Energy Expedition

AK Energy Smart

In this lesson, students think about where the energy they use on a daily basis comes from, including completing a tour of their school boiler/furnace room led by maintenance staff. Students will then confirm the knowledge by creating a flow chart map of where the energy is coming from to make different decisions in the future about energy consumption.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Work with your school maintenance staff to make this lesson really valuable. This activity will fit nicely into a larger lesson or unit on energy sources and consumption. However, teachers will need to ensure all the logistics are covered since students will be exploring their campus. It may be helpful to have the head of the school district department that oversees energy consumption talk to the students about actual amounts and costs of energy. For those using this activity that live outside of Alaska, extra time is needed to gather references associated with your location, as the references provided here are centered on Alaska.
Sources of energy varies across Alaska. This activity opens the door to investigating energy uses and then energy production. It engages students in a local exploratory investigation of energy needs and origins of energy. The activity provides accurate background information related to energy transmission, along with an in-depth vocabulary list. The depth of the activity is limited by the knowledge of the teacher, and the grade level in which it is used. However, references are provided, including a detailed Renewable Energy Atlas of Alaska, which supplements the content of the activity presented on the website. Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
The learning outcomes for this activity are straightforward and reflect the actions taken within the activity. Students map the energy sources and uses around their campus to learn more about the flow of energy from its source to its use. This is an activity that could be embedded nicely into a detailed lesson on energy sources. Most students will enjoy this activity since it is place-based and focused on their local environment.
Lesson plan and powerpoint are available and lay out the activity simply with two additional videos to show students. A tour of the building could be tricky depending on the school, but it would valuable for students to have this experience. This can be considered a flexible activity that can be embedded in a larger lesson as an engagement activity. Supplemental resources are provided. Teacher prep time is stated as 30 minutes, although it will likely take longer as logistics for data collection need to be considered.