What else can we use for energy?
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Attached is a full lesson plan for this day. For day 3, we will go much more in depth about the differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources to prepare for the activities to come. After this day, students will have a better understanding of renewable resources and how we can use them to replace nonrenewable resources. They will know how much of these resources are used by the US. Also, they can create their own predictions about why we use the resources that we do.
There are a vast number of energy sources that we can use instead of oil, coal, and natural gas. Solar power, wind turbines, biomass, hydro power, and geothermal power only name a few. Solar power uses the sun to harness energy. Energy is harnessed through wind spinning the propellers on a wind turbine. Biomass energy is created from organic living or decayed materials like agricultural crops or waste. Hydro power is generally used to generate electricity by damming water and storing it in a reservoir. And finally, geothermal power is created by harnessing heat and steam from below the Earth's surface (Sources of Energy).
Each of these is much better for the environment than using nonrenewable resources. With nonrenewable resources, not only can we run out of them, but they are harmful for the environment and many times their effects can be harmful to people and animals.
New energy technology by itself cannot bring about the change that is needed to create a sustainable economy. However, it is the best solutions to our current situations that depends on the resources the earth provides us (nonrenewable sources) to maintain its ever-growing population (Individual Responsibility).
The table should be shown to students so they can see how much of each resource we are actually using and they can generate their own ideas about why the numbers look the way they do. They can also generate some ideas about which states they think could incorporate new energy forms and which source would be the best for them (i.e. Arizona and solar power), thus incorporating Strategic Thinking. After this, it would be beneficial to read Energy Island by Allan Drummond (more in lesson plan). Following day 3, students will understand what renewable resources are and why they are important.
There are a vast number of energy sources that we can use instead of oil, coal, and natural gas. Solar power, wind turbines, biomass, hydro power, and geothermal power only name a few. Solar power uses the sun to harness energy. Energy is harnessed through wind spinning the propellers on a wind turbine. Biomass energy is created from organic living or decayed materials like agricultural crops or waste. Hydro power is generally used to generate electricity by damming water and storing it in a reservoir. And finally, geothermal power is created by harnessing heat and steam from below the Earth's surface (Sources of Energy).
Each of these is much better for the environment than using nonrenewable resources. With nonrenewable resources, not only can we run out of them, but they are harmful for the environment and many times their effects can be harmful to people and animals.
New energy technology by itself cannot bring about the change that is needed to create a sustainable economy. However, it is the best solutions to our current situations that depends on the resources the earth provides us (nonrenewable sources) to maintain its ever-growing population (Individual Responsibility).
The table should be shown to students so they can see how much of each resource we are actually using and they can generate their own ideas about why the numbers look the way they do. They can also generate some ideas about which states they think could incorporate new energy forms and which source would be the best for them (i.e. Arizona and solar power), thus incorporating Strategic Thinking. After this, it would be beneficial to read Energy Island by Allan Drummond (more in lesson plan). Following day 3, students will understand what renewable resources are and why they are important.
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lp_sustainability_.doc |