Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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FORMS OF ENERGY

– LESSON PLAN 2.9

Renewable and Non

-R

enewable Energy

This lesson is designed for 3rd – 5th grade students in a variety of school settings

(public, private, STEM schools, and home schools) in the seven states served by

local power companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Community groups

(Scouts, 4-H, after school programs, and others) are encouraged to use it as well.

This is one lesson from a three-part series designed to give students an age-

appropriate, informed view of energy. As their understanding of energy grows, it will

enable them to make informed decisions as good citizens or civic leaders.

This lesson plan is suitable for all types of educational settings. Each lesson can be

adapted to meet a variety of class sizes, student skill levels, and time requirements.

Setting

Lesson Plan Selections Recommended for Use

Smaller class size,

higher student

ability, and /or

longer class length

• The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.

• While in class, students can do “Guided Practice,” complete the

“Recommended Item(s)” and any additional guided practice items the teacher

might select from “Other Resources.”

• NOTE: Some lesson plans do and some do not contain “Other Resources.”

• At home or on their own in class, students can do “Independent Practice,”

complete the “Recommended Item(s)” and any additional independent

practice items the teacher selects from “Other Resources” (if provided in the

plan).

Average class

size, student

ability, and class

length

• The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.

• While in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)” from “Guided

Practice” section.

• At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)”

from “Independent Practice” section.

Larger class size,

lower student

ability, and/or

shorter class

length

• The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.

• At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)”

from “Independent Practice” section.

Electrical Safety Reminder: Teachers should remind students that electricity is dangerous and that

an adult should be present when any recommended activities or worksheets are being completed at

home. Always obey instructions on warning labels and ensure one has dry hands when touching

electronics or appliances.

Performance Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify, explain, and provide examples of both renewable and non-

renewable energy sources.

• Discover ways to conserve energy.

• Evaluate their families’ use of energy.

• Understand the benefits and disadvantages of using renewable

resources.

Public School

System Teaching

Standards C

overed

tate

cience Standards

•

AL GLE 3.1.3 3

•

AL GLE 3.3 3

•

MS 9.c 4

•

KY SC-5-ET-U-2 5

•

TN SPI 0407.7.2 and

WCS 4

Common Core

Language Arts/Reading

•

ELA.CCSS.W.4.1 MS,

TN 4

•

ELA.CCSS.W.5.1 KY 5

•

ELA.CCSS.W.3.1 AL 3

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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I. Anticipatory Set (Attention Grabber)

Essential Question

How can we be sure to never run out of energy?

II. Modeling (Concepts to Teach)

A natural resource is given by nature and can be used as a source of energy. A renewable natural resource is

one

that can be renewed, or replenished in a reasonable amount of time (in years or a human-life span), once it

has been used. Renewable energy is

generated from natural sources (sun, wind, rain, tides, and vegetation) and

can be generated again and again when needed.

It is generally replenished naturally. For example, trees are a

renewable resource because once a tree is removed and used

, a new tree can grow in its place. Additional

information is available at

http://www.tva.gov/renewable/.

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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Types of Renewable Natural Resources

Solar Energy – The sun’s light contains energy in the form of electromagnetic

waves. Usually, when light hits

an object the energy turns into heat, like the warmth felt

while sitting in the sun. But when light hits certain materials, like

silicon, the energy turns into an electrical current instead, which can then be harnessed for power. This was discovered

earlier in history when Einstein explained the Photoelectric Effect and pro

posed that light can act like a particle, as well as

a wave. For more information, see http://www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch/solar.htm and

http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/solar.htm.

A WORKING SCHEME OF HOW SOLAR WORKS

Image source: lerablog.org

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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Hydroelectric Energy – Hydroelectric plants use falling water from a dam to turn the turbine of a generator.

