Project #4: Renewable Energy System

Advantages of Alternatives

Teachers: Deon Edwards

Stephanie Baldwin

Stephanie BaldwinLittle Miami Junior High School

6th grade science

Why study renewable energy?

• Energy is everywhere• Kids use energy

everyday• Fossil fuels make up

Fossil Fuels• 85% of American energy• Growing Demand

• Finite supply • Negative Environmental

Effects

Students will design and promote a house powered by renewable energy

Students will role play careers as builders, engineers, architects, and realtors

Students will evaluate environmental impacts of using various sources of energy

Where does electricity come from?• Burning Coal generates 54%

of electricity in America• Single largest air polluter in

the U.S.

Carbon Footprintwww.zerofootprint.com

• Calculates resources used given actions

• Compares results to averages of other countries

Exploring Renewable Sources

• Hands-on stations for 6 renewable sources

• Webquest and chart for current renewable energy data

Culminating Project

• Students will create a house of the future powered by their favorite renewable energy source.

Group Roles• Draw and select

locations for renewable energy

• Present the cost compared to other energy sources

• Prepare top 3 advantages

• Present electricity generated

Architect Builder

Realtor Engineer

Energy Engineering Team Teaching Lesson

Deon Edwards

Western Hills Engineering High School

Cincinnati, Ohio

Overview

• Team Teaching Lesson– For use at schools with an Engineering focus– For use at schools with team teach focus

Objectives

It is expected that students will: • Identify and categorize energy sources as

nonrenewable, renewable, or inexhaustible.• Create and deliver a presentation to explain a specific

energy source.• Calculate work and power.• Calculate power in a system that converts energy from

electrical to mechanical.• Calculate circuit resistance, current, and voltage using

Ohm’s law.

Essential Questions

• What sources of energy are available for use?

• What are the benefits and drawbacks regarding efficiency, usefulness, and the environment?

• What emerging technologies are or may be on the horizon that will provide energy more efficiently?

Engineering

• Solar Cell Efficiency Project• Poster and Presentation of

data/results

English

• Abstract Writing Lesson• Journal Review on Renewable Energy

Sources

Mathematics

• Calculations and Graphing of data/results found Solar Cell project

• Cost analysis project using Kill-a-Watt measurement device

Science

• Guest speaker on renewable energy resources.

• Lesson and report on Biological Energy options

Social Studies

• Review on past industries impact on our environment.

• Group debate and report the impact of various energy sources on society.

Team Objectives

• Infuse Engineering into every subject• Cross Curriculum Assignment• Cooperative Teaching

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSSincere thanks to . . .

• National Science Foundation.• Anant R. Kukreti, Associate Dean for

Engineering Education Research and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, for leading the project.

• Dr. Vesslin Shanov• Feng Wang• Andrea Burrows, for her logistical support.