Parent STEAM resources
Keep home learners engaged with age-appropriate energy lessons
SMUD partnered with the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) to bring you fun, energy-focused activities for your study-at-home learners.
We’ll post new K-12 lessons a few times every week to keep your child engaged. Each will include a short reading activity, a worksheet and additional learning resources.
Lessons will cover topics like:
- Making electricity
- What are renewables?
- Wind
- Hydro
- Geothermal
- Bio
- Solar
- Fossil fuels
Want to know when we add new lessons? Follow us on social media to stay up to date.
Kindergarten - 2nd grade lessons
Lesson 1 - Energy and Energy Sources
Students are introduced to energy, learn to identify how we use energy and begin to look closer at renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy.
Lesson 2 - Electricity and Electricity Generation
This lesson aims to introduce students to the basics of electricity – what it is, how we use it and how we can generate it.
Lesson 3 - Wind Energy
Wind is moving air. If air is moving, work can be done. This lesson will help students begin to understand wind and how we can use it to make electricity.
Lesson 4 - Hydropower
Water and energy go hand in hand. Like wind, we’ve used it to do work for centuries. Learn how we use water to make electricity and how we can maximize water’s power potential.
Lesson 5 - Biomass
"Wood" you care to guess one of our earliest sources of energy? Learn how we can use biomass to fuel our vehicles or generate electricity.
Lesson 6 - Geothermal
Things could get a little “heated” as we learn about harnessing the heat within the Earth’s core.
Lesson 7 - Solar
The sun is the source of almost all energy on earth, including fossil fuels! Explore the uses for solar energy and take your learning outdoors.
Lesson 8 - Fossil Fuels
Learn what fossil fuels are, where they come from, and why do we use them.
Lesson 9 - Climate and Conservation
What is climate change, and what’s the role of energy conservation in slowing it down.
Additional resources
Create a free account with SwitchOn Energy Alliance
- Lesson 1: Foundation of Modern Life
- Lesson 2: How Electricity is Made
- Lesson 3: Wind Energy
- Lesson 4: Hydro Primer
- Lesson 5: Biomass
- Lesson 6: Geothermal Options
- Lesson 7: How Solar Works
- Lesson 8: How Oil is Made
- Lesson 9: Efficiency is the Most Important Step
Facts about energy in the US from the Energy Information Administration
Looking for more home energy activities?
We’re pleased to partner with NEED to deliver fun, at-home learning activities. Be sure to check out their library of resources and their specialized collection of energy-themed lessons. All activities are totally free for use at home or school, and accessible by visiting NEED.org.
Grades 3-5 lessons
Lesson 1 - Energy and Energy Sources
Students are introduced to energy, learn to identify how we use energy and begin to look closer at renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy.
Lesson 2 - Electricity and Electricity Generation
This lesson aims to introduce students to the basics of electricity – what it is, how we use it and how we can generate it.
Lesson 3 - Wind Energy
Wind is moving air. If air is moving, work can be done. This lesson will help students begin to understand wind and how we can use it to make electricity.
Lesson 4 - Hydropower
Water and energy go hand in hand. Like wind, we’ve used it to do work for centuries. Learn how we use water to make electricity and how we can maximize water’s power potential.
Lesson 5 - Biomass
WOOD you care to guess one of our earliest sources of energy? Learn how we can use biomass to fuel our vehicles or generate electricity.
Lesson 6 - Geothermal
Things could get a little “heated” as we learn about harnessing the heat within the Earth’s core.
Lesson 7 - Solar
The Sun is the source of almost all energy on earth, including fossil fuels! Explore the uses for solar energy and take your learning outdoors.
Lesson 8 - Fossil Fuels
Learn what fossil fuels are, where they come from, and why do we use them.
Lesson 9 - Climate and Conservation
What is climate change, and what’s the role of energy conservation in slowing it down?
Additional resources
Create a free account with SwitchOn Energy Alliance
- Lesson 1: Foundation of Modern Life
- Lesson 2: How Electricity is Made
- Lesson 3: Wind Energy
- Lesson 4: Hydro Primer
- Lesson 5: Biomass
- Lesson 6: Geothermal Options
- Lesson 7: How Solar Works
- Lesson 8: How Oil is Made
- Lesson 9: Efficiency is the Most Important Step
Facts about energy in the US from the Energy Information Administration
Looking for more home energy activities?
