LESSON PLAN: EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
By Lisa Prososki, a former middle and high school teacher
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/science/alternative_energy.html
Overview: Students will:
1. Read articles related to energy costs and consumption
2. Use computation skills to determine the economic effects of rising energy costs on average households
3. Analyze data from a graph to determine the types of energy currently used in the U.S.
4. Participate in a simulation activity and conduct research and create a project that will be used to teach
others about alternative/renewable energy sources
5. Teach classmates about a specific alternative/renewable energy source using a model,
experiment, diagram, or interactive or multimedia display
6 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using alternative energy sources
Materials
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NewsHour Extra article, "High Gas Prices Could Mean Cold Classrooms and Canceled Trips"
available at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec05/gascosts_11-21.html
chart entitled "American Energy Sources: available at
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/infrastructure/power/
Project List (included in plan)
Research Guide (included in plan)
Access to Internet and library research materials
Assorted presentation and desktop publishing software
Assorted art/craft supplies
Distribute and/or share the NewsHour Extra article entitled, "High Gas Prices Could Mean Cold Classrooms
and Canceled Trips" available at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec05/gascosts_1121.html. As a class, read the article and discuss what some schools are being forced to do because of the
rising cost of fuel for buses and heating school buildings. Make the impact of the rising cost of gasoline
and providing heat by having students complete the following equations.
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Assume you or your parents (if you are not old enough to drive) own a car that has a 15 gallon
gasoline tank. The average cost of a gallon of gasoline was $2.10 one year ago. Today, the
average cost of a gallon of gasoline is $3.00. Calculate how much more it is costing you to fill your
car with gas each month assuming that you fill your car once each week and there are 4 weeks in
each month. Answer: $54.00 per month
Home heating bills typically rise during the winter because of the colder weather. This year experts
predict this cost to rise up to 44% in some areas of the country. Calculate how much this increase
will amount to each month if your typical home heating bill was $150 per month last winter.
Answer: $66.00 each month
Add together the total additional expense you will incur each month based on the two math
problems above. Answer: $120.00 per month
How will this extra expense impact you and your family?
1. Using the chart entitled "American Energy Sources" available at
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/infrastructure/power/, (scroll down to Charts and Graphs and click on
U.S. Fuel and Energy Sources). The vast majority of U.S. energy comes from fossil fuels. Answer the
following:
a. What are fossil fuels?
b. How do these types of fuels contribute to the production of greenhouse gasses and global
warming?
c. What do we mean when we say these types of resources are nonrenewable?
LESSON PLAN: EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
By Lisa Prososki, a former middle and high school teacher
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/science/alternative_energy.html
2. What are some renewable resources that can be used to generate power for vehicles, homes, schools,
businesses, and manufacturing?
3. As Below is a list of renewable resources and related words along with their definitions, can you think of
others?
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Renewable resource: natural resource that is depleted at a rate slower than the rate at which it
regenerates (i.e. solar energy)
nonrenewable resource: resources for which there are no ways to replenish the supply (i.e.
fossil fuels)
fossil fuels: also known as mineral fuels, they are hydrocarbon containing natural resources such
as coal, petroleum, and natural gas
solar energy: harnessing the energy produced by sunlight
wind power: using the kinetic energy of the wind or wind turbines to extract the wind's energy
hydropower: energy obtained from flowing water
geothermal energy: electricity generated by utilizing naturally occurring geological heat sources
hydrogen fuel cells: electrochemical cell in which the energy of a reaction between fuel, such as
liquid hydrogen, and an oxidant, such as liquid oxygen, is converted into electrical energy
nuclear energy: energy released from the nucleus of an atom creating an nuclear reaction
LED: light emitting diodes: a semiconductor device that emits light using a variety of inorganic
materials
greenhouse gasses: gaseous components of the atmosphere including carbon dioxide and ozone,
among others. They contribute to the greenhouse effect
global warming: an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans
increasing the greenhouse effect
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4. If all of these resources are available, why aren't they being more widely used to power our country?
Scenario:
The year is 2040 and Americans are in trouble. The world's supply of fossil fuels is being rapidly depleted.
As a result, drivers are paying $20 per gallon for gasoline, and the cost of heating and cooling homes,
businesses, and schools has forced many public buildings to close because of their inability to pay for
energy. Families and industry are suffering as well. Goods can't be transported across the country, and
many people must endure extreme heat and cold because energy costs are so high. Add to this the ill
health of the Earth's environment, ravaged for years by greenhouse gasses and the effects of global
warming. The situation is critical. Alternative energy sources must be developed so that Americans can
have reliable, efficient, environmentally friendly ways to run their cars, power their manufacturing plants,
and heat and cool their businesses, schools, and homes.