The generator then produces electricity.

http://water.usgs.gov/edu/hyhowworks.html or

http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/hydro.htm, http://www.tva.com/power/hydro.htm

Geothermal Energy – from the Greek words geo, or “earth,” and therme, meaning “heat.” Deep inside the

Earth lies hot water and steam that can be used to heat homes and businesses and generate electricity

cleanly and efficiently. The steam is used to drive turbines of a generator and the generator produces

electricity.

http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/geothermal2.htm

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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Wind Energy – The energy of the wind is transferred to the turbines of the generator and the generator

produces electricity. Wind turbines use the momentum of moving air to quietly turn large blades that are

attached to the shaft of an efficient electric generator.

http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/wind.htm

Biomass Energy – Biomass is matter usually thought of as garbage. This matter includes things like leaves,

tree branches, leftover crops, wood chips, and bark. It can even include animal manure and old tires.

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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The biomass is then placed into a furnace and burned, or the methane gas in a liquid or gaseous state

from

algae or rotting / decomposing materials is captured. The heat generated is used to boil water. The steam

from the boiling water is used to turn turbines and generators to produce electricity.

non-renewable natural resource is one that has specific conditions that made them (like fossilized plant

matter converting into coal),

and can take many generations to reproduce.

Sometimes the conditions are not likely

to occur again so they are

limited in supply and once used cannot be re-generated within a short span of time.

Non

-renewable sources exist in the form of natural gas, oil, and coal. For example, fossil fuels have been

percolating beneath the Earth for hundreds of millions of years, and once they’re gone,

they’re going to take

millions more years to replenish.

Types of Non

-Renewable Natural Resources

Coal Energy – Coal is the product of millions of years of pressure on organic matter from plants buried

underground. According to Energy Information Administration, coal-burning power plants are the number

one

source of electricity in the U.S., and burning coal is an inexpensive way to generate electricity compared to

many renewable sources. However, burning coal produces greenhouse gases, which scientists believe is

contributing greatly to global warming. http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/fossil.htm

Oil Energy – Crude Oil is referred to as Liquid Petroleum. It is used for gasoline, heating oil, and diesel fuel.

In addition, manufacturers utilize oil for such products as plastics and industrial chemicals.

Natural Gas Energy – Natural gas reserves often share space with underground oil reserves, so the two

REMEMBER

List the renewable energy sources. List the non-renewable sources of energy.

(Teachers can list these on the board with help from students. Ex. Renewable – solar,

wind, etc.)

UNDERSTAND

Explain the difference between a renewable and a non-renewable energy source.

(Class discussion)

ANALYZE

Categorize a list of sources of energy (water, wind, coal, natural gas, etc.) into the

correct categories of renewable and non-renewable energy. (Class discussion)

EVALUATE Debate the pros and cons of using non-renewable energy. (Class discussion)

CREATE

Create a brochure that persuades people in your community to conserve energy.

(Teachers instruct students to create a brochure on a piece of paper.

http://www.education.com/activity/article/make_a_fun_brochure_fourth/

)

Coal 39.3%

Natural Gas

27.6%

Petroleum

7.0%

Nuclear 19.5%

Hydropower

6.7%

Wind 4.2%

Other

Renewables

2.1%

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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non-renewable resources are often extracted at the same time. Consumers use it as cooking fuel, to heat

houses, and sometimes as vehicle fuel. It is also used to generate 27.6% of the U.S. electricity. It would take

many generations, perhaps millions of years, to replenish natural gas.

http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/combustion.htm

Nuclear Energy – Nuclear energy makes use of Uranium-235, a radioactive chemical naturally found in the

earth. This radioactive substance undergoes decay and in the process releases a great deal of heat. The he

is then used to create steam; that steam is used to turn a turbine in a generator. The generator produces the

electricity. There are no greenhouse gases released in this process. However, there are radioactive

byproducts that must be stored safely because they are an environmental hazard. It is considered a non-

renewable form of energy because it takes real manipulation to split an atom.

http://www.tvakids.com/electricity/nuclear.htm

The

above chart shows the percent of electricity generation by energy source. Most power is now generated from

coal, natural gas, and nuclear

plants. If time permits, teachers can go over each source in the pie chart.

III. Checking for Understanding

Teachers can a

sk students these questions to determine understanding of concepts.

U.S. NET ELECTRICITY GENERATION

BY ENERGY SOURCE (2013)

Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA),

Monthly Energy Review, May 2014, Table 7.2a, 2014.

http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/ - electricity

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.9 – RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY

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IV. Guided Practice Ideas