Energy Lab for Kids offers 40 discovery-filled and thought-provoking energy projects by Emily Hawbaker, a science educator from the NEED (National Energy Education Development) project. Using supplies that you can find around the house or in the grocery store, these exciting projects let you observe, explore, discover, and get energized!

We hear about energy on the news, we use it every day, and sometimes we're told we have too much of it. But what is energy-potential, kinetic, chemical, radiant, and thermal? The lab activities in this book will let you explore almost everything about energy-what it is, how we find it, how we use it, and how we can save it.

Uniting this collection of science experiments for the kitchen, backyard, or classroom is the goal to explore and discover real energy solutions. The chapters cross all categories-from steam, electricity, and chemical reactions, to water, solar, and wind power-allowing kids to compare and test the different sources and to discover their strengths and failings. Why is one source of energy is more efficient for a one situation but not for another? Why might two energy sources combined work better than a single source? Which sources are renewable? Projects are geared to understanding actual issues in the news today. With an emphasis on inventive exploration, you'll discover that creativity leads to breakthroughs.

Learn about:

• chemical, radiant, and thermal energy by activating a glow stick and watching it get brighter in hot water.
• viscosity by sucking soda and chocolate syrup up an "oil pipeline" made from straws.
• solar energy by melting s'mores in a pizza box solar oven.
• wind power by lifting paperclips with a wind turbine made from a cup, paper, tape, and straw.
• calories by burning cheese puffs (and other food) in a homemade calorimeter.

The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus-all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.

This book features in the following series: Lab For Kids, Lab Series .

There are 144 pages in this book. This book was published 2017 by Quarry Books .

Emily Hawbaker has always had energy and a passion for science and education. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Earth science and a minor in science education, she began teaching eighth grade science. Her school was chosen to take part in an energy education project where students learn about their energy use and then teach others, with the help of the National Energy Education Development (NEED) curriculum and materials. Emily saw her students come alive with the NEED program, where she is now curriculum director. In this capacity she shares her passion for energy education as a facilitator of teacher and student events and programming across the country and around the world.

This book has the following chapters: Unit 1: Energy Basics - Let's Do Work!
Lab 1: Convection Current in a Cup
Lab 2: Beach Basics
Lab 3: What a Gas!
Lab 4: Shadow Shaper
Lab 5: Mirror Madness
Lab 6: Ramp it Up!
Lab 7: Pendulum Swinger
Lab 8: Slinky Sound Waves
Lab 9: Sound Stopper

Unit 2: Forms of Energy and Energy Transformations - Energy is Always Changing
Lab 10: Just Bounce
Lab 11: Glowing Bright
Lab 12: Bubbling Up
Lab 13: Hot Hands
Lab 14: Black and White in the Light

Unit 3: Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Sources
Lab 15: Candy Collector
Lab 16: Chocolate Chip Extraction Competition
Lab 17: Getting the Oil Out
Lab 18: Perforated Perfection
Lab 19: Fracturing Gelatin
Lab 20: Uranium Miller
Lab 21: Wind Does Work
Lab 22: Geothermal Heater
Lab 23: Solar Cooker
Lab 24: Biomass Bag
Lab 25: Dam Fun

Unit 4: Using Energy - Do You Have the Power?
Lab 26: Pretzel Power
Lab 27: ElectromagWHAT?
Lab 28: Generate This
Lab 29: Light it Up!
Lab 30: Chip Combustion

Unit 5: Saving Energy - Conserve and Preserve
Lab 32: Insulators to the Rescue!
Lab 33: Draft Detective
Lab 34: Lighten Up
Lab 35: Solar Water Heater
Lab 36: Watts That All About?
Lab 37: Fridge Fun
Lab 38: Monitor a Month
Lab 39: Waste Watchers
Lab 39: Carbonation Conundrum
Lab 40: Road Trip

Glossary
Resources
Acknowledgements
About the authors
Index