Forest Heights Community School
ENERGY RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION
It is very easy to forget how our daily lives are governed by the availability
of energy. Can you think of ten ways that energy has an impact on your
daily life? When your alarm goes off in the morning what has happened?
What is behind that plug in the wall? By the time that this project is
completed you will have gained an appreciation for how energy is
produced, is used, and of the economic and environmental impact of
specific energy sources. You will have made some judgments about the
continued use of the resource that you have studied.
TASK
Your task is to assume the role of a civil servant working in the NS
Department of Environment. The Minister has been asked to identify
the best source of energy for the province and he has passed on the
assignment to you. You need to argue for or against the continued or
future use of a particular energy resource based on your research
findings.
Your task will consist of several parts: research, a creative and informative
power point presentation, a bibliography, and a 3-D shoebox model on
some aspect of your energy source. You will make a recommendation to
the class on the continued or future use of your energy source based on
your research findings. To find out specific requirements of this
assignment proceed to Process.
PROCESS
A. Working in a group of two, choose an energy source from the
following list:
1. Coal
2. Oil
3. Natural Gas
4. Hydro Electric Dam
5. Windmill
6. Solar
7. Biomass ("garbage" or agricultural)
8. Nuclear
9. Hydrogen Fuel Cell
10. Tidal-generated Hydro
11. Geothermal
B. Focus your research on answering the following questions:
1. How is your energy source extracted, processed, refined?
2. How is your energy source transported to the user?
3. How does the consumer use the energy source? How does the
energy source generate useful work?
4. How exactly does the energy work? Connect to the thermochemical
theory which we have been covering.
5. What is the environmental impact of the above? (questions 1 to 3)
6. Describe a known disaster or cautionary tale (true) which relates to
your energy source.
*This could be an ecological disaster, (an oil spill), or an
economic one, (a project where costs outweigh benefits), or
a health disaster (nuclear meltdown).
7. Would you recommend the continued use of your resource?
Support your conclusion with evidence from your research.
Note: These are the questions that you must address in your presentation.
C. Power Point Presentation, Model, Bibliography
1. Power Point Presentation: Your presentation includes the
information in part B..
2. Shoebox 3-D model: Create a model of some aspect of your topic.
e.g. a hydro dam, a windmill, a coal mine, an oil spill
3. Bibliography: You must hand in a complete bibliography with your
presentation. Remember that pictures must also be cited.
D. Timeline: You will be given two class periods to work on research and
developing your argument. The completed presentation will be held on
January 10, 2008
RESOURCES
The library has a large collection of books and Science encyclopedias that
will be very useful for your project. Be sure to look at the "How It Works"
and "Science and Technology" encyclopedias.
Online Resources
Be sure to establish the authority of any site that you visit.
General Searching: In Yahoo search: energy. You will get a listing of
sites for various forms of energy.
General Sites
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Canadian Renewable Energy Network
From the government of Canada. A wide variety of resources and
activities. Good diagrams. Also includes statistical information.
Electricity Generating Technologies
Provides basic information and links to other resources.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
This US Department of Energy site contains information on
bioenergy, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, ocean, solar and
wind.
Energy Kid's Page Basic information at an easy level.
Energy Quest
This Canadian government site has excellent basic information and
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is a good starting point for your research. Click on the computer to
find information about your energy resource.
Energy Resources
Clearly presented information. Good pictures and diagrams.
Includes pros and cons.
Energy Matters: Types of Energy Sources
A Think Quest site with information on all types of energy.
Government of Australia Renewable Resource Site
The site includes information on solar, wind, water, biomass and
geothermal power. Scroll down the site map to find your energy
source.
How Stuff Works
Enter your resource or an particular aspect of your topic in the
search box.
re-energy.ca
Solar, Wind, Water, Biomass and more. Good links, activities, and
basic information.
Renewable and Alternate Energy
(Renewable Energy Policy Project)
Alternative Energy Links
Biomass
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Biomass Energy Reference Sites
Biomass Energy Resources (Government of Australia)
Coal
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Coal in British Columbia
The BC government site has excellent information. The language is
quite technical.
