Lesson Plan
Course Title: Construction Technology
Session Title: Alternative Energy
Time:
Two Days (Second day for Hands-on application of knowledge
[Lesson length is subjective and will vary from instructor to instructor]
Performance Objective:
Upon completion of this assignment, the student will be able to demonstrate the
basic knowledge of alternative energy sources; the application of each source;
the availability of the each; related costs and savings and our country's need for
alternative energy.
Specific Objectives:
1. Students will study various video presentations of alternative energy sources
2. Students will develop specific "right & wrong" solutions
3. Students will develop specific approaches to the design and construction of
related
alternative energy
4. Students will have a basic understanding of the need of problem solving
approaches
to creating alternative energy
5. Students will have a basic understanding of how to utilize basic tools to create
alternative energy systems
6. Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of alternative energy by
creating simulated energy options
7. Students will be able to communicate and demonstrate their knowledge of
alternative energy as well as the potential savings financially and the protection
of our planet.
Preparation
TEKS Correlations:
This lesson, as published, correlates to the following TEKS. Any changes/alterations to
the activities may result in the elimination of any or all of the TEKS listed.

130.54. Building Maintenance Technology
(a) Recommended for students in grades 10-12 with the recommended
prerequisite of Principles of Architecture and Construction.
(b) Students will gain knowledge and in plumbing, electrical, and Heating,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Additionally, students learn
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
1
methods for repair and installation of drywall, roof, and insulation systems.
§130.55. Advanced Building Maintenance Technology
(8) Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of HVAC systems
and:
(a) explain the principles of HVAC; and
(b) describe what the Clean Air Act means to the HVAC systems industry
Interdisciplinary Correlations:
125.22 xx - Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration
125.22(c)(4)(C)
demonstrate knowledge of new and emerging technologies that may affect the
installation and service of air-conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation, and heating
systems.
125.75 xx - Power Technology
125.75(c)(1)(D)
apply the competencies related to resources, information, systems, and
technology in
appropriate settings and situations;
125.75(a)(3)(C)
demonstrate knowledge of the function of power generating equipment,
systems, and components.
110.xx(6) - Reading/vocabulary development
110.xx(6)(A)
...expand vocabulary through wide reading, listening, and discussing...
Instructor/Trainer
References:
There are numerous websites and publications for information.
Personal experiences in designing residential solutions
Samples of residential plans taken from various sources
Guest speakers from local construction trades
Instructional Aids:
•
Alternative Energy PowerPoint Presentation
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
2
Materials Needed:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pencils
Ink Pens
Notebook/drafting Paper
Research Information
Tape measures (30' and 100')
Wood
Water Supply
White board and white board markers
Equipment Needed:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Computer
Internet Access
Power Point Software
Printer
Multi-media Projector
Videos
Foundation plan examples
Drafting boards
Engineering and Architect Scales
Compasses, triangles, etc.
Learner







Knowledge of internet search
Self control and discipline for layout solutions
Ability to work well in a group assignment
Ability to communicate orally and in writing
Ability to demonstrate knowledge of alternative energy
Ability to read and comprehend all related tools
Ability to create clean, neat and well organized drawings and accurate layouts
Introduction
Introduction (LSI Quadrant I):
 Important that students recognize and relate to the need for clean, organized
drawings.
 Important that students recognize their responsibilities as a problem solver.
 There are multiple solutions to a problem.
 Relation of drafting and design education to real world scenarios.
 Relation of design layouts and real world scenarios.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
3
Outline
Outline (LSI Quadrant II):







Students research residential design techniques
Students gather information of related facts:
Problem solving techniques,
application of materials,
climate influences,
Students will work in individual settings and as teams of
two
Students will utilize their knowledge to create design
needs in a classroom setting
Students will utilize their knowledge to solve actual
residential alternative energy layout/planning needs
Application
Guided Practice (LSI Quadrant III):







Team Planning.
Information gathering from Internet and guest speakers.
Development of scenarios by students.
Questioning of testing scenarios by instructor.
Freedom of students to apply their own solutions.
Creation of scenarios and presentation of alternative energy solutions.
Independent Practice (LSI Quadrant III):


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

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


Detailed presentation of step by step approach to creating alternative energy
layouts.
Drawings of scenarios presented on whiteboard.
Utilization of Presentation media: Multi-media projector, computer, whiteboard,
handouts.
Creation of presentation materials.
Instructor guided scenarios with direct group and individual critique.
Instructor check of proper use of grammar, spelling, and projection.
Controlled techniques and focus during scenarios.
Professionalism in scenario creation and presentation
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4
Summary
Review (LSI Quadrants I and IV):






Instructor presentation of basic drafting tools and techniques.
Instructor presentation of basic alternative energy layout tools and techniques.
Individual and Team selection of problem scenarios.
Individual and Team performance in final presentations.
Variability of presentations.
Group and individual assessment of final presentations.
Evaluation
Informal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III):
Constant direction and input from instructor during learning process and scenario
presentations.
Formal Assessment (LSI Quadrant III, IV):
Rubric presents a basis for grading student work and performance.
Extension/Enrichment (LSI Quadrant IV):



Offer re-teaching and new learning opportunities.
Repeat scenarios with varying circumstances to portray influence in
foundation layout solutions.
Allow extra time for performance and testing.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
5
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR, WIND, HYDRO, GEOTHERMAL AND HYDROGEN SOURCES OF
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLAR
WIND POWER
GEOTHERMAL
WAVE/TIDES/HYROELECTRIC
POWER
HYDROGEN POWER
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
Water or fluid flows through special tubes enclosed in a heat absorption container
designed to transfer the sun solar energy to the fluid
Typical uses are for swimming pools, water heaters or home heating
Solar Cell Collectors
Solar cells convert the sun’s energy to “DC” voltage
Solar cells charge a bank of batteries
The solar system converts the “DC” voltage to “AC”
The converted electricity is connected to the power source for the residence/business
Solar Cell system may replace or supplement existing power system
WIND POWER
Wind Generators come in all shapes and sizes from homemade to commercial
production
Based on the principle of “Harnessing the wind”
Wind Generators are designed to use the slightest breezes to generate “DC” voltage for
conversion to home energy
The “DC” power is stored in a bank of batteries and then converted to “AC” for power
supplement to the home or business
Wind Generators may be tied directly to a power grid through a Power Inverter System
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
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Wind power 2
The good old windmill…
Many years ago water was pumped out of the ground in remote areas through the use
of windmills.
Windmills were also used to grind grain and to power large saws for cutting lumber
GEOTHERMAL
Geothermal is using the earth’s natural heat (from the earth’s core) to heat homes or
industry
At the earth’s core the temperature is approximately 4000 degrees Celsius. However
the core is 4000 miles away…unreachable
The outer core of the earth is about 45 miles away and it is approximately 375 degrees
Celsius…but still inaccessible by today’s standards
If we drill down just 3 miles we can still hit a temperature of about 100 degrees Celsius.
We do have the technology to complete the drilling but it is still not easily
accessible...and costly
Geothermal Hot Spots
There are areas throughout the world where the earth’s crust is very thin thus creating
“hot spots” such as volcano and hot spring areas
The heat produced from these Hot Spots can be used to help generate electricity
These Hot Spots can also be tapped for a direct heat source
How Can these Hot Spots Produce Electricity
The heat from the Hot Spots is used to provide heat for steam generators
The steam generators then produce the electricity
WAVE OR TIDE ENERGY
The energy from the ocean’s waves surging through the special designed turbines
causes the energy to be converted to electricity for power stations
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
Hydroelectric Power comes from a reservoir or lake dam which is fitted with a channel
or tunnel that allows water to feed from the lake through the tunnel to generator turbines
which are activated by the force of the moving water
The flowing water passes through the turbines into the river below the dam
HYDROGEN POWER
In the future “Hydrogen Power”…power produced from removing Hydrogen Gas from
“Water” will be used as an alternative source of power for our cars, homes and
businesses
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
7
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN REVIEW
Presently we have many alternative energy or renewable energy sources available
We use “Solar Energy” to supply heat and electrical energy for our homes and
businesses
We use “Wind” to power turbines and windmills to supply electricity, grind grain and to
power sawmills
We can tap into the natural or “Geothermal” heat source from the earth’s core to supply
heat for our homes and businesses
Wave or Tide energy is used to power giant turbines that produce electricity
Dams are built across rivers to create lakes as sources for water power to special
turbines supplying electricity to major areas
Hydrogen Gas as an alternative source of power has recently shown a resurgence for
powering vehicles and homes
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: “THE BEGINNING”
We are in an era of human development that may prove to be a new industrial
revolution. Due to the continued, unwarranted, massive increases in fossil fuel costs we
are being forced to consider alternative sources for more efficient, reliable energy
sources that will lower our energy consumption costs.
Renewable Energy Sources will fit the needs for alternative energy.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
8
Alternative Energy Quiz
The following questions are true or false. The statement must be entirely correct
to be considered to be true.
1) T F Solar Energy can only be used to produce Alternating Current electricity.
2) T F Solar Collectors and Solar Photovoltaic Collectors are the same thing.
3) T F Heat from the sun, regardless of the air temperature outside, is absorbed in
special tubing in a solar collector.
4) T F Water or Special, Non-Freezing Fluid is heated as it passes through the collector
tubes.
5) T F You should add a supplemental gas/wood/electric heater inline as a back up
heater.
6) T F “PV” stands for Photo Voltage Cells.
7) T F “DC” is the acronym for Direct Current voltage.
8) T F “AC” is the acronym for Accurate Current voltage.
9) T F In a Solar Conversion system the sun’s energy is converted to “DC” voltage.
10) T F The converted voltage is stored in a bank of batteries.
The following questions offer multiple choices. You must choose the answer that
best satisfies the question.
11) Solar Energy is used to supply heat or electricity to _______________.
A) Homes
B) Businesses
C) Swimming Pools
D) All of the above
12) Wind power has been used to supply forced air to operate ____________.
A) Wind turbines
B) Grain Mills
C) Saw Mills
D) All of the above
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
9
Alternative Energy Quiz (cont’d)
13) Electrical power from the battery banks of a solar system is converted to AC
voltage through the use of a device known as __________________.
A) Converter
B) Inverter
C) DCVerter
D) ACVerter
14) The electrical voltage produced in the final process of the solar system is
connected directly to ______________ or used as __________________ for the home
or business.
A) Utility power source, the primary power source
B) Secondary power source, highest solitary source
C) National power source, the only power source
D) None of the above
15) A Wind Turbine ______________ the wind and uses the force of the wind to
operate a generator.
A) Redirects
B) Circumvents
C) Alters
D) Captures
16) The Wind Turbine generator develops _________ electricity which is stored in a
battery bank.
A) Alternating Current
B) Automatic Current
C) Direct Current
D) Positive Current
17) Geothermal Energy is natural _______________ obtained from the earth’s core.
A) Heat
B) Power
C) Energy
D) None of the above
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
10
Alternative Energy Quiz (cont’d)
18) To tap the center of the earth’s core we would have to successfully drill
approximately ______________ miles down into the earth.
A) 2000
B) 8000
C) 4000
D) 5000
19) The best way to tap into the earth’s natural energy source of heat is to find a
location where earth’s heat has ____________________.
