Teacher Activity Center

Informative Writing: Where Does Energy Come From?

Grades:

3-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is a (stand alone or in-unit) guided non-fiction research and writing project, which includes a differentiated choice menu and list of ideas for publishing the completed project. Each student will choose one of ten energy sources to research,...

Energy Content:

Biomass Energy,

Electrical Energy,

Electricity Generation,

Energy Fundamentals,

Fuels,

Geothermal Energy,

Hydrogen,

Hydropower,

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Solar Thermal,

Sources of Energy,

Tidal Energy,

Wave Energy,

Wind Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand ten renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the locations of different energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the history of energy sources and how they have been used by humans.Students will learn about innovations and inventions used to find, recover, store and release energy for human consumption.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Lisa Morgan

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-3,

4-PS3-4,

4-ESS3-1,

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text,

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,

ELA: Writing,

ELA: Vocabulary Development

Estimated Activity Length:

10 hours

Building a Tidal Wave Attenuator

Grades:

6-12

Unit:

Wave Attenuator

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is designed to build upon investigations of electromagnetic energy by applying these phenomena to transfer the kinetic energy moving in waves to electricity by building a wave attenuator.

Energy Content:

Electrical Energy,

Electricity and Magnetism,

Electricity Generation,

Tidal Energy,

Wave Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will describe and model the energy transfer and transformation in a wave attenuator. 2. Students will build a wave attenuator using a diagram and selected materials. 3. Students will test the model wave attenuator they built.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials,

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

2: Developing and Using Models,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Tabatha Roderick

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ESS3-3,

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-4,

MS-PS2-4,

MS-PS3-5

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

ELA: Writing

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

Testing a Tidal Wave Attenuator

Grades:

6-12

Unit:

Wave Attenuator

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will test the efficiency of the tidal wave attenuator models that they previously built. They will determine variables on their models they can manipulate, such as wire gauge and magnet strength, and measure the effects of manipulating this...

Energy Content:

Wave Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will investigate variables that may affect the output of an energy conversion device (wave attenuator). 2. Students will interpret data to identify which variables increase electrical output for these model wave attenuators. 3. Students will communicate results from scientific inquiry to identify factors that are important to optimizing the design of a wave attenuator.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials,

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence