Curriculum helps students explore renewable energy, climate and community decision-making.

Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), a not-for-profit community clean energy provider, is offering a series of free, classroom-ready lesson plans that introduce students to renewable energy, environmental stewardship and the future of clean energy. OCPA commissioned Inside the Outdoors Foundation, administered by the Orange County Department of Education, to create the lessons.

Designed for educators, parents and homeschool families, the lesson plans provide engaging, hands-on learning experiences for elementary, middle and high school students. Each lesson aligns with the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and equips students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills to better understand how clean energy impacts their communities and the environment. 

“We’re excited about inspiring students to learn about renewable energy by providing educators with meaningful resources that encourage students to think critically and understand the important role they play in creating a more sustainable future,” said Susan Sonne, Orange County Power Authority Board Chair. 

The curriculum features four interactive lesson plans that build understanding of renewable energy through age-appropriate, inquiry-based activities:

• Universal Lesson: Energy, Climate and Community Decisions explores the relationship between clean energy, climate and the decisions communities make to create a more sustainable future. 
• Elementary School Lesson: Energy and the Environment introduces fourth-grade students to renewable resources, climate concepts and data analysis through hands-on classroom activities. 
• Middle School Lesson: Energy from Environment: Uneven Distribution of Energy Resources helps students investigate how renewable energy powers communities through interactive mapping exercises. 
• High School Lesson: Energy Storage, Community Trade-Offs and Infrastructure Decisions challenges students to evaluate clean energy options, analyze evidence and make recommendations for real-world community energy decisions. 

Each lesson includes ready-to-use instructional materials such as presentations, student worksheets, classroom activities and teacher resources, making it easy for educators to integrate clean energy topics into existing science curriculum while meeting state education standards.

 The free lesson plans are now available and can be downloaded by visiting ocpower.org/resources/lesson-plans.

About Orange County Power Authority 

The Orange County Power Authority is a not-for-profit public agency that offers clean power at stable rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling reinvestment in local energy programs. To learn more, visit www.ocpower.org.