Presented is the Introduction for the Iowa Developed Energy Activity Sampler (IDEAS), a multidisciplinary energy education program designed for infusion into the curriculum of grades 7-12. Included in the program are activity sets for Home Economics (SE 034 678), Industrial Arts (SE 034 679), Language Arts (SE 034 680), Mathematics (SE 034 681), Science (SE 034 682), and Social Studies (SE 034 683). This introductory section is intended for use with each of the subject-matter activity samplers. Provided is teacher background information on energy topics such as heat capacity, energy production and consumption, energy resources, exponential growth, and energy use in agriculture. Also presented are a glossary of energy-related terms and an annotated bibliography of about 300 selected materials on energy. (Author/WB)