Alternative energy lesson plans middle school

For a Google version of this lesson plan, click here. (Note: you will need to make a copy of the document to edit it).
Picture your nearest river or lake. How do people use it? Are you happy with the way it is treated and its relationship to your community? In some areas, sources of water are being used as enormous batteries to help supply power to thousands of homes, schools and businesses. In this PBS NewsHour lesson, students will explore inventions that harness the power of water to make electricity. Students will then sketch, model or build an invention that uses renewable energy and helps protect the environment.

Grades

Subjects

Physical Science, Earth Science, Environmental Science

Estimated time

Two 50-minute periods

Materials

Overview

From the 1960s to 1980s, pumped storage hydroelectricity accounted for around 90 percent of the energy storage (energy produced and captured at one time for use at a later time) in the U.S. These storage facilities were mainly built and used alongside nuclear power plants. But as nuclear power became less popular, so did large pumped storage projects.

With the push for alternative and renewable forms of energy production, pumped storage hydroelectricity is making a comeback. While solar and wind power are popular sources of energy, what happens when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing? Pumped storage plants allow excess energy to be stored for use on a rainy day. How do you think the pumped storage system below works?

Objectives

Students will learn how electricity is generated using hydroelectric power and renewable energy sources. Then, students will sketch, model or build a prototype of an invention that uses renewable energy in the community or region where they live.

Essential Question

How do inventions that use renewable energy help protect the environment?

Procedure

Warm-up activity

  1. In teams of 2 to 3 students, brainstorm a list of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
  2. Ask each group to jot down answers to the following questions:
    1. What are the names of the inventors who created these different energy sources? If students are not sure, how could they find out?
    2. What problem were the inventors trying to solve?
    3. What steps are involved in the invention process (turning an idea into a finished product)?
    4. What innovations or improvements were made to these inventions?

    Main activities

    1. In the same teams, students should read the PBS NewsHour article Oregon to transform lakes into batteries to charge electricity grid and jot down any important ideas.
      1. Next, students should answer these two questions:
        1. Why is it important to store electricity for later use?
        2. Would it be possible to build a pumped-storage plan in your community or region? (or how could you find out if your community has such a system?) Explain your answer.
        1. Let your students know that they have been asked to write a 1-2 page proposal for their community arguing for the use of alternative energy. The plan should include a sketch, model or prototype of their renewable energy source, which they will present to the town or city council (classmates and teacher!).
        2. Start by asking your students to once again think about the environment and landscape around them. To generate electricity, what inventions using renewable energy might work in their community or region? (i.e. wind turbine, pumped storage, etc.; see websites below for suggestions) What forms of renewable energy would not work well
        3. In their previous groups, have students sketch, model or build a prototype of a renewable energy source.
        4. Optional: Ask students to include a drawing of the new landscape with the alternative energy source included. How will the energy source affect the surrounding area?
        5. Along with the sketch, model or prototype of the energy source, include a 1-2 page proposal which addresses the following:
          1. Key features of the alternative energy source
          2. Location of the energy source
          3. Problem that the invention is trying to solve
          4. Cost of the plan
          5. Number of people, homes and businesses that will be serviced
          6. Personnel needed for carrying out the plan
          7. Analysis of any negative impacts on the environment
          8. Explanation of how the plan is more advantageous than other renewable and non-renewable energy sources
          1. https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/learning.html
          2. http://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/wave-energy/wave-energy-devices.html
          3. http://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/tidal-energy/tidal-energy.html
          4. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/index/tech.html
          5. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?page=renewable_home
          6. http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/energy/what

          Extension Activities

          • Watch the PBS NewsHour video ' How drinking water pipes can also deliver electric power ' to learn more about hydroelectric power. Ask students to research a hydroelectric system and write a proposal to test the system in their community.
          • Show the PBS Learning Media clip on The Hoover Dam and Hydroelectric Power . Ask students to recap how dams work. Then ask if they know of any similar engineering feat taking place today. Do the positive effects of the project outweigh the negative effects? Explain.

          Eric Strommer teaches middle school in Flint, Michigan. He wrote this PBS NewsHour Teachers' Lounge post about the water crisis in Flint which continues to impact schools.

          Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources. Sign up for NewsHour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each week.