Energy Resource Survey

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary K - 8

DESCRIPTION:
In today's world most activities depend on energy resources: lights, appliances, furnaces, stereos, televisions, etc. The energy we rely on is provided by either renewable or nonrenewable energy resources. Fossil fuels have provided a large portion of our energy needs, but this supply is quickly being used up. This fact will force us to develop alternative energy resources.

Increasing student awareness of their energy consumption and the source of that energy will help show the need for conserving energy. Conservation will help stretch our energy resources and hopefully give us the needed time to find inexpensive alternative energy resources.

The project will require each participating class to complete the energy resource survey. The data should then be forwarded to the above email address.

SCHEDULE:
April - post announcement
Last two weeks in April - complete class survey and forward results via email
First week in May - Project coordinator will compile data and forward results to all participating schools.
Second week in May - Participating schools analyze data.
Third week in May - Participating schools share analyses.


If you would like to register for this unit, please complete the registration form and send it to Pam Okland at okland@montana.com email address.


GOALS:
The goals of this unit are:
1) to develop critical thinking skills - generalizing & predicting
2) to develop the process of predicting
3) to develop the process of collecting data
4) to develop the process of interpreting data:
using graphs
using tables
using diagrams

Procedure:
Part 1
1. Introduce the activity to your class.
2. Complete the class survey.
3. Assign students to contact their local utility company to find out the current costs for the various types of energy.

Part 2
1. Compile the results of the survey and forward the data to the above email address.
2. Data collected from the various sites will be compiled and made available via telecommunications.

Part 3
1. Analyze data by:
Map site locations
Create a database
Compare and contrast energy sources and energy costs
Create charts & graphs to display collected data

Additional Teaching Suggestions
1. Take students to a facility that harnesses a source of renewable energy. Students can observe the processes needed to capture and transfer the energy.
2. Ask an astronomer or a physicist to speak to your class about how the sun generates its energy.
3. Demonstrate how radios, televisions and telephones use electricity.
4. Build a solar cooker.
5. Construct a model dam and water wheel.
6. Have students research the history of electricity and the inventors.

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ENERGY RESOURCES

For questions 1 & 2, please survey your class and write the number of students who use each of the following types of energy.

1. Primary heating source
a) electricity
b) fuel oil
c) natural gas
d) propane
e) wood
f) other

2. Secondary heating source
a) none
b) electricity
c) fuel oil
d) natural gas
e) propane
f) wood

3. Source of your electricity
a) coal powered plant
b) hydroelectric power
c) nuclear
d) solar
e) wind

4. Cost of your electricity ___________ per kilowatt hour.

5. Cost of natural gas _________________

6. Cost of fuel oil _____________________

7. Cost of propane ____________________

8. Total energy used in the previous month ___________
(See utility bill.)

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