Making Millions and Changing the World
Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Evaluation
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ENLARGE
Introduction:
Congratulations! Your small construction company (Powerhouse Inc.) will be bidding
on the right to build the newest development in Marietta. In order to win the bid,
you must come up with a plan to provide energy to the homes that is both
inexpensive and safe. If you win the bid, and sell the houses, you could make
millions and better yet, help save the environment. You will have many decisions to
make but remember, you job is to make money for your company and make the
world a better place. Sometimes, you may have to decide which is more important.
This task will help you meet standards: S3CS4, S3CS6, S3L2, S3E2, SS3E4,
ELA3W1, ELA3LSV1.
Task:
Obtaining the permit will not be easy, but I know you can do it. Your group of 4-5
people will be required to do four things: 1) Decide the opportunity/cost of using
fossil fuels, 2) Research alternative methods of providing energy such a solar
power, wind power, geothermal power or hydroelectric power, 3) Create a
blueprint of your energy efficient house and 4) Outline an advertising campaign
that will persuade people to move into your development. Specifics about each task
will be presented in the process section. You have two weeks to complete this
project. Please use the timeline below to help guide your work. At the end of two
weeks, you will present your plan to the permit board (the rest of the class)
who will decide whether your work is detailed enough to obtain the permit or not.
Be careful to stay close to the timeline, if you fall behind, you may not be
prepared to present or have to request a delay, which will cost you points. You
will be graded as a team so work hard and work smart. You need each other.
Week 1
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Planning, Goal Setting and
Online Research
Online Research
Online Research
Online Research
Fossil Fuel Pros and
Cons/Alternative Energy Work
Week 2
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Fossil Fuel Pros and
Cons/Alternative Energy Work
Advertising/Blue Print
Advertising/Blue Print
Practice your presentation
Present your plan to the
permit board
Process:
Some of the four tasks will be completed as a group and others will require you to
split up. If you look at the table above you will notice some pink boxes. These are
whole group tasks. The tasks in the blue boxes will require you to split your
group into two or more sections to complete. Read the steps below for more details.
Step 1) Using the links in the Resources section below, begin researching
the following questions: What are fossil fuels? Where do they come from? How
are they transferred into and around the United States? Will they last forever?
How does using them affect the environment? Your entire group will work on Step
1 together.
Step 2) Using the links in the Resources section below, begin researching
alternative energy methods. Focus your research on the following questions: How
does this type of energy work? Will it work well in this area? Is it expensive?
How does it affect the environment? What are the benefits or drawbacks to this
type of energy? You will need to split your group into smaller parts to complete
this portion of your research?
Step 3) Your group will be completing two separate tasks for step three.
You will need to decide how to accomplish both parts at the same time.
Part 1 Using the research your group obtained about fossil fuels,
complete the opportunity cost template found in the Resources section to list the
pros (benefits) and cons (negatives) of using fossil fuels as your energy source.
Be sure to include at least five of each but a total of no less than 13. That means
you will have at least five in one column but more than that in the other. Having a
lot more in one column will make it easier for you to decide whether or not using
fossil fuels is a good thing or a bad thing for your project.
Part 2 Using the research your group obtained about alternative
energy sources, decide which alternative source or sources you will recommend.
Complete a short persuasive essay describing the method or methods on their own
and in comparison with fossil fuels. This essay should have no less than three
paragraphs. You may word process this essay or handwrite it.
Step 4) You will need to meet as a group to make a final decision about
energy source or sources you have chosen. After that, you will be completing two
separate tasks for step four.
Part 1 You must complete a blueprint of the type of house you wish to build
including all modifications (changes) you made for the type of energy source you
recommend. Please refer to the Reference section for samples of blueprints. Your
blueprints must include labels for each room and no less than five modifications for
the energy source you have chosen. These modifications can be to the inside or
outside of the house.
