Teacher
Resources

Utah FORGE is a Department of Energy-funded geothermal research project dedicated to advancing enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) technologies and committed to increasing overall geothermal understanding.

Bring the Power of Geothermal Energy to Your Classroom!

Class Visits

Utah FORGE offers engaging classroom visits to help students learn about geothermal energy and its incredible benefits. We welcome the opportunity to teach students of all ages through an in-depth, hands-on learning approach. During our visits, students have the chance to actively participate, allowing them to immerse themselves in the concepts of geothermal energy and gain a practical understanding of this sustainable resource. Our team brings the excitement of renewable energy directly to the classroom, making it a memorable learning experience for everyone involved.

To schedule a classroom visit or learn more, click the button below and complete the form.

Engaging Instruction

Students are captivated as geothermal energy concepts are brought to life with a hands-on lesson.

Hands-On Activities

Students dive into interactive activities that make learning about geothermal energy fun and memorable.

Interactive Technology

Students eagerly engage with thermal imaging technology, discovering how heat signatures reveal unseen aspects of geothermal energy.

Core Exploration

A young student examines a core sample from geothermal drilling, exploring the earth’s layers and the science beneath the surface.

Lesson Plans

Dedicated to informing and educating of teachers, students, and the public about geothermal energy, we have partnered with our colleagues at the University of Utah College of Education to create a curriculum that can be used in K-12 classrooms. The following lessons plans and student handouts were developed by Tamara Young.

Utah SEEd Standard ESS.4.3, Next Generation Science Standard: HS-ESS3-2

Utah SEEd Standard ESS.4.3, Next Generation Science Standard: HS-ESS3-2

Lesson Plan: Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.

Utah SEEd Standard PHYS.2.4, Next Generation Science Standard: HS-PS3-3

Lesson Plan: Transfer of thermal energy

Utah SEEd Standard PHYS.2.2, Next Generation Science Standard: HS-PS3-4

Lesson Plan: Design a method to change the rate of heat transfer

Utah SEEd Standard 6.2.4,
Next Generation Science Standard: MS-PS3-3

Explaining the uneven distribution of the earth's natural resources

Utah SEEd Standard 8.4.1,
Next Generation Science Standard: MS-ESS3-1

Lyrical Learning

Fun Geothermal Puzzles

Welcome to the geothermal Rhyme quiz – a rhyming experience to test yours and your students’ geothermal vocabulary.

Rhymewit was developed by Tom McFadden (8th grade science teacher & founder of Science With Tom) who has been combining music, video, and education for over a decade.

Learning Modules

The University of Utah’s Department of Chemical Engineering has developed various hands-on learning modules that can be easily replicated in the classroom. Designed and created by Dr. Tony Butterfield and his outreach team, the modules display key scientific principles behind the Utah FORGE project. These hands-on teaching modules help explain scientific concepts and include detailed instructions for K-12 educators, along with curricular ties, and assessment tools.

STEM Fest demonstration of thermoelectric human power.

Thermoelectric Human Power

The temperature difference between human hands and cold water or ice is used to create electricity and demonstrate the use of a temperature difference to extract usable energy.  View Module

Turbine Electric Generator

As a turbine is made to spin, be it from flowing steam in a coal or geothermal power plant, or from wind turning a wind turbine, it generates electricity for our homes and businesses. In this module, you will use the power of your lungs to turn a turbine and create electricity.  View Module

And More!

Browse a collection of teaching modules tailored for both undergraduate and K12 STEM education, created by the Chemical Engineering Lab

Other Resources

Geoscience Webinars

The geoscience of Utah FORGE sets the geological scene to DOE’s flagship geothermal field laboratory that has been established to make significant advances in EGS technologies. The webinars cover the basin architecture, rock types, fault/fracture patterns, thermal structure, fluid flow, geochemistry, and the datasets and resources that are available from the Utah FORGE website.

In addition to advanced geoscience topics, Utah FORGE offers webinars designed for K-12 audiences, introducing key principles of geothermal energy in an engaging and accessible way. These sessions explore the visible surface features of geothermal systems, the fundamentals of heat transfer, and how geothermal energy harnesses the Earth’s internal heat. Each webinar provides foundational knowledge, helping students understand the science behind geothermal energy and its role in sustainable power generation.

Advanced Webinars Playlist

K12 Webinars

Surface Features of Geothermal Energy
Heat Transfer
The Heat Beneath Our Feet

Animations

Enhanced Geothermal Reservoir

Geothermal Binary Cycle Plant

Geothermal Flash Plant

Geothermal Glossary