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In the past year Baltimore County residents
have experienced numerous power outages
from Hurricane Irene and the derecho in late
June. Schools were closed, hundreds of
thousands were without power and people
died due to lack of heat or air-conditioning.
Much of Baltimore County uses above ground
power lines like the picture at right. How
should power lines be installed, above or
below ground?
Click here to watch the YouTube video
Click to access video
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You will read the following information to gain
knowledge about the debate between above ground
and below ground power lines.
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SCE&G Above vs. Below debate
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Easy Fix?
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Entergy Study
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Underground Lines
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Converting Overhead to Underground
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read only the first two pages of text.
Take notes using the resource below. You will use these
notes when completing the activity on Slide 4You will
use these Cornell Note Taking Page
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Use the information and statistics
handout to complete the exercise .
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Information and Statistics
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Write an effective editorial stating why or why
not power lines should move underground.
Use your notes for support.
Refer to the rubric when writing.
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Additional resources related to power lines,
power outages, and career opportunities.
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Image Source: ClipArt
Careers: Power Distributor and Dispatcher
How does a transformer work?
New York Underground Power
BGE Storm Center
Current BGE Outages
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BCPS Curriculum
Describe the core technologies (mechanical, structural, electrical, electronic, thermal, fluid, optical, bio, and material)
as they are applied in the designed world. (10.A)
Identify and describe applications of electrical technology in the designed world such as generators, electric motors,
alarm systems, and automobile electrical systems. (13.C)
Describe the production, conversion, transmission, and application of different forms of energy such as mechanical,
radiant, chemical, thermal, electrical, and nuclear. (18.A)
Maryland State Curriculum
Develop an understanding of the core concepts of technology. (ITEA, STL 2)
Develop an understanding of the cultural, social, economic, and political effects of technology. (ITEA, STL 4)
Common Core State Standards
Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific
textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating
understanding of the subject under investigation.
Standards for the 21st Century Learner
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to
make inferences and gather meaning.
2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real-world
situations, and further investigations.
NETS Student Standards
3. b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.
3 c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.
4. c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
Maryland Financial Literacy Standards
6.12.C.2. Analyze the consequences of business practices to individuals, families, and society.
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Time Frame: One 50 minute time period
Differentiation:
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Direct students to use comprehension tools included in
databases, such as: audio read-aloud, labeled reading
levels, and embedded dictionaries.
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory, Reflective, Global, Analytical
AVID Strategies: Cornell notes
Notes to the teacher:
 Preview the rubric. Make changes as necessary.
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Due to time constraints please assign students a star
color. There is no difference in difficulty level. If both stars
are present all students will complete the reading/task.
 The wiki on slide 3 was created specifically for this project.
The teacher does not need to do anything extra.
Last updated: July 2012
Created by Alexis Mazur amazur@bcps.org , Library Media Specialist
BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2012, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. The models may be used for educational, non-profit school use only.
All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Lesson module.