Clean Energy Can Take Us Anywhere! (Let's Move! Green Transportation #2)

In this lesson, students explore clean energy resources.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students play the National Environmental Education Foundation’s Generations Game to explore natural resources. 

Step 2 - Investigate: Students read Sven's Search for Clean Energy, a picture book about the adventures of Sven and Earthly as they learn about fossil fuels and clean energy.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students connect renewable and nonrenewable energy resources to modes of transportation and create a deck of cards to illustrate what they learned about clean energy.

Positives

• Students learn that people need air, water, and natural resources to live.

• Students are introduced to clean energy and natural resources.

• Students explore fossil fuels, energy use, and alternative or clean energy options.

• Students have opportunities to collaborate with classmates to share their feelings as they learn how burning fossil fuels hurts the planet.

• Through playing a game, students strengthen their understanding of the topic.

• This lesson supports the understanding that all humans can make a difference.

• This lesson can be easily integrated into an existing ELA lesson that focuses on identifying the main idea and key details in a text.

• This lesson features excellent vocabulary development.

Additional Prerequisites

• This is lesson 2 of 4 in our K-2nd grade Let’s Move! Green Transportation unit.

• If students did not complete Lesson 1 of this unit, it will be helpful to share with students the modes of transportation and explain the carbon cost of transportation.

• You will need to print copies of the worksheets and templates from the Student Document.

• Gather and prepare the materials needed for the Generations game. Classroom materials can be used as resources (e.g., squares of paper, math counters, plastic or wooden beads).

Differentiation

• By projecting the picture book Sven’s Search for Clean Energy on the board, all learners, regardless of reading level, can participate in listening to and comprehending the book's content.

• Students have several opportunities to share feelings and ask questions about the topic.

• Students can work in pairs or small groups to create their deck of cards.

• The Student Document provides many differentiated options for students with different ability levels.

• Additional optional student worksheets are included in the Student Document.

This lesson gives students a foundational understanding of renewable energy and how it affects the transportation industry. It enables students to recognize instances of clean or renewable energy, compare and contrast clean energy sources with energy produced from fossil fuels, and examine how each of these energy sources is acquired from our natural resources. In order for them to know which energy sources might run out, the game is also essential. Additionally, via this lesson, students will be able to create energy plans for their homes, communities, and the environment that are sustainable, affordable, and clean. This lesson passed our rigorous science assessment after careful examination of all the materials.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

Supporting Standards

• Science
  • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
    • K-ESS3-3. Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of climate change and humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
• English Language Arts
  • Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
    • RI.CI.K.2 With prompting and support, identify the main topic and key details of an informational text (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how).
    • RI.CI.1.2 Determine main topic and retell a series of key details in informational texts (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how).
    • RI.CI.2.2 Recount a text in oral and written form and determine main topic (in multi-paragraph informational text, focusing on specific paragraphs).

Note On Standards:

This lesson is aligned to SubjectToClimate standards. Review the aligned standards directly in the lesson plan document and teacher slideshow.