Kesler Science Station Lab – Renewable Resources – Teacher

Kesler Science Station Lab – Renewable
Resources – Teacher Directions
Explore It! – I will spend much of my time
at this station making sure students are
understanding the concepts. You will
only need the cards included in this file.
This is a great station to hang out at to
clear up any misconceptions.
Illustrate It! – Make sure to include
colored pencils or crayons at this station.
Read It! – Print several different copies (I
use 6) of the reading passage so that
multiple students can read at different
paces
Watch It! – The video is on YouTube and
my Google drive. Use YouTube unless
your school is blocked. The original link is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhEGS1zsA
po -­‐ part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W6S3FA-­‐
C6U -­‐ part 2
Note that both URL’s are case-sensitive.
Organize It! – All of the cards are included
for this station. ONLY CUT OUT THE 10
DESCRIPTIONS. Leave the headers and
energy types intact. Students should be
encouraged to do the Research and
Explore station before attempting this
one. I like to label the backs with set
numbers because they will get mixed up.
Place this one next to the Explore It!
Station.
Write It! – Students should be encouraged
to do the Research and Explore station
before attempting this one.
Research It! – The goo.gl link on the task
card is case-sensitive. The original link is
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/intera
ctives/science/energy/advantages/
Assess It! – Students should be
encouraged to do the Research and
Explore station before attempting this
one. If I grade anything I usually take a
close look at the answers from this station.
Write It! Station Directions
It is recommended that you have completed
at least two of the following stations before
working at this station.
-Read It!
-Explore It!
-Watch It!
-Research It!
Answer each of the task card questions on
the lab sheet in complete sentences.
©KeslerScience.com
How are renewable
resources different from
nonrenewable resources?
©KeslerScience.com
Pretend the coastal town of
Galveston, TX has decided to
install new wave generators on
all its beaches to create energy
for the entire island. What
disadvantages might arise?
© K eslerScience.com
Why do you think the world
has not moved over to be
100% dependent on
renewable energy?
© K eslerScience.com
Assess It! Station Directions
It is recommended that you have completed
at least two of the following stations before
working at this station.
-Read It!
-Explore It!
-Watch It!
-Research It!
Each member will answer the questions from
the task cards on the lab sheet in the Assess
It! section.
©KeslerScience.com
What is a disadvantage
of hydropower energy?
Which is an advantage
of biomass energy?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It’s a ‘clean’ energy
Farmers opt to grow biofuel crops instead
of other types of foods.
It creates greenhouse gases when
burned
There will always be waste produced that
can be used for energy
©KeslerScience.com
A. Dams can have a massive
negative impact on the ecosystem
B. It’s good for salmon who swim
upstream to spawn
C. Hydropower is a clean energy
D. There is plenty of water and it will
never run out
©KeslerScience.com
What is the best
description for a
renewable resource?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A resource that can only be used once
Oil, Natural gas, and Coal are all
examples of renewable resources
A resource that will eventually run out
A resource that can be replaced
naturally and reused again.
©KeslerScience.com
Which renewable energy
has the disadvantage of
polluting the atmosphere
when burned ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Solar
Geothermal
Biomass
Wind
©KeslerScience.com
Read It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will read the
passage and answer the questions from the
task cards on the lab sheet in the Read It!
section.
It is important to remember that the answers
will come directly from the reading passage.
©KeslerScience.com
And as coal and oil supplies get used up, their prices get higher. The
equipment to collect and use solar and wind energy, such as solar
panels and wind turbines, also costs money. But when you think about
the resource being free, the total cost of using solar and wind energy
can make them smart choices. The rewards are greater since solar
and wind energy do not pollute our planet.
The sun shines every day for all of us, free of charge. And the wind
blows for free. But non-renewable energy sources can cost a lot of
money to find and move. We must take the fossil fuels from the ground
and ship them long distances to places where they can be used. Oil
must be refined before it can be used. This is expensive. We also have
to pay to clean up the pollution they cause.
Scientists estimate that states like Texas could meet half of its needs for
electricity by not wasting any and with renewable energy. That is a lot
of efficient washing machines, computers, streetlights and TVs that use
wind and solar power.
Other renewable energy sources almost always cause less pollution
than fossil fuels or nuclear power plants. Biomass, for example, is a fuel
that comes from things that were once living, like wood or garbage. It
is one of the renewable energy sources that makes less pollution.
Fossil fuel power plants that make electricity can pollute the air and
water. Coal emits smoke and chemicals when it is burned to make
electricity. Nuclear power plants create radioactive waste that is
dangerous for thousands of years. Gasoline burned in our cars causes
smog. Even natural gas adds to our pollution problems. Some
renewable energy sources, such as wind and sunshine, do not emit
smoke or create pollution when they are used.
Every time you fly a kite or hang your swimsuit out to dry, you are using
two renewable energy sources, the wind and the sun. Why are these
energy sources renewable? Because sunshine and wind are always
around us. These energy sources will not run out. Every morning, the
sun rises. And every day the wind blows. It may be a calm, cloudy day
where you live, but the sun is shining and the wind is blowing other
places around the world.
Renewable Resources
Some have accused this
article of being biased, or
one-sided. What evidence
proves that?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It speaks the full truth about renewable energy
It does not provide any advantages to
nonrenewable resources, even though there
are some
It makes a balanced argument for both types of
energy
It’s possible that it was written by someone in
the oil industry.
Which is an advantage
of solar and wind energy
mentioned in the article?
A.
B.
C.
D.
©KeslerScience.com
©KeslerScience.com
How are wind and solar
energy better than oil
and coal energy?
A. They can only be found near the
equator
B. They cause more greenhouse gases
than oil and coal
C. They are cheaper to produce
D. They are both free and won’t run
out.
©KeslerScience.com
Both created greenhouse gases
Both are abundant and always present
somewhere on Earth
The wind will eventually run out and the
Sun will stop
Wind and solar energy are expensive
What will happen to prices of
solar and wind energy
production as the technology
improves and more people
begin to use it?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It will get more expensive
It will get cheaper
It will not change
Prices are not impacted by supply and
demand
©KeslerScience.com
Watch It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will go to the
website listed on task card #1
Complete the task cards in order.
Every student will answer the questions from
the task cards on the lab sheet in the Watch
It! section of the lab sheet.
©KeslerScience.com
Flash drive: Renewable Energy
Resources Part 1
1. Answer questions from cards
#2-3 on your lab sheet.
According to the video, what
are the advantages and
disadvantages of wind
energy?
Watch the SECOND video.
Flash drive: Renewable Energy
Resources Part 2
How can water be used as a
renewable resource?
What are some
disadvantages to using water
as a renewable energy?
According to the video, what
are the advantages and
disadvantages of solar
energy?
Research It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will go to the
website listed on task card #1
Complete the task cards in order.
Every student will answer the questions from
the task cards on the lab sheet in the
Research It! section.
1. Go to
http://
www.childrensuniversity.manchester.
ac.uk/interactives/science/energy/
advantages/
2. Click on the Hydropower,
Biomass, Geothermal
nonrenewable resources.
3. List 2 advantages and
disadvantages of each on
your lab sheet.
©KeslerScience.com
Explore It! Station Directions
One member of the group will read the task
cards in order. The group will be responsible
for completing each of the tasks that are
being read.
Each member of the group will then write
their conclusions down on the lab sheet in
the Explore It! section.
©KeslerScience.com
Renewable resources are
resources that can be
replaced naturally and
reused again.
1.
2.
Each of the statement cards is either
an advantage or disadvantage of a
particular resource.
Try to match them with the correct
energy type. Put the advantage on
TOP of the resource and the
disadvantage on the BOTTOM.
©KeslerScience.com
Correct your answers
using the following
cards.
