bESTology Week 1-To Renew Or Not That Is the Question

Week 1-To Renew Or Not That Is The Question

Topics

• Conversion, replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy
• Other sources of renewable energy, means we must “change” existing buildings, etc. to accommodate.
• Demolition and construction or modernize, change

Objective/Goal: 

Students will understand what is renewable energy, fossil fuels, and the changes humans will have to consider to replace fossil fuels.

Introduction:

Renewable energy has been an idea and thought for more than 20 years. Over the years humans have become more aware of our effect on our environment and are now striving to make real change in our energy choices. Is our country ready to adopt renewable energy sources? Why are fossil fuels not a sustainable solution for our country? Is one type of renewable energy better than another? 

Research/Reflect/Brainstorm – Time to think and expand your knowledge! 

Grab your BEST Journal, notebook or online doc for notes to document your learning. Use various sources such as books, magazines, and websites from below to learn  more about energy, forms of energy, consequences, and possibilities.

Use various sources such as the internet, textbooks, magazines etc. to answer the questions below. 

• What is renewable energy?
• Why do we need to consider replacing fossil fuels?
• Is renewable energy or fossil fuels sustainable?
• How do fossil fuels and renewable energies affect human life on Earth?
• How could energy changes affect human interactions in our communities?
• Can society adapt to a world without fossil fuels?

Online Resources – list all links to material useful for research about the lesson topic

• BESTrobotics.org 
• Alliant Energy for Kids
• Alliant Energy Ask the Experts
• Renewable Energy Sources for Kids-Video
• Climate 101 National Geographic  
• Fossil Fuels Pros and Cons
• National Geographic Renewable Energy-Video 
  

• How much land mass do renewable energies need-TedTalk Video
• How much Electricity does it take to power the world? TedTalk Video
• How much land does solar, wind and nuclear energy require?
• How much land would it take to power the USA with solar energy? 
• How much land is needed… 
• Making space for power 
• Converting Natural Resources to Energy 
• Energy Conversion
• Shell Energy-Future Cities

Activity – In small collaborative groups or individually choose one of the activities below sharing your learning with your team and school or community. Creation instructions for the different activities are accessed by the links.

BEST Connection – make connection(s) between the lesson and BEST Robotics program

• Create an entry for your Engineering Notebook sharing what you learned from your research and how it will help your team.
• Create an infographic or poster sharing the differences between fossil fuels and renewable energy for your Engineering Notebook

Community Connection – make connection(s) between the lesson and your community

• Create a Public Service Announcement about renewable energy and its uses
• Create a chart showing the different types of energy used in your community

Digital Citizenship

• Be sure to cite the sources and resources you used for your learning and projects by creating a Bibliography page in your project with the name of the websites and URL addresses
• Be sure to include the sources and resources used in your Engineering Notebook by adding the name of the websites, books etc. and the URL address

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Remember-content vocabulary: renewable, sustainable, energy, fossil fuels, interactions, communities, demolition, change, accommodate

Understand-research to learn more about the topic of renewable and fossil fuels

Apply-taking notes and synthesizing meaning from resources to build their knowledge 

Analyze-determine the pros and cons of fossil fuels and renewable energy, costs and benefits

Evaluate-resources used for research to answer questions and develop notebook entry 

Create-Engineering Notebook entry, Activity/Project completed and shared

Workforce Skills

Critical Thinking, Analyzing and Evaluating information, Creating, Writing, Research, Communication, Problem Solving, Collaboration