Teacher Activity Center

What is Our Plan?

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

With all the pieces in place, this Unit’s final lesson asks students to code a spreadsheet that calculates and mathematically predicts the environmental impacts of different energy sources and strategies over a 50 year timespan. Divided into five...

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Biomass Energy,

Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),

Hydropower,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sources of Energy,

Wind Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students utilize their knowledge of energy’s impact on global systems as well as the process of energy generation in order to inform their development of a 50-year Energy Plan divided into decades.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Place-Based Learning,

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Bradford Hill

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ESS3-2,

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-ETS1-4

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Writing,

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Social Sciences: Analysis,

Social Sciences: Geography

Estimated Activity Length:

5 hours

Compost Bioreactor Design

Grades:

7-12

Unit:

Bioreactor Water Heating

Lesson Number:

Description:

Solar energy is available when the sun shines but energy can be supplemented at night by the release of energy during the composting of organic waste. In this activity, we will experiment with the feasibility of harnessing thermal energy to heat water with...

Energy Content:

Biomass Energy,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will research the science of composting and proper maintenance methods to build their own bioreactor. 2. Students will research the proper composition of compost for maximum heat production. 3. Students will transfer the thermal energy in compost to a container of water heat water with by placing a vessel in the middle of the active compost/bioreactor.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Tami Church

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS3-3,

MS-PS3-4,

MS-PS3-5,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

Bioreactor Water Circulation System

Grades:

7-12

Unit:

Bioreactor Water Heating

Lesson Number:

Description:

Solar energy is available when the sun shines but energy can be supplemented at night by the decomposition energy in a bioreactor. In this activity we will experiment with the feasibility of using heated water in a bioreactor to circulate it through a...

Energy Content:

Biomass Energy,

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will examine the properties of solar water pumping systems using KidWind solar water pumps or similar water pumps. 2. Students will experiment with the properties of water and its limitations in circulating due to pump power and distance. 3. Students will evaluate the use of a heat sink/chiller in the circulation of water through the bioreactor.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Author:

Tami Church

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS3-3,

MS-PS3-4,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Solar vs. Battery Circuits

Grades:

4-5

Unit:

Solar Ovens

Lesson Number:

Description:

In this lesson, students will explore and do small experiments with mini solar panels and circuit boards. The class will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. Students will continue to work in their Solar Energy Student Notebooks to...

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Biomass Energy,

Electrical Energy,

Solar Photovoltaic

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will do experiments that reinforce the idea that the sun’s energy can be transferred into electrical energy. Students will also explore and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. Students will discuss how solar energy compares to other forms of energy generation.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials,

Multiple Learning Styles

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Debbie Abel

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Writing

Estimated Activity Length:

50 min

Replacing Fossil Fuels?

Grades:

10-12

Unit:

Solar Transportation

Lesson Number:

Description:

As students begin to look at the role photovoltaics might play within the transportation energy sector, it is important for them to understand why the phasing-out of fossil fuels is such a daunting task. This lesson is designed to help students comprehend...

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Biomass Energy,

Energy Fundamentals,

Fuels,

Materials Science,

Sources of Energy,

Transportation

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will define energy density. 2. Students will compare energy densities among various transportation fuel options. 3. Students will compare costs per unit of energy among various transportation fuel options. 4. Students will compare energy return on energy invested among various transportation fuel options. 5. Students will assess which fuels have the most potential to replace fossil fuels in the transportation sector using a weighted matrix.

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Author:

Clayton Hudiburg

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Informative Writing: Where Does Energy Come From?

Grades:

3-8

Unit:

Solar Updraft Towers

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is a (stand alone or in-unit) guided non-fiction research and writing project, which includes a differentiated choice menu and list of ideas for publishing the completed project. Each student will choose one of ten energy sources to research,...

Energy Content:

Biomass Energy,

Electrical Energy,

Electricity Generation,

Energy Fundamentals,

Fuels,

Geothermal Energy,

Hydrogen,

Hydropower,

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Solar Thermal,

Sources of Energy,

Tidal Energy,

Wave Energy,

Wind Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand ten renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the locations of different energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the history of energy sources and how they have been used by humans.Students will learn about innovations and inventions used to find, recover, store and release energy for human consumption.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Lisa Morgan

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-3,

4-PS3-4,