Summary

In this project, students will develop a presentation to compare the pros and cons of a sustainable resource. The explanation will involve researching the cost and benefits of the resource and analyzing if the resource should continue to be used.

Grade Level

High School

NGSS Alignment

This project will help prepare your students to meet the performance expectations in the following standards:

• HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.
• Scientific and Engineering Practices:
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data
  • Engaging in Argument from Evidence
  • Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Objectives

By the end of this project, students should be able to

• Develop a visual aid to enhance a presentation.
• Identify all the aspects of developing and maintaining an energy resource.
• Defend a claim on whether a resource should continue to be used to solve a real-word problem.

Chemistry Topics

This project supports students’ understanding of

• Energy Resources
• Renewable Energy
• Sustainable Energy

Time

Teacher Preparation: 10 minutes

Lesson: ~6-8 hours (will vary based on time allowed for research and presentations)

Materials

• Computers/devices with internet access

Safety

• No specific safety precautions need to be observed for this activity.

Teacher Notes

• Prior to the assignment of the presentation, it may be beneficial to introduce what resources are being used around the world. Students can look for patterns in types of resources being used in certain areas and why they think that this pattern is occurring.
• Helpful links for this activity:
  • Pros and Cons of Natural Gas
  • Renewable Energy
  • World Energy Council: World Energy Resources
  • Energy Productions & Changing Energy Sources
• Students should research a variety of videos and articles about their chosen topic. Below are links to the articles that that could be used to start conversations with each group before they begin research on their own.
• Articles:
  • Geothermal Energy
  • Wind Energy: Pros and Cons
  • Wind Energy: Advantages and Challenges
  • Solar energy: 6 Things You Didn’t Know
  • The Future of Solar Energy
  • Reliability of Renewable Energy: Solar
  • Ocean Wave Energy
  • Why Wave Power has Lagged far behind as an Energy Source
  • Wave Energy and Wave Changes with Depth
  • The Future of Nuclear Energy
  • National Geographic: Nuclear Energy
  • The Energy Source of Tomorrow: Benefits of Nuclear Fusion Power
  • Small-scale Nuclear Fusion
  • Nuclear Fusions: Pros and Cons
  • Benefits of Hydropower
  • Hydroelectric Energy: Pros and Cons
  • Biofuels Pros and Cons
  • Benefits of Biodiesel
  • Advantages of Biofuels
  • Alternative Fuels: Ethanol
  • MIT Ethanol Analysis
  • Cornell: Ethanol Fuel Faulted
  • MIT Coal Analysis
  • Fossil Fuels: Coal
  • Petroleum: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • 12 Advantages and Disadvantages of Petroleum
  • Fuel Cells
  • Benefits and Challenges of Fuel Cells
  • https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_benefits.shtml
  • Pros and Cons of Hydrogen Energy
  • Natural Gas: Pros and Cons
  • 12 Pros and Cons of Natural Gas
  • New Waste-to-Energy Plants
  • Waste Incineration: Advantages and Disadvantages

• It may be preferable to have students work in groups of 3-4 due to the amount of class time it takes for the presentations. If time permits, groups of 2 would be more desirable.
• Exit slips to check progress could be useful check points during research time.
• A “Note-Taking Guide” for student use during the research phase has been included.
• Choose a way for students to submit the presentation to you. I found it is easier on the teacher if students submit to Google Classroom or Turnitin.com. This provides one location for the teacher to pull up the presentations and reduces the down-time between presenters.
• Depending on how comfortable your students are with MLA or APA format, you might want to suggest an online citation generator such as easybib.com, bibme.org, or citationmachine.net.
• Suggestions on differentiation:
  • Lower level students may need more guidance on how to locate credible sources online (this resource may be helpful).
  • Students with accommodations that restrict being able to verbally present in front of others - suggest recording their voice at home to place into the presentation.

• During presentations, students should take notes about the resources that others present. An example note-taking handout is included for use. The notes will help students provide evidence for their conclusions (conclusion questions are included on this handout as well).
• When working with groups, a group evaluation could be used following presentations. This allows students to communicate how the group worked together. An example form is provided the next page.
• Example Answers for Conclusion Questions:

1. Which energy resource do you think impacts your life the most? Why?
   Coal impacts my life the most.It is the source of electrical energy at our local power plant.

2. If you were an investor (like on Shark Tank), which energy resource would you choose to financially support?Why?
   I would invest in the waste to energy resource. There is an unending supply of waste for us to burn and it reduces our carbon footprint by reducing the amount of methane produced in landfills.

3. If you were an environmentalist, which energy resource would you support the most? Why? Which would you least prefer? Why?
   I would support solar energy.It is easier to install for homes and businesses than others, as well as not have producing much waste.
   I would not support natural gas.Fracking disrupts habitats and can be dangerous to workers.It also increases our carbon footprint.

4. Which resource do you think would be the best to continue development and use? Why?
   I would want to continue to develop wind energy.Although there is a small disruption to the landscape, overall it has very little impact on the environment. It has a larger output of energy than other renewables. The large upfront fee and maintenance costs can be recovered over time.