Resources: The handout.
Handout: An investigation sheet for the students to complete.
The students will be familiar with examples of renewable energy sources - including solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal energy, as well as examples of non-renewable energy sources, including coal, oil and natural gas - from KS2.
Ask the students which different sources of energy they can name. This could be conducted as a think, pair, share activity; alternatively, students could create a mind-map or write three ideas on a sticky note. Create a class mind-map of ideas.
Students use the presentation to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. There is a worksheet provided as part of the lesson that can be used to support this. The presentation also has questions for students to answer that will lead them through the learning. Once the videos and mission assignment clip have been watched, students can then move on to the ‘Persuade the Protesters’ task where they write a persuasive speech. Students should think about the benefits of wind energy and should consider methods which could persuade the protesters to support the idea of a turbine. For example, will their electricity be produced by the turbine? Will it be cheaper than their current electric supplier? Could they be involved in the planning and development of the turbine?
Career Film: Dakotah Shirfield works as a Radiation Protection Engineer for Magnox.
Expert Film: This is Richard Owen, who works as an Engineering Manager for Magnox. Richard talks about comparing renewable and non-renewable energy.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Energy Sources
Students should complete pages one and two of the handout for this task: "Persuade the Protesters!"
They should fill in the handout with a speech to persuade protesters that a wind turbine will benefit their local community. The speech can be performed to the rest of the class or with a partner. What features do they think make a successful speech? Vote for the best speech.
Support: The students can complete the worksheet on renewable energy sources as the teacher goes through the presentation. Alternatively, presentation slides can be printed out and placed around the room for students to collect the information before they go through the presentation as a class.
Challenge: After completing their persuasive argument, the students can suggest some locations in their locality that could be used to generate electricity and then justify their answer using learning from the lesson.
The speeches can be shared with the class or used as a supporting document for students to use during a debate. The students can vote for the best speech or adapt the original writing to improve it after hearing other people's arguments. This can then be followed by the end of lesson assessment quiz.
Renewable energy resources and non-renewable energy resources differ in their availability, cost, and environmental impact. Here are some key differences between the two:
Availability: Non-renewable energy resources are finite and will eventually run out. Examples include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Renewable energy resources, on the other hand, are continuously replenished and will not run out. Examples include solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass energy.
Cost: Non-renewable energy resources are generally more expensive to extract, transport, and use than renewable energy resources. This is because non-renewable resources are becoming scarcer and harder to extract. Renewable energy resources, on the other hand, have become increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels, especially as technology has improved and economies of scale have been achieved.
Environmental impact: Non-renewable energy resources have a significant environmental impact, especially in terms of air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat destruction. Renewable energy resources, on the other hand, have a much lower environmental impact, as they do not emit greenhouse gases or other pollutants and do not require significant habitat destruction.
Energy security: Non-renewable energy resources can be subject to political and economic instability, as countries with large reserves may seek to exert control over supply or demand. Renewable energy resources, on the other hand, are distributed more widely and can be more easily harnessed locally, reducing dependence on international trade and geopolitical risks.
Overall, renewable energy resources offer a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to non-renewable energy resources. While renewable energy resources have historically been more expensive, the increasing competitiveness of these technologies, combined with their long-term benefits, is leading to a shift towards greater use of renewable energy sources in many parts of the world.