Renewable Energy Activities-Choices for Tomorrow

Topics: Wind, Water, Solar and Biomass; Renewable Energy

Source: The National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Web address: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy01/30927.pdf

Grade Levels: 6-8

Learning strategies: Open-ended, problem solving

Frameworks Connections:

Science and Technology/Engineering

• Physical Sciences, Grades 6-8

  Properties of Matter
  Forms of Energy
  

• Earth and Space Science, Grades 9-10

  1. Matter and Energy in the Earth System
  2. The Earth’s Sources of Energy

Cost: Free

Description: The activity booklet on this site was created in conjunction with NREL and the University of Northern Colorado. The frameworks for Massachusetts fit the activities more closely to the 9th grade Earth Science level though the activities are geared toward the 6-8 grade level in the Colorado State Standards. The booklet discusses concepts including what energy is, how energy is converted, and renewable technologies including wind, water, solar, and biomass. Each activity begins with background information for teachers to prepare them for introducing the concepts to the students.

For each activity, there is a clear definition of the concept being introduced or investigated, lesson goals, materials needed, helpful hints, the activity procedure, further questions, and any worksheets needed for the activity. These activities stress the use of a Teaching Learning Model (TLM) that uses a series of steps to help students explore relevant concepts. Students can then follow through on their ideas while keeping with the open-ended format of the lesson. The booklet is downloadable in PDF format, and can be freely reproduced for classroom use.