Coal Association of Canada
An excellent resource. Be sure to check out the Classroom section.
Fuel Cells
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Fuel Cells 2000
Ballard Power Systems
Fuel Cells Explained
Provides good diagrams and easy to understand explanations.
How Fuel Cells Work
US Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Geothermal Energy
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Geothermal Portal Choose "Geothermal Topics."
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Geothermal Energy Government of Australia site.
Geothermal Technologies
Geothermal Energy Technical Site
Geothermal Education
Geothermal Energy Schematics
Good diagrams.
Hydro Electric (Water)
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BC Hydro
Hydro electric
Good diagrams.
Hydro-electric
Basic information. Includes pros and cons.
Hydro Power Technologies
Good basic information and diagrams.
Hydroelectric Power Generation Good Diagrams.
Hydropower Information
(US Department of the Interior)
Walk Through a Hydroelectric Project Excellent diagrams.
Tidal Power
Blue Ocean
Be sure to check the information under "Tidal Power" and
"Technology." There is a good diagram under "Technology."
How Tidal Power Plants Work
Water Energy Technologies
Hydro Electric, Ocean Thermal, Tidal Power and Wave Energy.
(Government of Australia)
Natural Gas
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BC Oil and Gas Government of British Columbia. (Technical
Language)
Facts About Natural Gas American Petroleum Institute.
Natural Gas Information and Educational Resources
Nuclear Energy
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Atomic Energy Canada
Builders of CANDU Reactors.
CANDU Nuclear Reactor Accidents
Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.
Chernobyl
This is an independent site with links to information on various
aspects of the disaster.
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Chernobyl Disaster
This site includes information on the disaster itself as well as the
health, social, economic, and political consequences.
FAQ About Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy Agency
This site gives a European (France) perspective.
Nuclear Power Links
Nuclear Reactor Meltdown
Nuclear Reactors in Eastern Europe
Virtual Nuclear Tourist
This site has excellent diagrams.
Oil and Petroleum
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Athabasca Tar Sands
Athabasca Oil Sands
BC Oil and Gas
Government of British Columbia. (Technical Language)
American Petroleum Institute
Oil Drilling
Information on oil exploration, drilling and extraction from "How It
Works".
Solar Energy
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American Solar Energy Society
Solar Electric Power
Solar Energy
Good diagrams.
Solar Heat
Solar Energy Links
Solar Cooking Archive
Solar Energy Technologies (Government of Australia)
SunWind
Solar Energy and Hands On Technology
Wind Energy
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American Wind Energy Association
Canadian Wind Atlas
Investigating Wind Energy
Wind Energy Technologies
Good basic information and diagrams.
What is Wind?
Facts on Wind Energy
Wind Energy (Government of Australia)
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Wind Powering America An excellent resource with good diagrams.
Be sure to look at the notes on the bottom right of the main page.
Wind Power Tour
Look here for the science of wind power.
EVALUATION
You will receive a detailed handout with the expectations for each
part of the project. Included in the evaluation will be the following:
Power Point presentation
Did you answer the questions in part B?
Is your information accurate?
Have you used a variety of sources of information?
Is you presentation interesting?
Are there some visual components to your presentation such
as diagrams or videos?
Have you created a convincing argument for your
conclusion?
Did you include a bibliography?
Model:
Does you model illustrate some aspect of your project?
Does the model show some care and precision?
Bibliography:
Are the sources of all your information referenced?
Have you set up your references correctly?
CONCLUSIONS AND EXTENSIONS
If you are interested in any of the topics related to energy you may want to
consider some of the following ideas.
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Explore career opportunities related to one of the energy topics. For
example, the mining industry employs geologists in the exploration
phase. The mining industry also employs environmentalists,
chemists, and metallurgists.
You might consider a job placement in one of these industries.
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Try keeping a log for a day of all the activities that you do that
involve the use of energy.
Explore ways to conserve energy around your home. Do you leave
lights on when you leave a room?
Compare your family's Hydro bills for the summer and winter
months. How do you explain the differences?