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Alternative Energies: Student Designed, Renewable Resource Driven "Power Plants"
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Educational Use
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Global temperatures continue to be affected by the combustion of fossil fuels and the subsequent release of carbon dioxide. This 3-week unit is designed to give 9th grade physical science or environmental science student an introduction to climate change, how humans are influencing it, and what efforts we can make to help limit or prevent it. Topics necessary for this unit include electricity, circuits, greenhouse gases, alternative energies, embodied energy, payback period, and life cycle assessments. This unit functions as a culminating project incorporating all of the topics listed above and challenges students to conduct research, engineer their own alternative energy solutions and prove their efficiency through calculation. Individually or in pairs students must pick an alternative energy, spend a day or more researching it, a day drawing a blueprint for it and creating a materials list, two or three days building model “power plants” to light 3 LEDs, and two to three days writing summary research papers. The quantitative analysis of their models (included in their research papers) and student’s ability to prove their models environmental superiority over fossil fuels will be weighted heavily.

Subject:
Career and Technical Education
Chemistry
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Unit of Study
Provider:
Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute
Provider Set:
2018 Curriculum Units Volume II
Date Added:
08/01/2018
Alternative Fuels from Biomass Sources
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
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Is climate change real? Yes, it is! And technologies to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are being developed. One type of technology that is imperative in the short run is biofuels; however, biofuels must meet specifications for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, or catastrophic damage could occur. This course will examine the chemistry of technologies of bio-based sources for power generation and transportation fuels. We'll consider various biomasses that can be utilized for fuel generation, understand the processes necessary for biomass processing, explore biorefining, and analyze how biofuels can be used in current fuel infrastructure.

Subject:
Chemistry
Physical Science
Material Type:
Full Course
Provider:
Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Author:
Caroline Clifford
Date Added:
10/07/2019
America's Energy Future from the National Academies
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This video from the U.S. National Academies summarizes the energy challenges the United States faces, including the technological challenges, and the need for changes in consumption and in energy policy.

Subject:
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
National Academies of Sciences
Date Added:
09/24/2018
Analysis of trends in global oil reserves, production, and consumption
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
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An exercise to analyze trends in global oil reserves, production, and consumption.

(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)

Subject:
Biology
Life Science
Political Science
Social Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Teach the Earth
Author:
Scott Cummings
Date Added:
11/04/2021
Automotive Emissions and the Greenhouse Effect
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
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This is a laboratory activity in which students will compare the amount of carbon dioxide in four different sources of gas and determine the carbon dioxide contribution from automobiles. They test ambient air, human exhalation, automobile exhaust, and nearly pure carbon dioxide from a vinegar/baking soda mixture.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Environmental Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Date Added:
06/19/2012
The Big Energy Gamble
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
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In this activity, students conduct an energy audit to determine how much carbon dioxide their family is releasing into the atmosphere and then make recommendations for minimizing their family's carbon footprint.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Jeff Lockwood
NOVA Teachers
Date Added:
06/19/2012
Biorecycling: Using Nature to Make Resources from Waste
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Educational Use
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By studying key processes in the carbon cycle, such as photosynthesis, composting and anaerobic digestion, students learn how nature and engineers "biorecycle" carbon. Students are exposed to examples of how microbes play many roles in various systems to recycle organic materials and also learn how the carbon cycle can be used to make or release energy.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Engineering
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Caryssa Joustra
Daniel Yeh
Emanuel Burch
George Dick
Herby Jean
Ivy Drexler
Jorge Calabria
Lyudmila Haralampieva
Matthew Woodham
Onur Ozcan
Robert Bair
Stephanie Quintero
Date Added:
09/18/2014
Can releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve lower energy prices?
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
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President Biden authorized the release of 180 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gasoline prices amid the Russia-Ukraine War. While previous releases had modest effects, the magnitude of this release is significant. Estimates suggest a reduction of $0.15 to $0.38 per gallon at the pump.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Economics
Environmental Studies
Social Science
Material Type:
Case Study
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
Boston University
Provider Set:
Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability
Date Added:
11/10/2022
The Carbon Crisis in 90 Seconds
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Educational Use
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This video features a short animated sequence that illustrates the difference between young and old carbon released into the atmosphere from the consumption of food (young carbon) and the burning of fossil fuels (old carbon).

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
NASA
Date Added:
05/08/2013
Carbon Cycle Role-Play
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Students will learn that there is a finite amount of carbon on earth, which moves around in the environment, from one place to another. Activity is scaleable from elementary to high school with options to introduce advanced content. Wrap up includes role playing the carbon cycle with the addition of human influences (e.g. burning of fossil fuels). Activity can be done in classroom or outside, includes working in a group and role playing. Grades 3-12. This resources is part of the Our Changing Ocean and Estuaries Series