We’re pleased to partner with NEED to deliver fun, at-home learning activities. Be sure to check out their library of resources and their specialized collection of energy-themed lessons. All activities are totally free for use at home or school, and accessible by visiting their website: NEED.org.
Grades 6-8 lessons
Lesson 1 - Energy and Energy Sources
Students are introduced to energy, learn to identify how we use energy and begin to look closer at renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy.
Lesson 2 - Electricity and Electricity Generation
This lesson aims to introduce students to the basics of electricity – what it is, how we use it and how we can generate it.
Lesson 3 - Wind Energy
Wind is moving air. If air is moving, work can be done. This lesson will help students begin to understand wind and how we can use it to make electricity.
Lesson 4 - Hydropower
Water and energy go hand in hand. Like wind, we’ve used it to do work for centuries. Learn how we use water to make electricity and how we can maximize water’s power potential.
Lesson 5 - Biomass
WOOD you care to guess one of our earliest sources of energy? Learn how we can use biomass to fuel our vehicles or generate electricity.
Lesson 6 - Geothermal
Things could get a little “heated” as we learn about harnessing the heat within the Earth’s core.
Lesson 7 - Solar
The Sun is the source of almost all energy on earth, including fossil fuels! Explore the uses for solar energy and take your learning outdoors.
Lesson 8 - Fossil Fuels
Learn what fossil fuels are, where they come from, and why do we use them.
Lesson 9 - Climate and Conservation
What is climate change, and what’s the role of energy conservation in slowing it down?
Additional resources
Create a free account with SwitchOn Energy Alliance
- Lesson 1: Foundation of Modern Life
- Lesson 2: How Electricity is Made
- Lesson 3: Wind Energy
- Lesson 4: Hydro Primer
- Lesson 5: Biomass
- Lesson 6: Geothermal Options
- Lesson 7: How Solar Works
- Lesson 8: How Oil is Made
- Lesson 9: Efficiency is the Most Important Step
Facts about energy in the US from the Energy Information Administration
Looking for more home energy activities?
We’re pleased to partner with NEED to deliver fun, at-home learning activities. Be sure to check out their library of resources and their specialized collection of energy-themed lessons. All activities are totally free for use at home or school, and accessible by visiting their website: NEED.org.
High school lessons
Lesson 1 - Energy and Energy Sources
Students are introduced to energy, learn to identify how we use energy and begin to look closer at renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy.
Lesson 2 - Electricity and Electricity Generation
This lesson aims to introduce students to the basics of electricity – what it is, how we use it and how we can generate it.
Lesson 3 - Wind Energy
Wind is moving air. If air is moving, work can be done. This lesson will help students begin to understand wind and how we can use it to make electricity.
Lesson 4 - Hydropower
Water and energy go hand in hand. Like wind, we’ve used it to do work for centuries. Learn how we use water to make electricity and how we can maximize water’s power potential.
Lesson 5 - Biomass
WOOD you care to guess one of our earliest sources of energy? Learn how we can use biomass to fuel our vehicles or generate electricity.
Lesson 6 - Geothermal
Things could get a little “heated” as we learn about harnessing the heat within the Earth’s core.
Lesson 7 - Solar
The Sun is the source of almost all energy on earth, including fossil fuels! Explore the uses for solar energy and take your learning outdoors.
Lesson 8 - Fossil fuels
Learn what fossil fuels are, where they come from, and why do we use them.
Lesson 9 - Climate and Conservation
What is climate change, and what’s the role of energy conservation in slowing it down
Additional resources
Create a free account with SwitchOn Energy Alliance
- Lesson 1: Foundation of Modern Life
- Lesson 2: How Electricity is Made
- Lesson 3: Wind Energy
- Lesson 4: Hydro Primer
- Lesson 5: Biomass
- Lesson 6: Geothermal Options
- Lesson 7: How Solar Works
- Lesson 8: How Oil is Made
- Lesson 9: Efficiency is the Most Important Step
Facts about energy in the US from the Energy Information Administration
Looking for more home energy activities?
We’re pleased to partner with NEED to deliver fun, at-home learning activities. Be sure to check out their library of resources and their specialized collection of energy-themed lessons. All activities are totally free for use at home or school, and accessible by visiting their website: NEED.org.