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You and your partner are scientists who have been instructed to find ways to solve the energy
crisis being faced by the U.S. You will be assigned a specific task related to solving this nationwide
crisis. It will be up to you and your partner to research, design, and teach others about an
alternative form of energy that can be used to safely meet the energy demands of the population
without an extremely high price or further damage to the environment.
Project List
• A list of project ideas appears is provided:
LESSON PLAN: EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
By Lisa Prososki, a former middle and high school teacher
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/science/alternative_energy.html
• As part of the project and presentation, a model, experiment, diagram, or some type of interactive or
multimedia display will need to be created to utilize while teaching classmates about the alternate energy
form/renewable resource that has been studied.
• Projects need to be high quality with attention to detail, accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
Accuracy counts, so students must be sure to thoroughly research their facts.
A. Research solar energy and how it can be used to power homes, schools, and businesses.
Include a thorough explanation of the science that explains how solar energy is collected and
used to generate power.
B. Research wind power and how it can be used in homes, schools, and businesses. Include a thorough
explanation of the science that explains how wind power is used to generate power.
C. Research water power and how it can be used as energy for homes, schools, and businesses.
Include a thorough explanation of the science that explains how water power is used to generate power.
D. Research hydrogen and fuel cells and how they can be used as an alternate energy form
Include a thorough explanation of the science that explains how hydrogen and fuel cells can be used to generate
power.
E. Research biomass and how it can be used as an alternate energy form. Include a thorough
explanation of the science that explains how biomass is collected and used to generate power.
F. Research geothermal energy and how it can be used as an alternate energy form. Include a thorough
explanation of the science that explains how geothermal energy is used to generate power.
G. Research nuclear energy and how it can be used to power homes, schools, and businesses.
Include a thorough explanation of the science that explains how nuclear energy is created and used to generate
power.
H. Research Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and how it could be used in every home, business,
and school as an alternate form of energy. Be sure to discuss the positive impact this would have on the
environment.
I. Research Environmentally Friendly Building Design (also known as “green” buildings), and LEED
Certification. Find out what construction and materials/components make these types of buildings
environmentally friendly and what forms of alternative energy they implement.
J. Other: allow students to brainstorm about an appropriate topic and get approval from the teacher before
beginning work.
Research Guide
• Your teacher has assigned you a research project based on alternative/renewable energy
• The first part of your project involves researching as much factual information as you can about your
assigned topic. Be sure to collect facts along with charts and graphs that contain relevant data,
photographs, diagrams, flowcharts, and any other interesting information you can gather about your
topic.
• As part of your project and presentation, you will need to create a model, experiment, diagram, or
some type of interactive or multimedia display that you will use to teach your classmates about the
alternate energy form/renewable resource you have studied.
• Projects need to be high quality with attention to detail, accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
Accuracy counts, so be sure to thoroughly research the facts and practice what you will say in your
presentation ahead of time.
Online Resources
“High Gas Prices Could Mean Cold Classrooms and Cancelled Trips”
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec05/gascosts_11-21.html
“Can a New Light Bulb Save the Environment?”
LESSON PLAN: EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
By Lisa Prososki, a former middle and high school teacher
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/science/alternative_energy.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/led_6-13.html
Power and Deregulation
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/infrastructure/power/#
Blowin’ in the Wind: Wind Power
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june01/blowing.html
Light Bulb Technology
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec05/bulb_11-10.html
The Future of Fuel
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/hydrogen/index.html
Eco-Friendly Buildings
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june05/building_4-15.html
The Earth Debate: Energy
http://www.pbs.org/now/science/unenergy.html
American Energy Sources
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/infrastructure/power/#
U.S. Department of Energy
http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?BT_CODE=DOEHOME
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
http://www.nrel.gov/
Renewable Energy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy
Research Questions:
1. What can this type of energy/resource be used for?
2. How is this type of energy/resource easily renewed?
3. What is the cost of using this type of energy/resource?
4. What are the positive aspects of using this resource/type of energy?
5. What are the negative aspects of using this resource/type of energy?
6. What is the science behind this resource/type of energy? How is the energy gathered and/or
created? How is the energy stored for later use? What are the waste by-products of this form of
resource/energy? Currently, what is keeping this form of energy from widespread use?
7. When is the energy/resource expected to be easily accessible to the general public?
8. Collect photographs, diagrams, charts, graphs, flow charts, and stories of people who are
working with this resource/form of power so you can integrate this into your presentation.