Taking the Energy
Challenge
Learning About Energy
1
Engage
Energy
How did you get to school today?
What source of energy did you use?
What is “energy”?
No matter the power source, “energy” is defined as
the ability to do work. Your muscles do work when
you walk or ride your bike to school. If you were
driven to school or rode a bus, work was done by
the vehicle’s engine.
Energy Sources
Where does energy come from?
Is our dependence on energy increasing or
decreasing?
If our dependence is increasing, will our supplies
remain adequate or will demand for energy exceed
supply?
What happens if demand exceeds supply?
Energy Sources
What is this figure telling us?
Updated version of
the graph from the
original lesson plan
Energy Use
In your groups, brainstorm for 5 minutes to think about the ways
we use energy. Create four major categories of energy use.
Residential (home use): energy is used for lighting,
cooking, and cooling/heating
Public: energy is used for electricity, heating, and
cooling in places such as stores and schools
Industrial: energy powers machines
Transportation: energy is used to power cars,
airplanes, trains, ships, and public transportation
Energy Production
Now, brainstorm for 5 minutes about the primary sources of energy
we use. What percentage of our energy use do you think comes from
each source?
Petroleum products (such as gasoline and natural
gas)
Coal
Hydroelectricity
Nuclear energy
Renewable sources (solar, geothermal, wind)
Exploring Energy Use
Launch Student Module
2
Explore
Vocabulary
In your group, brainstorm definitions for each of the terms. What
does your group know about each one?
Renewable energy
Nonrenewable energy
Fossil fuels
Solar energy
Geothermal energy
Nuclear energy
BTUs and other measures of energy
Petroleum resources (gas and oil)
Group Research Project
Each group will research one of these energy
sources: nuclear, solar, geothermal, nonrenewable,
hydroelectric, and wind.
Each group member will focus on a different part of
the topic.
Each group will produce:
A written report
A poster describing the energy source and its
uses
A presentation to share new knowledge with the
class
Group 1: Nuclear Energy
Topics for study:
Locations where nuclear power is
generated, with descriptions
Principles of nuclear power generation
Power-generating technologies and
machinery used at a nuclear plant
New technology to be added to nuclear
facilities: small module reactors
Safety and hazards of nuclear energy
production
Group 2: Solar Energy
Topics for study:
Locations where solar energy is
generated, with descriptions
Principles of collecting solar energy
Power-generating technologies and solar
receptors used at solar facilities
New technology: concentrated solar
power products
Safety and hazards of solar power
production
Group 3: Geothermal Energy
Topics for study:
Actual and potential locations for
generating geothermal power and criteria
for such locations
Collection of geothermal energy and
Earth’s geothermal processes
Power-generating technologies
New technology: binary modular power
generators
Safety and hazards of geothermal energy
collection
Group 4: Nonrenewable Energy
Topics for study:
Locations in the US/world where oil, coal,
and natural gas are extracted, with
descriptions
Principles of deep-water drilling
Storage and transport requirements for oil,
natural gas, and coal
New technology: advanced off-shore
drilling technologies
Safety and hazards of oil, natural gas,
and coal collection
Group 5: Hydroelectric
Topics for study:
Locations where hydroelectric power is
generated, with descriptions
Principles of hydroelectric power
generation
Power-generating technologies and
machinery used at hydroelectric facilities
Example of new technology to be added
to hydroelectric facilities
Safety and hazards of hydroelectric
energy production
Group 6: Wind
Topics for study:
Locations where wind power is generated,
with descriptions
Principles of wind power generation
Power-generating technologies and
machinery used at a wind power facility
An example of new technology to be
added to wind facilities
Safety and hazards of wind energy
production
3
Explain
Debate
Get ready for a debate about renewable energy sources vs.
fossil fuel and nuclear sources. Things to think about:
Why is your side’s energy source more suited to
meet the needs of the United States?
What are the drawbacks of the other side’s energy
source?
Anticipate the arguments the other side might make
against your source of energy. How will you
respond?
4
Extend
State Energy
Create two circle graphs.
Research energy production and consumption in
your state.
What percentage of energy production comes from
each type of source (nuclear, solar, geothermal,
nonrenewable, hydroelectric, and wind)?
What percentage of energy is consumed by each
sector (residential, public, industrial, transportation)?
Create two circle graphs to display your findings.
5
Evaluate
Position Paper
Write a position paper describing the energy portfolio your state
should adopt.
Consider the information you and your classmates
have gathered during this lesson.
What recommendations would you make to your
state government?
How do those compare to the current energy
portfolio?
What arguments and evidence are needed to
support your proposed changes?
Position Paper: Rubric
Element of Paper
Maximum Points
Possible
Recommendations made
to state government
30
Comparison to current
energy portfolio
30
Arguments/evidence
to support proposed
changes
40