RETHINKING
grade5
theme 4
Energy
Rethinking Energy Sources
Our reliance on fossil fuels to power our world is troubling,
especially since coal, oil and natural gas contribute to rapid
climate change. Understanding the difference between
greenhouse gas-producing non-renewables and cleaner,
greener energy sources is critical to our ability to take
action for a healthier environment.
Objective
Students will learn the difference between renewable
and non-renewable forms of energy and will explore
“
Education is the most
powerful weapon we can use
to change the world…
innovative ways to power the planet.
~ Nelson Mandela
STARTER ACTIVITY. . . . . . . . . . . . 2
CLASS ACTIVITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES/
BRIGHT IDEAS QUIZ. . . . . . . . . . . 4
RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CREATIVITY CHALLENGE. . . . . . . 6
URLS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
”
STARTER Activity
Connect the Dots
grade5
theme 4
Display a selection of petroleum-based products. For example:
• Plastic cup
• Balloon
• Toothbrush
• Synthetic t-shirt
•
• Bubble gum
• Shampoo
• Sunglasses
Challenge the class:
How are all these things connected?
Prompt:
Think about what they’re made of…
Discuss:
As a lead-in to a discussion about fossil fuels,
encourage students to share their reactions to
the fact that all these everyday items (and many
more!) come from oil.
How does oil get turned into a toothbrush or
bubble gum?
• The remains of plants and animals buried millions
of years ago are transformed under pressure and
heat to eventually become oil, coal or natural gas
(fossil fuels).
• In the case of oil, holes are drilled and the oil is
of products: gasoline, home heating fuel, tar,
petroleum and chemicals to make medicines,
cosmetics, perfumes, furniture, clothing, dishes,
toys and plastics of all kinds. Our world has
become dependent on products made from oil.
• Ballpoint pen
• Petroleum jelly
• Binder
• Plastic ruler
Think-Pair-Share:
Are there any disadvantages to depending on oil for so
many things?
• Burning causes pollution
• Creates more greenhouse gas than nuclear energy
• Mining damages ecosystems
• Can be dangerous to transport (oil spills)
• Non-renewable resource (it will not last forever)
Know-Want to Know-Learned (KWL):
What are some alternatives? Which alternatives are
renewable/non-renewable?
• Renewable (can be replenished naturally): hydro,
solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, ocean tides/waves
•
naturally): oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear
Follow-up Activity
Students prepare a glossary of words they
encounter during discussions and activities. For
example: fossil fuels, greenhouse gas, renewable,
non-renewable, hydro, solar, geothermal,
biomass, nuclear…
CLASS Activity
Working in pairs or small groups, students research an energy source of
their choosing. Print and distribute the activity sheet on the next page.
Each group is tasked with coming up with:
Research Sources
• Facts to help answer the question
Wattwize: Fact sheets on
biomass, coal, natural gas,
hydro, nuclear, oil, solar, tidal
and wind power
• A list of the advantages and disadvantages of using the energy source
Fossil Fuel Eco-Stat: Facts and
• A relevant question
• Opinions about the value of the energy source
2
RESOURCE RESEARCH Report
Name:
Date:
Energy Source:
Did you know........?
Our question:
Pros (advantages) of this energy source:
Cons (disadvantages) of this energy source:
Our opinion:
Grade 5/theme 4. This resource is available as a free download from WWF-Canada Schools for a Living Planet. Visit schools.wwf.ca.
3
BRIGHT IDEAS Quiz
Challenge the class with the alternative energy inventions quiz on the next
page. Students can write T or F next to the number of each item on the list as
you read them aloud or you may want to print out the list of inventions and
have students complete individually or in pairs.
??
grade5
theme 4
Follow-up Activity
Believe it or not, all the inventions on the list are real!
Students can refer to one of the books below or use the
internet to complete one of these projects:
• Research one or more of the inventions. Share findings with
a partner or present to the class.
• Find more examples of extraordinary eco-inventions and
make up another true or false quiz.
• Prepare a mini-biography of one of the inventors.
BOOKS Chock full of wild and wacky ideas that really work, these books include
many of the inventions featured in the True or False quiz.
Not Your Typical Book
about the Environment
Elin Kelsey,
illustrated by Clayton Hanmer
Brilliant! Shining a Light
on Sustainable Energy
Michelle Mulder 4
BRIGHT IDEAS Quiz
Names:
Date:
People around the globe are seeking new, eco-friendly ways to produce
energy and create products. Some recent developments are really
innovative! Can you tell which are real and which are not?
