Nexant’s Top Energy Learning Resources for Kids
May 4, 2020
It seems like everyone is trying to find ways to keep kids busy while we are following social distancing and stay at home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many sites out there offering up crafts, scavenger hunts, and other activities. It’s not just keeping them busy (and keeping yourself sane), but also trying to engage them in school activities that many are struggling with. To help you with those STEM topics, we rounded up a list of ways to help your children with the concepts of energy, conservation, renewables, and more. Bonus: some of them will be interesting to adults too.
Energy Basics:
Older kids, 8 and up.
- TED talk A Guide to the Energy of the Earth: where does energy come from, and where does it go?
- NREL Energy Basics. Learn more about renewable energy resources and how we can use nonrenewable energy sources more efficiently.
- US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: Energy 101 Video Series
- US Department of Energy: 5 Back-to-School Resources to Help You Learn About Energy
Energy, Electricity, & Climate Change:
Younger kids, 4-8.
- Mystery Science. What if there were no electricity?
- Mystery Science: Where does energy come from?
- Colossal Questions: What Would Happen if the Ice Caps Melted?
Ages 7-14.
- Energy, Light, and Sound: 10 StudyJams! Interactive Science Activities
Renewable Energy:
High Schoolers.
- PBS Nova - Energy Lab: Are you ready to Design a Renewable Future? Or go Straight to the Lab
Podcasts about Energy:
Younger kids, 4-10.
- Wow in the World (NPR): Here Comes the Sun-Powered Energy!
- Fun Kids Podcast: Energy Explained
- Squeaky Clean for KIDS!: Energy episode.
High Schoolers and Up
- Ologies: Conservation Technology (EARTH SAVING) with Shah Selbe and Alie Ward
Games:
Younger kids, 4-10.
- NASA kids: Play Power Up! In this game, kids have to capture clean energy from the wind and the sun to produce enough electricity to run the town.
- Energy Bingo game. There’s instructions and a link to download the bingo board, all while having fun teaching your littles about saving energy.
- PBS Kids Science Games:
Online Books:
Ages 7-14.
This list includes some of our favorite programs and resources to share with kids of all ages. Though many of us are familiar with the clunky schooling-at-home type software, some of these are surprisingly well crafted and fun like the PBS Kids Science Games, for example. You’ll probably be most successful introducing these resources if you encourage your kids to make their own decision about which things interest them on the list. Or, bring it up to them after something energy-related comes up at home, giving it connection and context within their environment.
Have another resource you’d add? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn by tagging Nexant and using the hashtag #kidslearnaboutenergy.
