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Learning Activity: Exploring alternative energies
RELATEDCNN STUDENT NEWS(CNN Student News) -- Students will examine the pros and cons of different renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. ProcedurePoint out to students that during his State of the Union address in February 2006, President George W. Bush proposed weaning the U.S. from its dependence on imported oil. He asked Congress to support a new plan called the Advanced Energy Initiative. The program calls for millions of additional dollars to be put towards the development of hydrogen fuel, clean coal technologies, cellulose-based ethanol, solar and wind energies, and advanced automotive batteries. After you share this information, ask students: What are some of the many different uses for crude oil (petroleum)? Why do you think that many Americans are concerned about being dependent on imported oil? Then, assign each student one of the fuels or technologies addressed in the Advanced Energy Initiative or a conventional fuel such as natural gas, oil or nuclear power. Instruct students to conduct research on their assigned topics and identify the pros and cons of the fuel or technology. Ask students to consider the environmental impact, health risks and potential costs associated with these energies. Have students prepare presentations of their findings and deliver them to the class. Following the presentations, pose the following questions for class discussion: What are the differences between renewable and nonrenewable energies? In your opinion, which of these energy sources is the best? Why? Do you think that the U.S. can completely wean itself off its dependence on imported oil? If so, how? If not, why not? Correlated StandardsGeography Physical Systems Standard 7: Knows the physical processes that shape patterns on Earth's surface Level III Grade : 6-8 Benchmark 2: Knows the processes that produce renewable and nonrenewable resources (e.g., fossil fuels, hydroelectric power, soil fertility) McREL: Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks Environment and Society Standard 14: Understands how human actions modify the physical environment Level III Grade : 6-8 Benchmark 4: Understands the environmental consequences of both the unintended and intended outcomes of major technological changes in human history (e.g., the effects of automobiles using fossil fuels) McREL: Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks Physical Sciences Standard 8: Understands the structure and properties of matter Level IV Grade : 9-12 Benchmark 16: Understands radical reactions and their role in natural and human processes (e.g., ozone and green house gases in the atmosphere; burning and processing of fossil fuels; formation of polymers; explosions) McREL: Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education (Copyright 2000 McREL) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks Keywordsalternative fuels, gasoline, hydrogen, fuel cells, fossil fuel, renewable energy, hybrid, ethanol 
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