Lesson Plan
Energy Sort & Learn
Students will be able to define and differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, and provide relevant examples for each category.
Understanding our energy sources is vital for making informed decisions about environmental sustainability and resource management. This lesson connects directly to real-world issues like climate change and resource depletion.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive sorting activity, discussion, and visual learning.
Materials
Energy Sort Slide Deck, Energy Sort Activity, Energy Sort Answer Key, and Markers or pens
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Energy Sort Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print and cut out the cards from the Energy Sort Activity for each group or individual, depending on how you plan to run the activity.
- Prepare the Energy Sort Answer Key for quick reference during grading or discussion.
- Ensure projector/display is working for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Begin with the Energy Sort Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
- Ask students what they already know about energy. What kinds of energy do we use every day?
- Introduce the terms 'renewable' and 'nonrenewable' energy and briefly explain their core differences (Slide 3).
Step 2
Activity Explanation & Grouping
5 minutes
- Explain the Energy Sort Activity. Students will sort cards into two categories: Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy.
- Each card will have a picture, a definition, and an example.
- Divide students into small groups (2-3 students) or have them work individually, distributing the pre-cut activity cards.
Step 3
Energy Sort Activity
10 minutes
- Students work in their groups to sort the cards.
- Circulate around the classroom, providing guidance and answering questions.
- Encourage discussion within groups about why they are placing certain cards in particular categories.
Step 4
Review and Discussion
7 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Use Energy Sort Slide Deck (Slides 4-7) to review the correct sorting of the cards, showing definitions, pictures, and examples for each category.
- Facilitate a brief discussion: Were there any surprises? Why is it important to know the difference between these energy sources?
Step 5
Cool Down/Wrap-up
3 minutes
- Display the final slide (Slide 8) of the Energy Sort Slide Deck.
- Ask students to reflect on one new thing they learned about renewable or nonrenewable energy.
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Slide Deck
Energy Sort & Learn: Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
Understanding Where Our Energy Comes From
- What kinds of energy do you use every day?
- How is that energy created?
Welcome students to the lesson. Briefly introduce the topic of energy and its importance in our daily lives.
What is Energy?
Energy Powers Our World!
- From lighting our homes to charging our phones, energy is everywhere.
- But where does it all come from?
- Today, we'll explore different types of energy sources.
Ask students to share their initial thoughts on what energy is and where it comes from. Guide them to think about electricity, fuel for cars, etc.
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
Two Big Categories
- Renewable Energy: Can be replenished naturally over a relatively short time.
- Nonrenewable Energy: Forms over millions of years and cannot be replenished quickly once used.
Which sounds better for our planet? Why?
Introduce the two main categories: Renewable and Nonrenewable. Briefly explain the core concept of each, without going into specific examples yet, as the activity will cover that.
Renewable Energy: Nature's Gifts
What is Renewable Energy?
- Energy from sources that naturally replenish themselves.
- They are sustainable and have a much lower environmental impact.
Examples:
- Solar: Energy from the sun.
- Wind: Energy from moving air.
This slide begins the review of the activity. Define renewable energy and then show the first set of examples.
More Renewable Energy
More Ways Nature Helps!
- Hydroelectric: Energy from moving water (dams).
- Geothermal: Energy from heat within the Earth.
- Biomass: Energy from organic matter (plants, animal waste).
Continue with more examples of renewable energy.
Nonrenewable Energy: Limited Resources
What is Nonrenewable Energy?
- Energy from sources that are finite and cannot be replaced within a human lifespan.
- Often formed over millions of years from ancient organic matter.
Examples:
- Coal: Solid fossil fuel formed from ancient plants.
- Oil (Petroleum): Liquid fossil fuel formed from marine organisms.
- Natural Gas: Gaseous fossil fuel, often found with oil deposits.
Now, transition to nonrenewable energy. Define it and provide the first examples of fossil fuels.
Another Nonrenewable Source
Nuclear Energy
- Energy released from the nucleus of an atom, typically Uranium.
- While it doesn't produce greenhouse gases, the fuel source (Uranium) is finite and the waste is radioactive.
Add the final nonrenewable example: Nuclear.