A) Found its way to the surface
B) Created a volcano
C) Developed in hot springs
D) All the above
20) Wave, Tide and Lakes help develop electrical energy by using the ___________ of
the water to operate turbines attached to generators.
A) Size
B) Control
C) Hydrometer
D) Power
Bonus Question:
Using another sheet of paper develop a basic layout of a hydroelectric generating
plant; showing all relevant processes for obtaining electrical energy from water.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
11
Alternative Energy Quiz Key
The following questions are true or false. The statement must be entirely correct
to be considered to be true.
1) T F Solar Energy can only be used to produce Alternating Current electricity.
2) T F Solar Collectors and Solar Photovoltaic Collectors are the same thing.
3) T F Heat from the sun, regardless of the air temperature outside, is absorbed in
special tubing in a solar collector.
4) T F Water or Special, Non-Freezing Fluid is heated as it passes through the collector
tubes.
5) T F You should add a supplemental gas/wood/electric heater inline as a back up
heater.
6) T F “PV” stands for Photo Voltage Cells.
7) T F “DC” is the acronym for Direct Current voltage.
8) T F “AC” is the acronym for Accurate Current voltage.
9) T F In a Solar Conversion system the sun’s energy is converted to “DC” voltage.
10) T F The converted voltage is stored in a bank of batteries.
The following questions offer multiple choices. You must choose the answer that
best satisfies the question.
11) Solar Energy is used to supply heat or electricity to _______________.
A) Homes
B) Businesses
C) Swimming Pools
D) All of the above
12) Wind power has been used to supply forced air to operate ____________.
A) Wind turbines
B) Grain Mills
C) Saw Mills
D) All of the above
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
12
Alternative Energy Quiz
Page 2
13) Electrical power from the battery banks of a solar system is converted to AC
voltage through the use of a device known as __________________.
A) Converter
B) Inverter
C) DCVerter
D) ACVerter
14) The electrical voltage produced in the final process of the solar system is connected
directly to ______________ or used as __________________ for the home or
business.
A) Utility power source, the primary power source
B) Secondary power source, highest solitary source
C) National power source, the only power source
D) None of the above
15) A Wind Turbine ______________ the wind and uses the force of the wind to
operate a generator.
A) Redirects
B) Circumvents
C) Alters
D) Captures
16) The Wind Turbine generator develops _________ electricity which is stored in a
battery bank.
A) Alternating Current
B) Automatic Current
C) Direct Current
D) Positive Current
17) Geothermal Energy is natural _______________ obtained from the earth’s core.
A) Heat
B) Power
C) Energy
D) None of the above
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
13
Alternative Energy Quiz
Page 3
18) To tap the center of the earth’s core we would have to successfully drill
approximately ______________ miles down into the earth.
A) 2000
B) 8000
C) 4000
D) 5000
19) The best way to tap into the earth’s natural energy source of heat is to find a
location where earth’s heat has ____________________.
A) Found its way to the surface
B) Created a volcano
C) Developed in hot springs
D) All the above
20) Wave, Tide and Lakes help develop electrical energy by using the ___________ of
the water to operate turbines attached to generators.
A) Size
B) Control
C) Hydrometer
D) Power
Bonus Question:
Using another sheet of paper develop a basic layout of a hydroelectric generating
plant; showing all relevant processes for obtaining electrical energy from water.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.
14
Construction Technology
Alternative Energy Sources Rubric
↓CRITERIA
NO
ATTEMPT
MINIMUM
REQUIREMENT
AVERAGE
REQUIREMENT
ADVANCED
REQUIREMENTS
POINTS →
0-8
9-14
15-18
18-20
INVESTIGATION
NONEVERY
LITTLE
EFFORT
NONE-1
LITTLE EFFORT
AVERAGE
RESEARCH
EXTENSIVE
RESEARCH
1-2
3-6
>6
GROUP
PARTICIPATOIN
& GROUP
SCENARIO
INSTRUCTOR
TEST
SCENARIO
NONE TO
MINIMAL
NO CREATIVITY
& BASIC
PARTICIPATION
AVERAGE
W/ROOM FOR
IMPROVEMENT
NONE TO
MIMINAL
LITTLE
RESPONSE
BASIC
KNOWLEDGE
W/AVERAGE
INPUT
VERY ACTIVE
GREAT IDEAS
OBVIOUS
PLANNING
EXTENSIVE
DISPLAY OF
KNOWLEDGE &
CREATIVE INPUT
FINAL TESTING
NONE
MINIMAL
GOOD
RESULTS
EXCELLENT
RESULTS
GRAPHIS /
PICTURES
T
O
T
A
L
S
TOTAL
SCORES
100
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15