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Why is ocean water sometimes the warmest when the average daily air temperature starts to drop? In this activity, learners explore the differing heat capacities of water and air using real data.

Learners work in teams to design and build solar water heating devices that mimic those used in residences to capture energy in the form of solar radiation and convert it to thermal energy.

In this weather-related activity, learners make a portable cloud in a bottle.

In this activity, learners discover how solar energy can be used to heat water.

In this activity, learners determine whether thermal energy can be used for work.

In this activity, learners heat ice and water of the same temperature to get a hands-on look at phase changes. This is an easy and inexpensive way to introduce states of matter and thermodynamics.

In this dramatic activity/demonstration about phase change and condensation, learners place an aluminum can filled with about two tablespoons of water on a stove burner.

Visitors mix urea with water in one flask and mix calcium chloride with water in another flask. They observe that the urea flask gets cold and the calcium chloride flask gets hot.

In this quick and easy activity and/or demonstration, learners use two empty 2-liter bottles and hot tap water to illustrate the effect of heat on pressure.

In this chemistry challenge, learners discover that many chemical reactions involve heat loss or gain.

In this activity about phase change and condensation, learners boil water in an empty pop bottle in the microwave.

In this demonstration, learners observe how liquid nitrogen both boils and freezes ingredients to make ice cream in two minutes.

In this activity, learners make a model of a power plant that uses steam. Learners use simple materials like foil, a tin can, and a pot of water to model a geothermal power plant.

In this activity (located on page 2), learners will construct tiny model geysers out of film canisters, warm water, and antacid seltzer tablets.

In this activity, learners explore how air warms when it condenses water vapor or makes clouds.

In this activity, learners explore clouds and how they form.

In this activity (on page 2 of PDF), learners create a low-tech refrigerator that requires no electricity to keep food from spoiling.

In this activity, learners explore how various energy sources can be used to cause a turbine to rotate.