Transition to Renewable Energy Now

Lesson Plans

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APPhysics, Economics, Engineering

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 →
Provided by Project Look Sharp
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What it is

  • In this 15-30-minute media literacy activity, students analyze two short video clips that show how solar energy increases the quality of life for people in rural Zambia and urban China. 
  • Students will learn the environmental harms of coal-powered electricity compared to the benefits of solar technologies. 

Teaching tips

Positives

  • The lesson contains possible questions for social studies, science, ELA, and media literacy. Teachers can select from these questions to tailor their lesson.
  • The lesson plan and the videos can be downloaded and used offline.

Additional Prerequisites

  • Teachers should download and review the "How to Use Materials" document for this activity. A free account with Project Look Sharp is required to do this.
  • This activity assumes prior knowledge of renewable and non-renewable sources of electricity and their differences.

Differentiation

  • This can be used as a short activity like a bellringer or warm-up by selecting fewer questions.
  • This activity is ideal for creating awareness about the lives of people in underdeveloped countries.
  • Students can be challenged to identify the sources of electricity/energy within their community and the possible harmful effects on the environment.
  • Students can explore how their community could benefit from solar energy. Check out this resource to see how solar panels could be installed on your school.
  • This can be used in a media literacy class to identify the use of effects, music, and other filmmaking techniques.
  • Other similar activities on media decoding by Project Look Sharp include The Urgency of Climate Action, Community Responses to Climate Disaster Recovery, and Carbon Trading: Arguments For and Against.

From the scientist review

This resource provides students an understanding of solar technology advancement and how it increases the standards of living for people in urban China and rural Zambia. This knowledge can be replicated in other countries. There is no contradiction in the resource and it is recommended for teaching.
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