Hydro for Kids: A Curriculum

Topics: Electricity, Hydropower

Source: The National Hydropower Association (NHA)

Web Address: http://www.hydro.org/pubs/curriculum.asp

Grade Levels: 9-10

Learning Strategies: Hands-on, Minds-on approach; Thematic and Inquiry based

Frameworks Connections: (Grades 9, 10)

Science and Technology/Engineering

• Earth and Space Science Grades 9,10

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

• Biology Grades 9,10

6. Ecology

• Chemistry Grades 10, 11

1. Properties of Matter
7. Solutions

• Physics Grades 9,10

1. Motion and Forces

• Technology/Engineering Grades 9,10

3. Energy Power Technologies – Fluid Systems

• Earth and Space Science, Grades 6-8

Heat Transfer in the Earth System

• Physical Sciences, grades 6-8

Heat Energy

• Technology/Engineering Grades 6-8

2. Engineering Design

Mathematics

• Number Sense and Operations, Grades 5 -10

• Patterns, Relations, and Algebra, Grades 5 - 10

• Measurement Grades, 5- 6

 Cost: Free

Description: The activities in this teacher guide offer students an opportunity to explore how "Water Works." The guide uses a hands-on approach for students to explore these links. Broken into five units, students begin by inquiring into the nature of water and the hydrologic cycle. They then explore the physics of how moving water can be used to generate electricity, the environmental impacts of harnessing this energy source, and comparing the costs and benefits of hydropower to other energy sources.

The set-up times needed to conduct activities are generally short. At the beginning of each activity, both the preparation time and materials needed are clearly indicated.  The activities often require the teacher or students to bring materials such as plastic soda bottles or milk cartons to school. The curriculum works best when the units are done in sequence because the knowledge gained from one becomes a building block for the next. Some teachers may wish to conduct these activities over a three to four week period. Others may want to combine it over a period of months with related curriculum and instructional activities such as water quality, physics, or meteorology.  Some teachers spend much more time on certain activities to allow their students to become deeply engaged in testing different designs and model building.