ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN IOWA

Sample Teaching Schedule

Day 1:

Sci. - Video, Radiation and the Transfer of Energy (set up), Read pg 1 - 3

SS. - Solar and Wind Energy Around the World

L.A. - Start Researching Solar and Wind Energy

Day 2:

Sci. - Do Radiation and the Transfer of Energy

SS. - Discuss and display Solar and Wind Energy Around the World

Math - Length of Shadows

L.A. - Continue Researching Solar and Wind Energy

Day 3:

Sci. - Beaufort Wind Scale, Read pages 4, 5, and top of 6

SS. - Plotting Solar and Wind Data on US Maps

Math - Measuring Wind Speed

L.A. - Continue Research activity

Day 4:

Sci. - The Effect of Concentrating Sunlight, Read pages 6, 7, and 8

SS. - Mapping Wind Speeds Around Your School

Math - Wind Vane

L.A. - Finish Researching Solar and Wind Energy

Day 5:

L.A. - Have students present the results of Researching Solar and and Energy

L.A. - Finish the module by doing Tooning into Renewable Energy Sources

Possible letter home:

Dear Family,
This week your student's class will be doing an integrated study of the uses of alternative energy sources in Iowa. We feel that there is a need for us all to understand how solar and wind energy can be used in the home and school. This understanding could make us more aware of current research and use of wind and solar energy in the state.
Your child will be bringing information and projects home that he/she would like to share with you. We encourage your participation. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your student's teacher.

Sincerely,
Your Name

VIDEO: Alternate Energy Sources in Use Today

Teacher Directed Activity

Objectives:
1. Students will begin thinking about how wind and solar energy are used.
2. Teacher will assess prior knowledge students have about how wind and solar energy are used in Iowa and around the world.

Teaching Strategies:
1. The video lasts approximately seven minutes. Preview the video before showing it to your class. It is strongly recommended that you use the video as a start-up activity for this unit.
2. Before showing the video, ask students if anyone has ever visited a home or other building that is making use of wind or solar energy.Ask students to share their knowledge about the use of solar and wind energy.
3. Show the video to the students. The video shows four students visiting a school that uses a wind generator for electricity supply, a home that takes advantage of solar energy, and a building that is heated and cooled by using ground water.
4. After viewing the video, lead the class in a discussion about the ontent of the video. Remember, the video is primarily for motivational purposes.
5. As you move through the module, you might find it helpful to rerun various segments of the video to reinforce student learning.
6. Show the video again, before visiting an operating wind mill site or a solar home.

Materials List for Module 3 Activities

Radiation and the Transfer.....

For each group of four students: 1 lamp with 150 watt bulb or 1 sun lamp, 5 Styrofoam cups, light colored sand, dark colored dirt, water, 5 thermometers, graph paper

Beaufort Wind Scale....

No materials required

The Effect of Concentrating Sunlight.....

For each group of students: small convex hand lens, 3 Celsius or Fahrenheit thermometers, graph paper, rulers

Length of Shadows....

For each group of students: ruler, yardstick or meter stick, modeling clay, protractor

Measuring Wind Speed....

For each group of students: 1 protractor, 1 ruler, clear tape, about 9 inches or 25 cm of colored thread, 1 table tennis ball

Wind Vane....

For each student: pencil with eraser, paper or Styrofoam cups, straws, straight pins, scissors, 3 x 5 card, ruler, white glue, directional compass

Solar and Wind Energy Around the World....

magazines, catalogs, newspapers, construction paper or poster board, white glue

Plotting Solar and Wind Data on Maps....

almanacs, atlases, copies of U.S. outline map

Mapping Wind Speeds Around Your School....

wind speed measurers (from Math Activity), map of school grounds

Researching Solar and Wind Energy....

reference materials

Tooning into Renewable Energy Sources....

drawing paper, colored pencils, or crayons