Part 2 You must outline an advertising campaign that will persuade
people to move into the development you built. You must include detailed descriptions
of three different ways to advertise, a slogan for your development, and a
neighborhood logo. Be sure to think about what would make people want to choose
your neighborhood over all the others as well as a description of the type of
energy source you chose. You may do this on paper or using a brief power point
slide show.
Step 5) You will need to organize and practice your presentation to the
permit committee. You may wish to include the results of your research, the
reasons you made your final decision about energy choice, your blueprint and
advertising campaign. The permit board will focus on how detailed your work is,
whether or not your company can make money and whether or not you made the
world a better place by building this development. They will also be permitted to
ask questions after your presentation so be prepared. Please see the permit
committee evaluation sheet in the resource section to see how you will be scored.
You may request a time slot for teacher pre-evaluation and feedback on your work
at this time. This will allow you to get feedback on what went well during your
presentation and what you may need to improve on.
Step 6) You will present your findings to the permit board and teacher.
Good luck!
Resources:
The following links will provide you with information to use on your fossil fuels
research:
www.brainpop.com
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/fossil.htm
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/subcategory.php/21.html
http://www.bydesign.com/fossilfuels/links/
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/health_and_environment/page.cfm?pageID=
88
http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/fossil/
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/energy/ecostats/index.cfm
The following links will provide you with information to use on your alternative
energy source research:
www.brainpop.com
http://www.cc.utah.edu/~ptt25660/tran.html
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/
http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol/alt_energy/alt_energy.html
http://outreach.rice.edu/~dgabby/science/energy/
http://www.afdc.doe.gov/altfuel/sol_general.html
http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/solar.html
http://www.awea.org/
http://nrel.gov/wind/
http://hydro.org/
http://www.tva.gov/power/hrdro.html
http://www.ott.doe.gov/biofuels
The following links will provide you examples of blueprints:
http://images.google.com/images?q=blueprints&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD,GGLD:200
4-31,GGLD:en&sa=N&tab=ii&oi=imagest
Opportunity Cost Template: See below.
You may type directly onto the template and print your work after or print the
page and handwrite your work. Please complete each of the blue sections in
complete sentences. Be as detailed as possible and back up your answers with
facts.
These additional items will be available to you should you request them:
Overhead Projector
Tape recorder
LCD (Power Point) Projector
White Board
Radio
Energy Source:
Brief Description:
Pros to using this source:
Cons to using this source:
Sample Permit Committee Evaluation Form: See below.
Group Name and Number____________________
Name of Development_______________________
Rating scale1-5 where 5 equals excellent and 1 equals poor.
Please circle the appropriate number for each
category.
A. The work presented showed great research
and contained a lot of detail.
1
2
3
4
5
B. The presentation was well organized.
1
2
3
4
5
C.The presentation showed creativity.
1
2
3
4
5
D.The group was persuasive about their energy
source choice and why to live in their homes.
1
2
3
4
5
E. The group looks as though they might make
money.
1
2
3
4
5
F. The work this group has done may make the
world a better place.
1
2
3
4
5
Evaluation:
You will be graded as a group so each member must work there hardest to ensure
everybody does well. YOUR INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE WILL AFFECT THE
ENTIRE GROUPS GRADE!
You will be graded using the rubric below so be sure to read it carefully and evaluate
yourselves as you go. (90 points)
Part of your grade will be based on the Permit Committee’s evaluation scores. (10
points)
Grading Rubric
Group Work
(10 points)
Research
(10 points)
Use of Technology
(Internet, word
processing, power point,
overhead, tape recorder,
etc.)
(10 points)
Opportunity Cost
Assignment
(10 points)
Alternative Energy
Assignment
(10 points)
Blue
Prints
Level 4
Best
WorkFull Points
The group worked without
conflict or resolved conflict
effectively.
Research time was used
effectively and detailed
information was gained.
Three or more types of
technology were used. Using
the technology made your
presentation more effective or
saved time.
