Higher:
I can explore the advantages and disadvantages to a variety of energy sources.
Middle:
I can explain my opinion on various energy sources.
Lower:
I know a range of energy sources.
Higher:
I can successfully explore a wide range of opinions and facts on a topic and be persuasive in my language.
Middle:
I can develop a range of facts and opinions about the topic.
Lower:
I can offer ideas to support my opinion.
Think, Pair, Share
Look at starter slide - Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of renewable energy sources e.g. a windfarm.
Following the initial discussion, pairs to write response on sticky notes or mini whiteboard or feedback to other children.
Sticky notes
Mini whiteboards
Explore story to help learn about various energy sources and the advantages/disdvantages of renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.
Talk Partners - discussions of advantages and disadvantages to challenge recall and understanding.
Answer questions and take part in activities during the presentation. Stop the presentation at the relevant slides: Talk Partners; AfLs; Songs.
Take part in the Choral Response Questions activity (see Assessment section) after the Keywords/Rocket Words slide.
Presentation
In today's expert film, Emily Norton from Norton's Dairy explains how she uses solar energy to power an electric gate on her farm.
Expert Film
Energy Sources
Use the Mission Assignment film to help with this activity. Ask the children to use the presentation, Handout 1 - Energy Sources and books/the internet to research various energy sources.
The first page of Handout 1 - Energy Sources gives eight statements about different types of energy. The children can cut these statements out, consider what they are referring to, and stick them in place on the table on the second page.
This should leave the table with two blank spaces. Ask the children to fill in the blanks from their own research.
On the third page of Handout 1 - Energy Sources the children can write down some of the advantages and disadvantages of three types of energy source: wind; solar; hydroelectric. This can be complete now, or after completing the Renewable Energy Debate exercise.
Renewable Energy Debate
In this exercise the children will explore pros and cons of different types of energy, based on the viewpoint of a set group of people.
In their groups the children will complete the following tasks:
1. Write and present a speech detailing their group's point of view
2. Design and make a poster showing the group's arguments/points of view.
3. Design and make an information leaflet showing facts that back up their argument/points of view.
Ask the children to get into groups of three. Either get them to choose, or choose for them, one of the six sets of people documented on the first page of Handout 2 - Renewable Energy Debate. The groups are:
1. Villagers of a seaside resort overlooking a proposed offshore wind farm site
2. The leaders of a worldwide scientific research company
3. The president of the USA and her/his advisors
4. A wildlife conservation group
5. The townspeople living next to a site proposed for a new nuclear power station
6. The board of a large oil company
The chldren are to decide how their group would stand on the matter of renewable versus non-renewable energy. How do they feel? Why do they feel that way? What consequences or benefits can they see to themselves or others in using certain energy types? What are their strongest arguments for or against different energy types?
Ask the children to then each choose a role for themselves within the group. There are three roles they can choose from:
1. Creative Director (responsible for the poster)
2. Literary Director (responsible for the information leaflet)
3. Spokesperson (responsible for the speech)
Don't let them forget, however, that they need to do the research together, to decide on what will go in the poster/leaflet/speech together, before starting on their individual tasks. Ask them to collaborate at all times.
On the third page of Handout 2 - Renewable Energy Debate there are tips on how to use language to persuade an audience, which the children can use to help them in their tasks.
Once all the tasks have been finished, ask the children to present their findings to the rest of the groups. Each can give their speeches in turn. After the speeches, chair a debate on what has just been heard. This can include asking the groups in turn which other group they found most persuasive, and why.
At this point, the children can return to Handout 1 - Energy Sources and finish the task on the last page, which asks them to write down some benefits and potential problems for three types of renewable energy.
Mission to Write - Persuasive Letter
This is a nice alternative to the debate task. A similar task, which involves writing a persuasive letter to the CEO of a large oil and gas company to persuade them to build a renewable energy plant.
Encourage children to use the rocket words provided in this piece of writing.
