Chapter 1
Get Up to Speed on Energy Careers and Concepts
Goals
- Compare recent growth in U.S. energy sector jobs to overall U.S. employment.
- Identify some trusted websites to visit and research available energy jobs.
- List ten interpersonal employability skills and describe why they’re essential to any career.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Activities
Industry Engagement Activity
This activity connects local K-12 educators with industry professionals to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world career demands.
60-90 min.
Varies
UT - Powering Your Future With an Energy Career
Students will learn about various careers related to energy. Students will learn about specific energy careers based on their interests.
60 min.
Free
Goals
- Discuss the difference between power and energy.
- Convert power and energy values to different units of measure.
- Use Ohm’s law and the power law to calculate volts, amps, watts, and ohms.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Utilities
Activities
What is the Cost of Inefficiency?
Students will learn about the concepts of work, power, and energy and how they translate to energy efficiency and cost savings.
160 min.
$$
Understanding Electric Power Generation
This lesson introduces students to the primary sources of energy used in the United States.
160 min.
Free
Understanding Forms and Sources of Energy
Students will learn about the differences between forms and sources of energy in order to talk about and make informed energy choices.
160 min.
$$
Carbon Cycle
Students will complete a carbon cycle model and look at the balance of carbon among the systems.
60 min.
Free
CREATE Energy Management and Efficiency
This collection of activities covers basic facts and dynamics of the American energy economy, energy resources, energy conservation, passive solar, and greenwashing.
Varies
Free
Goals
- List reasons why energy and electricity are important for people, businesses, and communities.
- Describe some energy trends that are happening now.
- Diagram the equipment used in a microgrid.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Environmental Protection
Activities
Understanding Electric Power Generation
This lesson introduces students to the primary sources of energy used in the United States.
160 min.
Free
DarkSky Investigations
In this interactive activity, students explore the science of light pollution and its impact on ecosystems, human health, and astronomy.
60 min.
Free
Renewable Energy Discovery Island
Acting as energy planners, students design an energy system by evaluating trade-offs between solar, wind, hydropower, and diesel.
45-90 min.
Free
Unit Plan: Electrify Everything!
This collection includes 5 90 min. activities: Understanding the U.S. Electrical Grid, Modernizing the Grid, Electrify Your Home, Electrify Your School, and Advocate to Electrify.
90 min.
Free
Goals
- Define and differentiate between efficiency and conservation.
- Calculate efficiency given input and output values.
- Describe generation, transmission, and distribution efficiency losses.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Environmental Protection
Utilities
Activities
What is the Cost of Inefficiency?
Students will learn about the concepts of work, power, and energy and how they translate to energy efficiency and cost savings.
160 min.
$$
Renewable Energy Discovery Island
Acting as energy planners, students design an energy system by evaluating trade-offs between solar, wind, hydropower, and diesel.
45-90 min.
Free
Goals
- Define alternating current, direct current, and frequency.
- List energy sources used for thermal and non-thermal generation.
- Describe the parts of a standard generator and how it works.
- Define electricity transmission and distribution.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Goals
- Explain what OSHA is and why it’s important.
- Discuss why safety is an essential concern for the energy industry.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Activities
MN Work Safe, Work Smart Curriculum
This curriculum raises students’ awareness of workplace hazards, and increases knowledge of their workplace rights.
Varies
Free
CDC Talking Safety Curriculum
This is a foundational curriculum in occupational safety and health meant to be used in a classroom or other group training setting, and has been customized for each state.
Varies
Free
Goals
- Name and describe the agencies that create and enforce occupational safety, health, and environmental protection regulations.
- List three or more rights workers have when on the job site or at their workplace.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Environmental Protection
Activities
Industry Engagement Activity
This activity connects local K-12 educators with industry professionals to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world career demands.
60-90 min.
Varies
MN Work Safe, Work Smart Curriculum
This curriculum raises students’ awareness of workplace hazards, and increases knowledge of their workplace rights.
Varies
Free
CDC Talking Safety Curriculum
This is a foundational curriculum in occupational safety and health meant to be used in a classroom or other group training setting, and has been customized for each state.
Varies
Free
Goals
- List and describe safety acts and regulations that are important for the energy industry.
- Summarize how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) makes sure it’s making policy decisions based on accurate scientific data.
CTE Energy & Natural Resources Career Subcluster
Clean & Alternative Energy
Conservation & Land Management
Ecological Research & Development
Environmental Protection
Resource Extraction
Utilities
Educator Resources
- KidWind Power Grid Basics - Presentation
- KidWind Why Power Grid Education? - Presentation
- KidWind Spark Sessions: Clean Energy Workforce
- KidWind Spark Sessions: Microgrids
- Everyday Superheroes: Women in Energy Careers
- Classroom Energy Estimation Guide
- NEED Building Science
- NEED School Energy Experts
- NH Workplace Safety (applies everywhere)
- NGSS Standards Systems & Models
- DOE Energy Literacy Standards
- How a Generator Works
- Safety Matters "How To" Video
- OSHA Competencies
- Child Labor Laws
- CarbonBrief Map of How the U.S. Generates Electricity
- NEED Energy Career Resources
- IREC Career Maps
- Map a Career in Energy Resource (EERE)
- Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis
- How to Use a Multimeter - YouTube
- What is Voltage? - YouTube
- What is Electric Current? - YouTube