Subject:
Biology
Life Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
California Academy of Sciences
Author:
California Academy of Sciences
Date Added:
04/30/2012
Carbon Cycles
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Educational Use
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Students are introduced to the concept of energy cycles by learning about the carbon cycle. They will learn how carbon atoms travel through the geological (ancient) carbon cycle and the biological/physical carbon cycle. Students will consider how human activities have disturbed the carbon cycle by emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. They will discuss how engineers and scientists are working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Lastly, students will consider how they can help the world through simple energy conservation measures.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Engineering
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Janet Yowell
Lauren Cooper
Malinda Schaefer Zarske
Date Added:
09/18/2014
Car of the Future
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, student teams research and develop a proposal to decrease the carbon footprint of their city's/town's public transportation system and then prepare a report that explains why their transportation plan is the best for their community.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Jeff Lockwood
NOVA Teachers
Date Added:
06/19/2012
A Case of Innovation
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Educational Use
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Students learn about power generation using river currents. A white paper is a focused analysis often used to describe how a technology solves a problem. In this literacy activity, students write a simplified version of a white paper on an alternative electrical power generation technology. In the process, they develop their critical thinking skills and become aware of the challenge and promise of technological innovation that engineers help to make possible. This activity is geared towards fifth grade and older students and computer capabilities are required. Some portions of the activity may be appropriate with younger students. CAPTION: Upper Left: Trey Taylor, President of Verdant Power, talks about green power with a New York City sixth-grade class. Lower Left: Verdant Power logo. Center: Verdant Power's turbine evaluation vessel in New York's East River. In the background is a conventional power plant. Upper Right: The propeller-like turbine can be raised and lowered from the platform of the turbine evaluation vessel. Lower Right: Near the East River, Mr. Taylor explains to the class how water currents can generate electric power.

Subject:
Applied Science
Engineering
Hydrology
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Cindy Coker
Denise W. Carlson
Jane Evenson
Malinda Schaefer Zarske
Trey Taylor
Date Added:
10/14/2015
Climate Change in Northern New Hampshire: Past, Present and Future
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC
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EARTH’S CLIMATE CHANGES. It always has and always will. However, an extensive and growing body of scientific evidence indicates that human activities—including the burning of fossil fuel (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, clearing of forested lands for agriculture, and raising livestock—are now the primary force driving change in the Earth’s climate system. This report describes how the climate of northern New Hampshire has changed over the past century and how the future climate of the region will be affected by a warmer planet due to human activities.

Subject:
Atmospheric Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Provider Set:
The Sustainability Institute
Author:
Anne Stoner
C. Keeley
Cameron P. Wake
Elizabeth Burakowski
Julie LaBrance
Katharine Hayhoe
Peter Wilkinson
Date Added:
01/01/2014
Climate Change in Southern New Hampshire: Past, Present and Future
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC
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EARTH’S CLIMATE CHANGES. It always has and always will. However, an extensive and growing body of scientific evidence indicates that human activities—including the burning of fossil fuel (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, clearing of forested lands for agriculture, and raising livestock—are now the primary force driving change in the Earth’s climate system. This report describes how the climate of southern New Hampshire has changed over the past century and how the future climate of the region will be affected by a warmer planet due to human activities.

Subject:
Atmospheric Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Reading
Provider:
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Provider Set:
The Sustainability Institute
Author:
Anne Stoner
C. Keeley
Cameron P. Wake
Elizabeth Burakowski
Julie LaBrance
Katharine Hayhoe
Peter Wilkinson
Date Added:
01/01/2014
Climate Science in a Nutshell: Where Does Carbon Dioxide Come From?
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This short video discusses where carbon dioxide, the gas that is mainly responsible for warming up our planet and changing the climate, comes from. It discusses how the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide comes directly from the burning of fossil fuels and indirectly from the human need for energy.

Subject:
Applied Science
Atmospheric Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Planet Nutshell
Utah Education Network
Date Added:
09/24/2018
Coalbed Methane in Wyoming
Restricted Use
Copyright Restricted
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Coalbed methane (CH4) is a natural gas and valuable energy resource that occurs in coal beds. This site, hosted by an energy development corporation, explains the geology and stratigraphy of Wyoming in the context of the formation of coalbed methane and its occurrence in Wyoming. Maps, cross sections, stratigraphic columns and fence diagrams are provided to explain Cretaceous and Tertiary coalbed methane-plays in Wyoming.

Subject:
Chemistry
Ecology
Forestry and Agriculture
Geoscience
Life Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Teach the Earth
Author:
Black Diamond Energy, Inc.
Date Added:
11/07/2014
Coal mine superemitters of methane
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
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Methane emissions from coal mines are a significant concern for greenhouse gas reduction. Certain mines, known as "superemitters," contribute a large proportion of global methane emissions. Factors like mine depth and coal rank affect methane content. While reducing coal use in electricity generation is important, mitigating methane emissions from mines needs greater attention.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Studies
Material Type:
Case Study
Diagram/Illustration
Reading
Provider:
Boston University
Provider Set:
Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability
Date Added:
02/27/2023
Compact Fluorescent and LED Cost-Benefit Analysis
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students collect data and analyze the cost of using energy in their homes and investigate one method of reducing energy use. This activity provides educators and students with the means to connect 'energy use consequences' and 'climate change causes.' Through examining home energy use and calculating both pollution caused by the generation of electricity and potential savings, students can internalize these issues and share information with their families.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Connecticut Energy Education
Date Added:
06/19/2012
Consequences of Modern Energy Use: A Remote Sensing analysis of the gulf oil spill using ArcGIS software.
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
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This laboratory activity takes place in a computer lab that is equipped with ArcGIS (we are currently using ArcGIS 9.3). Students will go to NASA's oil spill gallery website and download the full size image of the Deepwater Horizon oil slick from July 14th, 2010 taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite at 1:55 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Their task is to to analyze the satellite imagery as an RGB composite and to experiment with reclassification techniques to subdivide the continuous raster dataset into user-defined numbers of ranges that will help visualize the oil spill. The activity introduces students to GIS software, remote sensing analysis, and sets up questions on spatial patterns and consequences of energy use.

(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)

Subject:
Biology
Chemistry
Life Science
Mathematics
Measurement and Data
Oceanography
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Teach the Earth
Author:
Jared Beeton
Date Added:
08/27/2019