Lesson Plan for 2017 Heritage Calendar
Instructional Designer
Honoree
Subject Area
Grade Level
CCSS or NCES
Joshua Beck
Mr. & Mrs. Richard “Stick” Williams and Teresa Williams
Science
8
NCSCOS Science 6-8
8.P.2 - Explain the environmental implications associated with the
various methods of obtaining, managing, and using energy
resources.
8.P.2.1. - Explain the environmental consequences of the various
methods of obtaining, transforming and distributing energy.
8.P.2.2. - Explain the implications of the depletion of renewable and
nonrenewable energy resources and the importance of conservation.
Goals & Objectives
Cross-Curricular
Connections
Literacy Connection
1. Students will be able to identify the differences between various
types of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources.
2. Students will be able to differentiate between efficiency levels of
producing energy in a variety of ways.
3. Students will be able to recognize potential benefits as well as
potential consequences associated with obtaining energy in a
variety of ways.
NC Healthful Living Standards Grade 8
8.PCH.3.1 Outline the potential health consequences of global
environmental problems
Common Core ELA Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.8
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.9
Time Allotment
Two 45-minute sessions
Lesson Focus
Mr. & Mrs. Richard “Stick” Williams and Teresa Williams both served as
Chair of the Board of Trustees at UNC Institutions. “Stick” served as a
top philanthropy executive for Duke Energy. This lesson investigates the
different type of energy production utilized by Duke Energy across the
state of North Carolina in order to power our universities and
communities.
Resources &
Materials
Additional biographical information about this honoree is also available
at NC Heritage Calendar Honorees and in the 2017 Heritage Calendar.
This activity could be conducted as a summative conclusion to an energy
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production unit, OR as an introduction/discovery to start the unit.
The links below provide some computer simulations illustrating two of
the more abstract forms of energy production: Fission in a nuclear
power plant, and the photoelectric effect in a solar panel.
Nuclear Fission
Photoelectric Effect
Instructional
Activities
Duke Energy consists of nuclear, coal, hydroelectric, oil & gas, and solar
power plants located throughout North and South Carolina.
Students should research and record the following information:
1. Name, location, date of operation, power output, and size of
region serviced for a specific Duke Energy power production
plant in NC or SC from each of the categories listed above.
2. Identify the exact power plant that provides your community
with electricity (this may or may not be run by Duke Energy).
3. Identify how energy is produced in each type of power plant.
4. Identify positive advantages to producing power that way.
5. Identify disadvantages, shortcomings, and potential risks to
producing power that way (economical, social, environmental,
etc).
Flexibility:
Information can be presented in a written format, in a poster style
presentation, or a computer presentation. Each of those options could be
given as class presentations.
Each student can be responsible for all of the research, or they could
work in groups. Another option would be to assign each student a single
power plant, and then come together to make a group with students
who researched the other power plants.
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