Geothermal Energy in Iceland
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Geography
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Provided by The Kid Should See This
What it is
- This video and accompanying text from The Kid Should See This outline how geothermal energy has many uses in Iceland, including electricity generation, heating homes, and growing food in greenhouses.
- Students will understand the basics of how geothermal energy works and the geological processes that provide access to this energy in Iceland.
Teaching tips
Positives
- There is an excellent graphic showing how geothermal energy works.
- The accompanying text has links throughout that lead students to other resources.
Prerequisites
- Prior knowledge of plate tectonics would be helpful for students to know.
- The host of this video mentions bitcoin mining, which actually has a negative impact on the environment because it consumes so much electricity. To learn more about Bitcoin's impact on the environment, students can read this article or this article.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can explore the Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean and propose other locations that could use geothermal energy.
- Before watching the video, students can learn about and discuss the use of fossil fuels for energy and its effects on climate change. Then, after watching the video, students can read this e-book on solar, wind, and geothermal. Students can compare and contrast these three types of renewable energy.
- Students can explore this interactive map to see geothermal energy capacity around the world.
From the scientist review
This is a short article and embedded 9-minute video that explores the geothermal energy technologies used by Iceland. The concepts are explained clearly and explore both how energy is produced and what it is used for locally. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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