interactives and other stories that explain the importance of energy in our world.
(Prepared by Paul Lester, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Digital Content Specialist, Office of Public Affairs.)