Looking for energy resources lesson ideas? I got you! Energy is an IMPORTANT topic. You hear about it all of the time. There is a lot of political play in the topic, but that’s not what we are getting into here, or in school for that matter.
The important thing for students to know is that there are a lot of resources out in the world that we can use for energy. Some are renewable and some are nonrenewable. There are also advantages and disadvantages to each one, and that’s what needs to be explored!
Time to bring the WOW Factor! In this post, I will share some WONDER strategies to introduce your students to energy resources and get them excited about learning more. Second, I will share an interactive lesson that students can work through to help them learn about the renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. Finally, I will share some WIDEN activities that will help your students expand their knowledge beyond what state standards require!
What will you add to your energy resources lesson plan?
Energy Resources Lesson WONDER Strategies
Getting your students to be curious and learn about a subject should be one of your number one goals. You can talk to them, teach them, and do everything you can, but if they don’t have buy-in, it may go in one ear and out of the other.
WONDER strategies help students to become internally motivated to learn about whatever topic you are teaching, and in this case, we are talking about energy resources.
Here are two WONDER strategies that you can do with your students to get them excited to learn!
Energy Sources Sort
This is a fun activity that you can have your students do in groups. You’ll need cards, either with words and pictures, or just words that have renewable energy resources and nonrenewable energy resources.
So, for example, you can have the following cards for this list of energy resources:
- Solar Energy
- Wind Energy
- Hydroelectric Power
- Biomass
- Geothermal Energy
- Coal
- Oil
- Natural Gas
- Nuclear Energy
- And others you’d like to add
Once the cards are created, your students are in groups, and they are ready for the activity, then you can briefly explain what a renewable energy source is and what a nonrenewable energy source is.
After that, see if your students can sort these cards into those two categories. Remember, they may not know what some of these terms are, especially things like biomass and hydroelectric power, but that’s the fun of it. They will be curious after this activity is over.
You can tell them that they’ll learn more in the lesson! Now, they are wondering!
Energy Resources Explore
Another WONDER strategy that you can do is have them to explore these energy resources themselves before you share what you want them to know.
By giving them a chance to explore, they will likely investigate what they are interested in first, which is great for independent learning. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has a great resource on energy resources.
- You can give students about 15 minutes to explore this page and just look at what they are interested in.
- After students have independently explored the site, they can share with a partner what they learned.
- After students have shared with a partner, choose about 3 volunteers to share something exciting that they learned with the whole class.
They likely did not learn everything they needed to know during that 15 minute exploration and are likely to be interested in learning more. Now, it’s time to dive into the lesson!
Energy Resources Lesson – Interactive
Interactive lessons are my jam! They are designed to help students learn without being overwhelmed because the content is segmented and has embedded activities where students are able to process the information before they move on.
Of course, they make good lessons, but they can also be used as review, science centers, flipped classrooms, and so much more!
Is energy renewable or nonrenewable? Is energy a resource? What are energy resources? Your students will have a lot of questions.
This Energy Resources Lesson covers natural resources, gives examples, defines energy and the Law of Conservation of Energy, reviews the types of energy, and goes over the renewable and nonrenewable energy sources and the advantages and disadvantages of each one!
The interactive embedded activities in the lesson include drag-and-drop activities, answering questions in the text box, an anticipation guide, a Venn diagram, and more.
You can find this in the Bright in the Middle Shop.
You can also find this on TPT.
You can have them give an energy resources summary at the end!
Energy Resources Lesson WIDEN Strategies
Your students were excited to learn, and went through an interactive lesson that wasn’t overwhelming, so they have learned a lot. Now, it’s time to WIDEN their knowledge on the topic so they can be better prepared as they move forward in their school career. Here are some WIDEN ideas for energy resources!
Powering the Planet Virtual Field Trip
There are a lot of virtual field trips available online. I like the ones from www.nature.org because they provide a video and a free teacher guide to go with it.
Check out the Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy Field Trip. In this trip, you will join a scientist an go on a journey to answer the question, “How can we get the energy we need without harming nature?”.
Students will have a chance to explore places like a classroom in California and the Mojave Desert so that they answer this question. There is a handout that goes with the video!
Explore Renewable Ocean Energy
Another up and coming energy resource is renewable ocean energy. Have students research it, jigsaw style!
Put your students into groups for a jigsaw project activity. Each group can make a poster, brochure, slides presentation, or whatever you choose to present the information.
Here are the topics that can be assigned to the groups:
- Wave Energy
- Tidal Energy
- Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
You can assign six groups if you have a larger class. Two groups can work on the same topic.
Each group should look at data, visual aids, advantages and challenges, real-examples, and it’s future potential.
Have the groups present and enjoy learning!
Bonus: Another Sort to WIDEN Knowledge
Now that your students have learned so much about these energy resources, it’s time to test their knowledge and allow them to apply all that they learned!
Did you have students sort before teaching? You can have them to sort cards again, but this time, make them explain!
To learn more, check this resource out in the Bright in the Middle Shop and on TPT.
Time to start making those energy resources lesson plans!
Help your students master science content!
[…] Energy Resources […]