4. Energy

Steps

  • WATCH – Cue up the video below and watch it with the class
  • DESIGN TIME – Give students time to reflect and design in their planning booklet
  • SHARE – Have students share their ideas with the class or work in their groups
  • GO DEEPER – Add an activity from the extension buffet below (optional)

 

 

Extension Buffet

  • ENERGY PROS and CONS- Learn more about different kinds of energy sources by using these video resources. Go deeper by having the students do a debate on which energy source is the best. Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal will square off – who will be the winner?
  • WATCH: Learn about the UN Goal of Affordable Clean Energy by watching a video (3:37)
  • FIELD TRIP – Consider a field trip to a local renewable energy plant. For example, a local dam or solar field. Or, if you know of someone nearby who lives completely dependent on solar or wind energy, can you visit them?
  • DISCUSS – What are ways you conserve energy in your everyday life already? Is there anything else you could do that could reduce the amount of energy you use? Watch this funny BC Hydro video about energy waste (1:02).
  • SING – Learn to sing the renewable energy song (1:59)
  • WATCH – What does a green building look like? (4:53)
  • FUTURE DAY IN THE LIFE – How will your FutureMakers citizens use and conserve energy? What would a day look like? How will their houses stay warm? How will they cool and cook their food? What will entertainment and play look like?
  • WATCH – Bill Nye the Science Guy talk about energy (29:51)
  • MAKE IT – Make S’mores with a Solar Oven: Harness the energy of the Sun with a solar oven made from a box and tin foil.
  • WATCH – How to build energy efficient homes considering sun, trees, and wind with home orientation tips (2:39)
  • ECOCHALLENGE – How long can you go without screens? Challenge students to take the Beyond Recycling Screen-Free EcoChallenge
  • WATCH –  How much land does it take to power the world TED talk video (4:47)
  • MINECRAFT- Explore hydropower, wind power, and waste-to-energy in Minecraft Education.

 

2 responses to “4. Energy”

  1. My class loved the silly hydro video and they sang the song for days! Most of my students have already toured our local dam last year, so we were able to have some great conversations about the energy it provides. I would have definitely booked a visit to the dam if that had not been the case – bu some really good conversation came around of how many homes does the reel stoke Dam power, how many homes does a wind turbine power, and so on. There were some really interesting comparison that I had not even thought about. I really liked the videos that showed the different types of energy as helped explain better than I could just on my own. Again, I am glad I previewed the videos as some were a better fit than others for the group I have this year.

  2. My class also really enjoyed the silly BC Hydro video and asked to watch it a few times.
    We spent time talking more about the Revelstoke dam. I didn’t have it organized for this year but it would be really beneficial to set up a trip to the dam. Atgain, this sparked many great ideas from the kids.