New Zealand Curriculum aligned activities and resources for Years 1–12
Lesson plans with an energy related focus including wind, solar, hydro, and electrical.
Free downloadable resources
Below you’ll find lesson overviews for each resource. Download the PDF for the full lesson plan, accompanying slide presentations and learner activities.
Posters and guides
- Posters and guides
The sun's amazing energy - levels 1-2
See how the sun impacts energy.
- Posters and guides
Solar power - levels 3-4
Solar power is power produced from the energy of the sun.
- Posters and guides
Solar energy for all your energy needs - level 5
Solar energy is created by nuclear reactions deep inside the sun's core.
- Posters and guides
The science of solar energy - levels 6-8
Learn how photovoltaic cells transform sunlight into renewable electricity.
Levels 1-2
- Solar
Tuatara and the sun
Learn about tuatara and why the Sun is so important to them.
- Solar
Our amazing sun
Investigate the Sun’s heat and light energy and how it influences people on Earth.
- Hydro
Hydro turbine
Make a water turbine and explore a range of concepts such as force, motion, renewable energy, electricity.
- Wind
Wind energy and turbines
Find out about power generated by the wind, what a wind turbine is and how it works.
- Electrical
Introducing electrical energy
Find out about energy and electricity. Which appliances and devices around you use electrical energy?
- Electrical
Keeping our classrooms warm
In this activity, students find out about heat energy, how their classroom is heated and how to keep it warm.
- Solar
Solar power and weather
Learn about solar energy and how the weather influences solar power.
Levels 3-4
- Electrical
Battery power
Learn how batteries work by making a lemon battery cell.
- Solar
Tuatara and the sun
Investigate why the Sun is so important for tuatara.
- Electrical
Energy efficient lighting
Investigate which light bulbs are the most energy efficient.
- Wind
- Solar
- Hydro
Renewable energy solutions
Explore the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources and identify impacts of their use.
- Wind
Emirates Team New Zealand and the America’s Cup
Explore the incredible engineering, design and technology that goes into the development of these boats.
- Solar
Solar powered cars
Learn more about the technology behind cars and how different types of cars work.
- Solar
Sundial time
Learn how a sundial works to show the time.
- Electrical
Electrical circuits
Explore electrical circuits, their components and how they work.
- Coding
Block coding for beginners
This activity assists teachers and students who are new to coding to get started with block coding.
- Wind
Harnessing the power of the wind
Genesis and Emirates Team New Zealand worked together in partnership to create STEM resources for NZ schools
- Wind
Hei whakaratatia te hiko a Tāwhirimātea
He mātauranga rauemi e pāhekoheko ana i waenganui te hunga Kenehi me te Rōpū Emirates o Aotearoa.
- Wind
Measuring wind power
Genesis and Emirates Team New Zealand worked together in partnership to create STEM resources for NZ schools.
Levels 5-6
- Solar
Discovering solar PV technology
This resource guides students to investigate photovoltaic technology.
- Wind
- Solar
- Hydro
Renewable electricity from solar photovoltaic cells
Discover solar PV technology with this fact sheet.
- Levels 5-6
What's my carbon footprint?
This learning resource guides students to investigate and calculate their own carbon footprint.
Maker projects
Hands-on learning through making and doing.
E-books
E-books with energy-related themes to support literacy skills.
Online games
Fun learning opportunities for students to learn through gamification.
