Electric Bikes vs Cars: Social Studies Lesson
Lesson Plan
55 minutesGrades6, 7, 8Economics, Computer Science, Career Skills
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Dan Castrigano
About this lesson
In this lesson, students conduct research on electric bicycles and electric cars, choose one of these technologies, and create a video promoting its use as a climate solution.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students view a series of images related to bicycles and cars and discuss their emotional reactions with a partner.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students investigate the benefits and drawbacks of electric bicycles and electric cars.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students create a video advertisement advocating for electric bicycles or electric cars.
Preview the lesson plan
Better on a bigger screen? Open it in its own tab.View Lesson Plan
Everything you need to teach it
- Teacher SlideshowOpen
Teaching tips
Positives
- Students must use hard data to promote either electric bicycles or electric cars.
- Students record quick, informative videos as their assessment in this lesson plan.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change. They should know that burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases and that greenhouse gases are heating up the planet.
- There are fourteen total images in the Inquire section. Feel free to disregard some of them based on your needs.
- Many students assume that electric cars do not create emissions at all. Students will learn:
- There are embedded emissions from the manufacturing of electric cars.
- Electric cars that use electricity generated by fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) are still creating emissions.
- Your students will need access to devices to record their advertisements. Students can record themselves on iPods, iPads, laptops, or other school devices. Depending on your school's phone policy, you can have your students use their own devices.
Differentiation
- Be sensitive to the socioeconomic situation of your students. Some students' families may not own bicycles or cars or be able to afford electric bicycles or electric cars.
- Creating the advertisement can be done as a homework assignment.
- Students may want to include drawings, puppets, props, or other creative items in their advertisements. Encourage their creative expression!
From the scientist review
Over the course of their use, electric cars are far more environmentally friendly than conventional automobiles. This lesson examines those benefits as well as how to make cities friendlier to bikes and other commuting options. The external resources in this lesson have passed our scientific review process.
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
About the teacher writer
Dan Castrigano
Academic Teacher at Burlington YouthBuild
Dan Castrigano taught STEM and humanities at elementary, middle, and high schools for 11 years. From 2021-2023, he served as the Chief Content Officer at SubjectToClimate. Dan advocates for climate education and organizes for climate, social, and racial justice.
