View Bozeman science video Systems and System Models

• What systems can you see in your home energy use? Write down your ideas and observations for these questions. Do you have other ideas and observations for home energy use that are not on this list?

  • What is included in your home's system of energy use? What is part of it? What is not part of it?

  • How is your home connected to the larger system of energy use in your neighborhood? How do you think your home's energy use compares to others in your neighborhood?

  • How is your home connected to the larger system of energy use in Portland? How do you think your home's energy use compares to others in your Portland?

  • How is your home connected to the larger system of energy use in Oregon? How do you think your home's energy use compares to others in Oregon?

  • How is your home connected to the larger system of energy use in the United States? How do you think your home's energy use compares to others in the US?

View these videos to get a basic understanding of the types of energy.

• Energy Defined

• Forms of Energy

Explore this PhET Simulation for Energy transfer and transformation and explore energy transformation in a fun and engaging way..

Optional: Student worksheet guidance for PhET Energy Transfer and Transformation.

• Student worksheet

Students can continue to explore the PhET Simulation to learn more about Thermal Energy Transfer

Student worksheet for PhET lab on Thermal Energy Transfer

Make a prediction about what the final temperature will be when you use different proportions of hot and cold water and mix them.

Link for Student worksheet for this activity

• Mixing Hot and Cold Water

Then view the video of the lab and take data for this experiment.

• Video link - https://safeshare.tv/x/ssRXnNzYImM#

Optional: Watch these videos after the lab to learn more

• What is Heat? A brief introduction at the particle level.

• Misconceptions about Heat

Materials

• Tape or other materials that can be used to attach pieces of your raceway together.

• Paper tubes, paper plates, cardboard cartons

• Marbles, small balls, cars, or other items that can toll through your raceway

The Challenge

• Design a structure using your materials that is either free standing or attached to a wall. This structure will be your raceway for marbles, a car, or another object of your choice.

More Ideas

• Try building the longest raceway that you can.

• Try building a raceway with curves and jumps

• Build two or more raceways and hold a competition

• Decorate your raceway.

• Here are some other creative ideas - https://safeshare.tv/x/KJJfpuV3ne0#