Energizing the Future
Provided by: OER Project|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Economics, Engineering
Authors: OER Project
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 →
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 →
Synopsis
- This course about different forms of energy presents the history of energy use, the many sources of energy available, the benefits of renewable energy, and the relative costs of each energy source.
- It includes videos, worksheets, articles, reading guides, and activities.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- After each activity, there is a section titled "Thinking Conceptually" where students are asked to reflect on a specific issue.
- For each activity, the purpose, instructions, and process are given.
Prerequisites
- Teachers and students will need to set up an account using an email address in order to access the material.
- This is part of a series of courses provided by OER.
- The PDF worksheets are available for download to print off for students.
- Students will need access to a computer and Internet connection to use the online features.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Middle school students will benefit from the summaries and guided reading sheets.
- High school students could have discussions about the topics covered to gain additional understanding and insights.
- Students could investigate how much biomass comes from standing trees (causing deforestation) or crops that require a significant amount of land, water, and fossil fuel-based fertilizers and pesticides vs. waste materials.
- Energy conservation, better insulation, passive solar design/solar tubes, green roofs, and more efficient appliances could all be researched for their beneficial effects on reducing how much energy is required in the first place. Reducing energy waste is a solution that everyone can take part in and is relatively cheap compared to other options.
- Other resources about this topic include this series of videos, this article, and this lesson.
The resource explores the need for energy transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources. It will inspire students to design more efficient and sustainable energy solutions. There is no contradiction in the data as reported. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
