This resource is comprised of six lessons with the goal of helping students to gain a deeper understanding of energy, the connection between energy and the environment, how energy is used, methods of conservation and renewable energy solutions.
Lesson 1 - students will be introduced to potential and kinetic energy by completing a class mind map, an energy scavenger hunt, and working with energy sorting cards.
Lesson 2 - the students will trace the journey of energy from its production to its final destination and calculate the cost of energy as well as develop an understanding of the pros and cons of each type of energy.
Lesson 3 - students will complete an energy audit of their school or classroom and calculate the cost of common appliances over time.
Lesson 4 - students will develop an understanding of energy efficiency from a water demonstration and graph data from Lesson 3. They will also participate in an energy continuum game where they will be asked to clarify their opinions and thoughts with regards to energy conservation.
Lesson 5 - students will construct either a solar oven or a windmill.
Lesson 6 - students will apply the knowledge learned from the previous lessons to design and create a model dream green school(STEM).
The students learn how to complete an energy audit of their classroom or school.
This resource has a number of strengths:
The only weakness that this resource has it that it focuses on Minnesota, making some of the resources unusable for teachers in other areas. Teachers will have to search for relevant resources for their area for some activities.
This resource would be best used in a Science classroom or as a STEM activity.
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
Principle | Rating | Explanation |
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Consideration of Alternative Perspectives | Good | This resource allows the students to explore the topic of energy conservation through various activities in order to develop a better understanding of the topic. |
Consideration of Alternative Perspectives:
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Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions | Good | The resource activities address the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy as critical solutions. Students assess their school's energy footprint to save energy, save money and model a sustainable, low carbon school. |
Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions: Effectively addresses the environmental, economic and social dimensions of the issue(s) being explored.
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Respects Complexity | Good | The depth of the activities and materials provided allow the students to gain a better understanding of the complexity of energy production. |
Respects Complexity: The complexity of the problems/issues being discussed is respected. | ||
Acting on Learning | Good | Students will apply the knowledge and skills gained from previous lessons to the design and creation of a model dream green school. The appendix provides an action plan template to guide students in developing an energy action plan. |
Acting on Learning: Learning moves from understanding issues to working towards positive change — in personal lifestyle, in school, in the community, or for the planet
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Values Education | Very Good | In Lesson 4 the students are given the opportunity to clarify their beliefs and opinions on the conservation of energy through a continuum activity. |
Values Education: Students are explicitly provided with opportunities to identify, clarify and express their own beliefs/values. | ||
Empathy & Respect for Humans | Poor/Not considered | This is not the focus of this resource. |
Empathy & Respect for Humans: Empathy and respect are fostered for diverse groups of humans (including different genders, ethnic groups, sexual preferences, etc.). | ||
Personal Affinity with Earth | Satisfactory | The focus of the resource is to increase the connections educators and students make in their everyday lives and motivate them to positively reduce the impact that climate change is having on our environment. |
Personal Affinity with Earth: Encourages a personal affinity with -the natural world.
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Locally-Focused Learning | Good | The local focus in this resource is on Minnesota. However, the resource could easily be adapted to other areas. |
Locally-Focused Learning: Includes learning experiences that take advantage of issues/elements within the local community.
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Past, Present & Future | Good | This resource does a good job of exploring the present state of energy consumption and gives a positive outlook for the future. The past is not explored. |
Past, Present & Future: Promotes an understanding of the past, a sense of the present, and a positive vision for the future. |
Principle | Rating | Explanation |
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Open-Ended Instruction | Good | Although possible answers are given to the teacher for the activities or questions that are asked, the answers can be varied. |
Open-Ended Instruction
: Lessons are structured so that multiple/complex answers are possible; students are not steered toward one 'right' answer. | ||
Integrated Learning | Good | |
Integrated Learning: Learning brings together content and skills from more than one subject area
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Inquiry Learning | Satisfactory | Lesson 1 begins to raise student awareness of common energy sources and uses. This lesson is the foundation as it aims to inspire more questions than it answers. |
Inquiry Learning: Learning is directed by questions, problems, or challenges that students work to address.
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Differentiated Instruction | Very Good | |
Differentiated Instruction: Activities address a range of student learning styles, abilities and readiness.
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Experiential Learning | Good | |
Experiential Learning: Authentic learning experiences are provided
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Cooperative Learning | Satisfactory | |
Cooperative Learning: Group and cooperative learning strategies are a priority.
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Assessment & Evaluation | Very Good | This is a very strong document in terms of assessment materials and guidelines for students' learning. |
Assessment & Evaluation: Tools are provided that help students and teachers to capture formative and summative information about students' learning and performance. These tools may include reflection questions, checklists, rubrics, etc. | ||
Peer Teaching | Satisfactory | |
Peer Teaching: Provides opportunities for students to actively present their knowledge and skills to peers and/or act as teachers and mentors.
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Case Studies | Good | The case studies provided are included in the Appendices as additional information. |
Case Studies: Relevant case studies are included. Case studies are thorough descriptions of real events from real situations that students use to explore concepts in an authentic context. | ||
Locus of Control | Satisfactory | There are some opportunities for choice but most of the format of the lessons and the direction they will take is pre-determined. |
Locus of Control: Meaningful opportunities are provided for students to choose elements of program content, the medium in which they wish to work, and/or to go deeper into a chosen issue. |