Handout 1 - Energy Source
Handout 2 - Renewable Energy Debate
Paper
Pens
Books/Internet
Craft materials
Magazines/newspapers with images that can be cut out
Mission to Write Handout- Persuasive Letter
Quiz
With their talk partners, the students are to go through the quiz at the end of the presentation and answer the questions.
Children to take interactive Assessment Quiz to test lesson comprehension.
Quiz in Presentation
Interactive Quiz
What different energy sources can you think of?
What are the advantages / disadvantage of (energy source)?
What is the best source of energy?
How would you advise someone of the best, safest and most efficient energy to use?
How can you persuade someone that you are right?
Children to be given one mark for each advantage and disadvatage found for each energy source and two marks for explanation of each of the three energy sources on final page of Handout 1 - Energy Sources (total 16 marks).
Children to be given a mark between 1 and 4 for their contribution to the debate:
4 marks for excellent contribution and teamwork
3 marks for good contribution and teamwork
2 marks for satisfactory contribution and teamwork
1 mark for poor contribution and teamwork
Children to be given a mark out of 5 for online quiz.
The Science Behind the Science
There are different ways in which energy can become more efficient. There has been concern for many years over the future of our energy supply and its impact on climate change. If everyone improved their own energy efficiency, the overall energy usage and cost would be cut down.
It is the aim of the government to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by reducing our demand for energy, and by increasing the energy that comes from different renewable sources.
Other sources of renewable energy include: wind, biomass, and wave/tidal. The largest amount of renewable energy comes from wind generation. It is projected that large solar farms plus both offshore and onshore wind could be the basis for the UK’s energy needs. Advantages of wind power include that it is a clean fuel source, it produces no pollution or atmospheric emissions, and wind is completely free. Disadvantages include its dependence on wind strength, that wind power cannot be stored, and wind farms are large and thus take up a lot of space.
Biomass energy and wave and tidal energy could also be developed in a way that conserves energy. Advantages of biomass include that it’s cheap, readily available, and long-term if replaced. Disadvantages of using biomass are that pollutants are given off when it is burned and that it is only renewable if the resource is replanted.
Wave and tidal sources generate a lot of energy. It is the movement of tides driving turbines or seawater compressing trapped air driving turbines that can aid in the conservation of energy. The only downside is its cost and the occasional opposition from environmental groups. Advantages include that it's an inexhaustible source of energy, its maintenance cost is relatively low, it doesn’t require any fuel to run, and it has a very long life-time. Disadvantages include the high cost of construction, there are not many ideal construction sites, it isn’t very cost effective, and its transmission can be difficult and expensive.
Solar energy is the energy captured directly from the sunlight through solar panels. This energy is harnessed and converted into electricity. This is a potential infinite energy supply but can be costly, so individuals regularly review its effectiveness. Advantages include that it’s free, it produces no pollution, and it can be used in remote areas. Disadvantages include the fact that solar energy can only be harnessed when there is visible sunlight, solar panels are expensive to manufacture, and they are not as reliable in countries such as the UK where cloudy skies are a lot more common.
Like solar energy, wood energy is common. Wood energy is very cheap and readily available. However, when it is burned, greenhouse gases are released. Also, if the trees are not replanted or replaced, wood would not be a renewable energy source. This is like biomass, which also needs to be replanted for it to be sustainable.
Geothermal energy is also one to consider. This type of energy is harnessed in volcanic regions.
Planet Earth - Energy sources and sustainability - By investigating renewable energy sources and taking part in practical activities to harness them, I can discuss their benefits and potential problems. SCN 3-04b Topical Science - I have researched new developments in science and can explain how their current or future applications might impact on modern life. SCN 4-20a
Next Generation Science Standards5-ESS2-1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment. English - debating and persuasive language.
Grade 6 Our Environment.
Grade 5 - Earth Science - Earth and its Resources - Protection Earth's Resources - Fossils and energy - How can the sun, wind, and water make energy? / Energy conservation
