National Energy Education Development Project

http://www.need.org/ The main page of the NEED Project.

NEED's Energy Curriculum and Materials

NEED produces energy curriculum and materials for students at four grade levels: primary (K-2), elementary (3-5), intermediate (6-8), and secondary (9-12). NEED's energy curriculum is divided into eight steps:

Step One: Science of Energy

Students learn the forms of energy (heat, light, motion, sound, electricity) and how energy is transformed from one form into other forms.

Step Two: Sources of Energy

Students learn about energy sources used today - their formation, exploration, production, distribution, consumption, and economic and environmental trade-offs.

Step Three: Electricity

Students participate in hands-on exploration of the scientific concepts of electricity and electricity generation, transmission, and efficient use of energy.

Step Four: Transportation Fuels

Students learn about the transportation sector of the economy, conventional and alternative fuels, and the fuels of the future.

Step Five: Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Students learn how energy is used, new energy-efficient technologies, and ways to conserve energy at home and at school.

Step Six: Synthesis, Reinforcement, Extension

Students synthesize, reinforce, and extend their learning. They may also teach others what they have learned.

Step Seven: Evaluation

Students demonstrate their understanding of energy concepts through various assessment activities.

Step Eight: Recognition

Teachers may document energy activities in a scrapbook or participate in the Youth Awards Program for Energy Achievement.

The NEED resource catalog contains a listing of all guides, kits, and materials needed to carry out the eight steps. It also includes a matrix that illustrates the learning progression at each level (primary, elementary, intermediate, secondary). NEED's energy curriculum materials are aligned to national and many state standards.

Professional Development

NEED provides a variety of professional development workshops and conferences through partnerships with state and local partners. In addition, five-day National Energy Conferences for Educators are hosted each July to train teachers in the use of energy programs in their classrooms and extracurricular activities.

Teacher/Student Training

http://www.need.org/training.php Provides an overview of all professional development activities.

Membership

Membership is $35 and provides the following benefits:

• Annually updated Curriculum Packet
• Subscription to the Energy Exchange newsletter
• Access to NEED conferences, workshops, and the Youth Awards Program
• Ability to order basic curriculum units and free supplemental materials

NEED Membership

http://www.need.org/member.php Provides detailed information about membership.

Online Resources

In addition to ordering kits and materials through the project, teachers can also take advantage of free online materials. The NEED Project now provides their energy infobooks online in pdf format. Infobooks provide background information on the sources of energy, electricity, transportation, conservation and efficiency, and consumption. The books are available at primary, elementary, intermediate, and secondary reading levels. Primary books are designed as flipbooks for teachers to read to students; the others are designed for student use. Teachers can print infobooks from the NEED web site, or order a classroom set. In addition, teachers can also download and print companion activities.

NEED Energy Infobooks

http://www.need.org/EnergyInfobooks.php Download and print infobooks for primary, elementary, intermediate, and secondary reading levels.

NEED Energy Infobook Activities

http://www.need.org/EnergyInfobooksActivities.php Download and print activities at primary, elementary, intermediate, and secondary levels.

Getting Started

Feeling overwhelmed by all the content available from the NEED Project? Start by visiting the Program Implementation Resources for Teachers page, which provides pdf versions of activities and curriculum guides. This page also includes a planning document and standards alignment information.

Program Implementation Resources for Teachers

http://www.need.org/curriculum.php This page provides resources for teachers planning an energy unit.

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