Reflect and Recharge!
What's One New Thing You Learned Today?
- How can understanding renewable and nonrenewable energy help us make better choices for our future?
- Why is this topic important for everyone?
Conclude the lesson by asking students to reflect on what they learned. This serves as the cool-down.
Activity
Energy Sort Activity: Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
Instructions: Cut out the cards below. Sort them into two categories: Renewable Energy and Nonrenewable Energy. Be ready to explain your choices!
Card Set
Renewable Energy Cards
Card 1: Solar Energy
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of solar panels on a roof or in a field)
- Definition: Energy generated from the sun's light and heat.
- Example: Solar panels on houses converting sunlight into electricity.
Card 2: Wind Energy
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of large wind turbines in a windy area)
- Definition: Energy generated by harnessing the force of moving air with wind turbines.
- Example: A wind farm producing electricity for a town.
Card 3: Hydroelectric Energy
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of a large dam with water flowing through it)
- Definition: Energy generated by the movement of water, typically through dams.
- Example: A hydropower plant using a river's flow to create power.
Card 4: Geothermal Energy
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of steam rising from the ground or a geothermal power plant)
- Definition: Energy harnessed from the heat within the Earth's core.
- Example: Geothermal power plants using steam from underground reservoirs to generate electricity.
Card 5: Biomass Energy
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of a pile of wood chips, agricultural waste, or a plant-based fuel)
- Definition: Energy derived from organic matter such as plants, animal waste, and agricultural residues.
- Example: Burning wood pellets to heat a home or generating electricity from landfill gas.
Nonrenewable Energy Cards
Card 6: Coal
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of lumps of coal or a coal mine)
- Definition: A combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock formed from ancient vegetation.
- Example: Burning coal in power plants to produce electricity.
Card 7: Oil (Petroleum)
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of an oil rig, a barrel of oil, or gasoline)
- Definition: A fossil fuel formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms, found underground as a thick liquid.
- Example: Gasoline used to power cars, or heating oil for homes.
Card 8: Natural Gas
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of flames from a gas stove or a natural gas pipeline)
- Definition: A fossil fuel in a gaseous state, primarily methane, often found with oil deposits.
- Example: Used for heating homes, cooking, and generating electricity.
Card 9: Nuclear Energy (Uranium)
- Picture: (Imagine a picture of a nuclear power plant cooling tower or a uranium pellet)
- Definition: Energy released during nuclear fission, typically using Uranium as fuel.
- Example: Nuclear power plants generating electricity, but producing radioactive waste.
Answer Key
Energy Sort Activity Answer Key
Here are the correct categories for the Energy Sort Activity cards:
Renewable Energy
-
Card 1: Solar Energy
- Reasoning: The sun is a constantly available and naturally replenishing source of energy.
-
Card 2: Wind Energy
- Reasoning: Wind is a natural phenomenon caused by atmospheric pressure differences, making it a continuously available and renewable resource.
-
Card 3: Hydroelectric Energy
- Reasoning: Water cycles naturally through evaporation and precipitation, ensuring a continuous supply for hydropower generation.
-
Card 4: Geothermal Energy
- Reasoning: The Earth's internal heat is continuously produced by radioactive decay, making it a virtually inexhaustible energy source.
-
Card 5: Biomass Energy
- Reasoning: Organic matter can be grown and replenished relatively quickly, making it a renewable resource, provided it's managed sustainably.
Nonrenewable Energy
-
Card 6: Coal
- Reasoning: Coal is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years and exists in finite quantities. Once used, it cannot be replaced within a human timescale.
-
Card 7: Oil (Petroleum)
- Reasoning: Oil is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years and its reserves are limited. Its formation process is too slow to be considered renewable.
-
Card 8: Natural Gas
- Reasoning: Natural gas is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years, existing in finite underground deposits. It is consumed much faster than it can be naturally replenished.
-
Card 9: Nuclear Energy (Uranium)
- Reasoning: While nuclear fission itself doesn't produce greenhouse gases, the primary fuel source, Uranium, is a finite element extracted from the Earth. Once mined and used, it is not replenished naturally.