Level 3
Good WorkMost Points
Level 2
Satisfactory WorkHalf Points
Level 1
No WorkNo Points
Conflicts went unresolved or
slowed the group down a little.
Conflicts were handled very poorly
and slowed the group down a lot.
Research time was used
somewhat effectively and
detailed information was gained.
Two types of technology were
used. Using the technology
didn’t make your presentation
more effective or save time.
Research time was not used
effectively and/or information gained
was not very detailed.
Technology was used only for Online
research. Using the technology
didn’t make your presentation more
effective or save time.
The work went
unfinished due to many
conflicts.
Research time was
wasted and research was
not completed.
More than 13 accurate details
were listed.
No more than 13 details were
listed or some inaccurate.
No more than 13 details listed and
many were inaccurate.
Less than 13 details
were listed.
Energy source was thoroughly
described and made sense to
Georgia climate.
Energy source was basically
explained and made sense to
Georgia climate.
Energy source was not well
explained and/or did not make sense
to Georgia climate.
Energy source was
poorly described or this
part went unfinished.
Blueprints were detailed,
labeled and more than 5
accommodations were made.
Blueprints were, labeled and
only 5 accommodations were
made.
Blueprints were not labeled and less
than 5 accommodations were made.
Blueprints were
unfinished.
The advertising campaign met
all requirements and was
persuasive.
The presentation was well
organized and rehearsed and
participated.
The advertising campaign met
all requirements and was
somewhat persuasive.
The presentation was well
organized but not well
rehearsed and all participated.
The advertising campaign met all
requirements but was not very
persuasive.
The presentation was not well
organized and not well rehearsed or
all did not participate.
The energy source you chose
is non polluting and helps make
the world a better, safer
place to live. It is not too
expensive.
The energy source you chose
is non polluting and helps make
the world a better, safer
place to live. It can be
expensive.
The energy source you chose is
somewhat non polluting and somewhat
helps make the world a better,
safer place to live.
The advertising campaign
did not meet the
requirements.
The presentation was
unorganized, missing
pieces and unrehearsed
or few participated.
The energy source you
chose causes pollution and
hurts the environment.
(10 points)
Advertising Campaign
(10 points)
Presentation
(10 points)
Makes the World a
Better Place
(10 points)
Conclusion:
You should be so proud! Your hard work has paid off. Not only did you find a way to
build that was safe and helped the earth, you will be making tons of money now that
Powerhouse Inc. has gotten the permits. Remember your wonderful teacher when you
are all millionaires.
I am glad you took the time to learn about fossil fuels, pollution, alternative energy
sources, and how to persuade others. You did such a wonderful job, you may wish to
consider continuing making the world a better by using all you have learned to make
your home a better place. Are there ways you could conserve energy in your own
home? Are there things you could persuade your family to try to help the
environment? Check out the websites below to find out. Then take time to list some of
the things you can do. If you persuade one person to help conserve, you will have truly
made the world a better place.
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/20things.htm
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/
http://www.cityoftemecula.org/homepage/Energy/conserve.htm
Credits:
Thanks to the following sources for helping my students learn and explore through this
webquest:
www.brainpop.com
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/fossil.htm
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/subcategory.php/21.html
http://www.bydesign.com/fossilfuels/links/
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/health_and_environment/page.cfm?pageID=
88
http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/fossil/
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/energy/ecostats/index.cfm
http://www.cc.utah.edu/~ptt25660/tran.html
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/
http://earthsci.org/teacher/basicgeol/alt_energy/alt_energy.html
http://outreach.rice.edu/~dgabby/science/energy/
http://www.afdc.doe.gov/altfuel/sol_general.html
http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/solar.html
http://www.awea.org/
http://nrel.gov/wind/
http://hydro.org/
http://www.tva.gov/power/hrdro.html
http://www.ott.doe.gov/biofuels
www.google.com