This lesson introduces students to the nine primary sources of energy used in the United States. Students will gain an understanding of how we convert energy into usable electricity through exploration of energy source tradeoffs, class discussions, and student worksheets.
The Details
Grades
6th - 8th Grade
9th - 12th Grade
Time Required
2 class periods
Downloads
Materials
- Student reading passages and student worksheets
Next Generation Science Standards
Cross-Cutting Concepts
- Cause & Effect
- Energy & Matter
- Patterns
Disciplinary Core Ideas
- ETS1.A Defining & Delimiting an Engineering Problem
- PS2.A Forces & Motion
- PS2.B Types of Interactions
- PS3.A Definitions of Energy
- PS3.B Conservation of Energy & Energy Transfer
- PS3.C Relationship Between Energy & Forces
Learning Objectives
- Understand the concept of energy carriers
- Be able to explain why electricity is an energy carrier and not a primary energy source
- Be able to explain how electricity is generated and transmitted
- Be able to list the primary sources of energy that are used for electric power generation
- Be able to compare and contrast advantages and disadvantages of coal vs. wind electric power generation
- Understand the advantages and disadvantages of the primary sources of energy used for electric power generation