This website has lesson plans to build energy projects such as this solar oven. Teacher support and information is also available.  (Open Website)

A great way to help students understand the relationship between heat and temperature is with a look at the behavior of gases in closed containers.  This set of 3 Java-based labs for grades 7-9 is fun and interactive, yet also meets rigorous standards.  Complete lesson plans are included.  Try teaming it with the PhET Gas Properties simulation.  (Open Website)

This workshop by Operation Primary Physical Science introduces the concepts of heat and temperature. It is designed to provide teachers an inquiry-based learning experience to the basic concepts of thermodynamics and the thermal properties of matter.  (Open Website)

A web-based project for grades 3-8.  Students measure daily temperature and minutes of sunlight per day, then submit data online.  Using the web tools for graphing and data analysis, students share conclusions about variation in global temperatures.  (Open Website)

Confused about the difference between heat and temperature?  You're not alone.  This is a well-organized primer written by middle school teachers to help fellow teachers understand the basics of temperature and thermodynamics.  (Open Website)

Student tutorial on heat transfer through radiation, conduction, and convection.  It is written in "bite-size" pieces so that adolescent learners can grasp the concepts more easily and connect information with prior knowledge.  (Open Website)

A complete module for Grades 5-8 on the topic of Earth's Atmosphere.  It would be a great way to introduce the concept of heat transfer and thermal energy in a cross-curricular format that ties together physical science, geoscience, and the environment.  Included are seven labs with printable student guides.  (Open Website)

A lesson plan for middle school designed specifically for use with the PhET simulation "Gas Properties" (see link below).  Printable worksheets make this a turn-key 50-minute activity.  This item was a PhET Gold Star winner.  (Open Website)

In this entertaining simulation, students pump gas molecules into a chamber.  They can control volume, heat, and change gravity. A pop-up histogram helps them see the connection between kinetic energy and heat.  (Open Website)

In this lab for grades 5-8, students compare how light energy is absorbed by water, light-colored soil, and dark-colored soil.  Includes background information, printable student data tables, and assessment ideas.  (Open Website)

Well-organized interactive animation for Grades 5-8 on methods of heat transfer, including conduction, convection, and radiation.   Registered users of Teachers' Domain can quickly correlate this item with their own state standards.  NOTE:  Requires Flash plug-in.  (Open Website)

Confused about heat and the transfer of heat energy?  You're not alone.  This is a well-organized primer written by middle school teachers to help fellow teachers understand the basics of temperature and thermodynamics.  (Open Website)

This lesson for grades 6-9 promotes understanding of the Earth's Greenhouse Effect:  without the heat-trapping capabilities of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, life would not be possible on Earth.  Yet as levels of greenhouse gases rise, global temperatures are going up.  This module explores the greenhouse effect through activities using 2-liter plastic soda bottles, thermometers, and a reflector lamp.  (Open Website)

A week-long unit for Grades 6-9 on the processes associated with global climate change.  Seven creative classroom activities promote understanding of the carbon cycle, transpiration, and how human activity is impacting the climate of our planet.  (Open Website)

This thought-provoking simulation can be adapted for middle school students in the computer lab or as a teacher-led presentation.  The user selects from Ice Age, the year 1750, or the Present to see how changing greenhouse gas levels cause the climate to change.  (Open Website)

In this 3-day module for Grades 3-5, kids have fun learning about thermometers, temperature conversions, conduction, radiation, convection, and heat capacity.  Well-organized resource includes a teacher-led introduction, a hands-on class activity, and an inquiry-based lab.  (Open Website)

A 30-minute teacher-led demonstration for Grades 3-5 on the process of convection.  Includes a printable student worksheet on heat transfer and ideas for assessment.  (Open Website)

A tutorial for teachers:
It is well known that many older students do not discriminate between the terms "heat" and "temperature," and even use them interchangeably when describing thermal phenomena. This confusion arises because, in the elementary grades, the words are used as though their meaning is obvious, with little attention paid to developing simple operational definitions.  This resource clarifies the distinct meaning of each of these terms and the relationship between them.  (Open Website)

Students in Grades 3-5 explore the difference between heat and temperature as they construct their own thermometer scales.  The only safety precaution is that alcohol is used in the thermometer liquid mixture.  For a great introductory activity, see "How Hot Is It" above.  (Open Website)

In this lab for Grades 3-5, students work in teams to investigate the heat capacity of various materials.  Printable student worksheets and data sheets are provided.  CAUTION:  Hot water is used in the lab.  Not appropriate for primary grades.  (Open Website)