INVENTION
1
Potato battery
2
French fry oil fuel
3
Bamboo bicycle
4
Plastic bottle hoodie
5
Meat tray skirts
6
Salmon skin bikinis
7
Pig urine picnic plates
8
Basketball courts made from old sneakers
9
Seaweed toothpaste
10
Solar-powered bike light
11
Pedal-powered washing machine
12
Hand-cranked flashlight
13
Electric-eel-powered Christmas tree lights
14
Fish gut bus fuel
15
Poop-powered streetlights
16
Animal dung for cooking
17
Volcano-powered home heating
18
Treadmill-powered television
19
Peanut-oil car fuel
20
Sugar-cane powered car
21
Solar-powered calculators
22
Wind-powered lighting
23
Waterfall-generated electricity
24
Blue jean home insulation
25
Bike-powered movie theatre
TRUE
FALSE
Grade 5/theme 4. This resource is available as a free download from WWF-Canada Schools for a Living Planet. Visit schools.wwf.ca.
5
CREATIVITY Challenge
It’s Your Turn!
The world needs fresh, bright ideas for dealing with climate change and
other environmental problems. Encourage the class to take on the challenge.
First, view one or all of these videos for inspiration and motivation:
grade5
theme 4
Videos
Bottle Bank Arcade (1:27)
How to get more people to recycle bottles? Turn it into a game!
The World’s Deepest Garbage Bin (1:27)
How to get people to put litter in its place? Make it fun and funny!
Calvin and Adelina (24:00)
Two teams of elementary students, led by real-life teen inventors, compete
in a School Recycling Station Challenge. Good insights into the creative
process for young innovators.
1
2
3
4
5
Set a time limit for this exercise to pump up the creativity.
Divide the class into small groups or pairs. Supply large sheets of
paper and markers for doodling and designing.
Explain the task and time limits: Three minutes to identify and agree
on an environmental problem to solve or improvement to make.
Ten minutes to come up with an idea and develop it in words and
pictures.
Remind students in each group to cooperate, communicate and
collaborate. All inventions must be eco-friendly.
Sound the alarm when time is up. Groups present their concepts for
the class to discuss and debate. Are there ideas worth developing?
Find information about local, regional and national science fairs at
Youth Science Canada. Share pictures of the class creations with
fellow teachers by emailing [email protected].
6
EXTENSION Activities/Resources
Class Debate
Students use what they have learned to carry out a debate. Teams
may take on the roles of various sectors to consider different points of
view. For example, oil producers, plastic manufacturers, consumers,
conservationists, loggers, etc.
grade5
theme 4
Game
Vanishing Resources
A classroom game played with paper bags and assorted dried beans and
seeds to demonstrate the difference between using renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
Books Discover more recommended reads at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
Brilliant! Shining a Light on Sustainable Energy
Michelle Mulder Orca Books, 2013 HC ISBN: 978-1-459802-21-6
EPDF ISBN: 978-1-459802-22-3
Review
Not Your Typical Book about the Environment
Elin Kelsey, illustrated by Clayton Hanmer Owlkids Books, 2010
HC ISBN: 978-1-897349-79-3
PB ISBN: 978-1-897349-84-7
Review
This Is My Planet: The Kids’ Guide to Global Warming
Jan Thornhill
Owlkids Books, 2007
HC ISBN: 978-1-897349-06-9
PB ISBN: 978-1-897349-07-6
Review
7
URLs
CLASS ACTIVITY
WEBSITES
Wattwize: http://www.ecospark.ca/wattwize
grade5
theme 4
Fossil fuel eco-stat: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/energy/ecostats/index.cfm
CREATIVITY CHALLENGE
VIDEOS
Bottle bank arcade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSiHjMU-MUo
The world’s deepest garbage bin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRgWttqFKu8
Calvin and Adelina: http://www.tvokids.com/videos/calvinadelina
IT’S YOUR TURN
Youth Science Canada: http://www.youthscience.ca/
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES / RESOURCES
GAME
Vanishing resources: http://www.nrel.gov/education/pdfs/science_energy_literacy_activities.pdf
BOOKS
Book reviews: http://www.bookcentre.ca/environmental_books
Canadian Children’s Book Centre: http://www.bookcentre.ca
This resource is available as a free download from WWF-Canada Schools for a Living Planet. Visit schools.wwf.ca.
© 1986 Panda symbol WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (also known as World Wildlife Fund).
® “WWF” is a WWF Registered Trademark. Photo © Global Warming Images / WWF-Canon. Illustration © Owlkids Books.
8