Solar
Advantages:
Sun will always be there in our lifetime
Available in remote areas around the world
Disadvantages:
- Not available during rainy or cloudy days
©KeslerScience.com
Biomass
Wind
Advantages:
We need a lot of turbines to generate
electricity
Free and produces no greenhouse gas
Disadvantages:
- Some people don’t like the way turbines look
and they may be dangerous to birds
©KeslerScience.com
Advantages:
- We can find waste everywhere and
shouldn’t run out
- Can be used as an energy source that
otherwise may be thrown away
Disadvantages:
- Creates greenhouse gases when burned
Hydropower
Geothermal
Advantages:
Water is dependent on rain
Free renewable resource as long as it flows
Disadvantages:
- Water has to be flowing and dams could
damage the ecosystem
©KeslerScience.com
On your lab sheet list 1 advantage
and 1 disadvantage of each of the
energy resources.
Advantages:
Harmful minerals may come up from the
ground
Resource from within the Earth that is free
and will never run out.
Disadvantages:
Not many place to build a plant
Geothermal
Biomass
Solar Energy
Wind Energy
Hydropower
The Sun will always be
there in our lifetime.
Available in remote areas
all around the world.
Not available during rain
or a particularly cloudy
day.
We need a lot of turbines
to make electricity
Free resource that
produces no greenhouse
gases.
Some people don’t like the
way the turbines look. May
be dangerous to birds.
We can find waste
everywhere and shouldn’t
run out
Can be used as an energy
Creates greenhouse gases
source that may otherwise
when burned.
be thrown away.
Water flow is dependent
on rain
Free renewable resource
as long as it’s flowing.
Water has to be flowing
and dams could damage
the ecosystem.
Harmful minerals and
gases may come up from
the ground
Resource from within the
Earth that is free and will
never run out.
There are not many
places where a plant can
be built.
Illustrate It! Station Directions
Each member of the group will draw a quick
sketch on the lab sheet that shows they
understand the concept being taught.
Use the colored pencils and markers that are
provided.
The directions for the sketch are provided on
the task card at the table.
©KeslerScience.com
Illustrate It! Station Directions
Use the colored pencils to draw a 3 different pictures
that illustrate the 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage of
the following energy types:
-
Solar
Wind
Hydroelectric
©KeslerScience.com
Organize It! Station Directions
It is recommended that you have completed at least two
of the following stations before working at this station.
-Read It!
-Explore It!
-Watch It!
-Research It!
Each group will organize the cards. Each of the cards will
be used. Have your teacher sign off you your Organize it
section after it has been checked.
Please mix up the cards again before the next group
arrives at this station.
©KeslerScience.com
Only cut out the 8 descriptions. Leave the headers and resources intact.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Solar
Available in remote areas
all around the world.
Not available during rain
or a particularly cloudy
day.
Wind
Free resource that
produces no greenhouse
gases.
Some people don’t like the
way the turbines look. May
be dangerous to birds.
Biomass
Can be used as an energy
Creates greenhouse gases
source that may otherwise
when burned.
be thrown away.
Hydropower
Free renewable resource
as it’s flowing.
Water has to be flowing
and dams could damage
the ecosystem.
Geothermal
Resource from within the
Earth that is free and will
never run out.
There are not many
places where a plant can
be built.
©KeslerScience.com
Disadvantages:
Geothermal
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Hydropower
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Biomass
Advantages:
Name_______________________
Task Card #1:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Task Card #2:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Task Card #3:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Write It!
Disadvantages:
Wind
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Solar
Advantages:
Explore It!
Renewable Resources
Organize It!
Disadvantage:
Hydroelectric
Advantages:
©KeslerScience.com
Disadvantage:
Disadvantage:
#2_____
#4_____
Geothermal
Advantages:
#1_____
#3_____
Read It!
Name_______________________
Biomass
Advantages:
#2_____
#4_____
Research It!
#1_____
#3_____
Assess It!
Illustrate It!
Renewable Resources
Name_______________________
©KeslerScience.com
Task Card #2:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Task Card #3:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Task Card #4:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Watch It!
Renewable Resources