Protecting the Environment
Summary information
Age range: | 11 - 14 year olds |
Curriculum links: | Geography |
Time needed: | 50 minutes |
Group size: | Pairs and small groups |
Setting: | Classroom or similar |
Key vocabulary: | Alternative, renewable energy, fossil fuels, nimbyism (nimby stands for ‘not in my back yard’ – a derogatory term suggesting that someone’s opposition is based solely on a desire to protect their immediate surroundings), wind energy, solar, geothermal, hydropower, biomass, nuclear |
Sustainability learning outcome(s): |
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Preparation:
Pupils should understand the links between fossil fuels and global warming.
Resources needed:
- Access to the Internet for the preparation activity;
- Copies of Resource Sheet 2 and Sustainable Assemblies 9.
Procedure:
1. As a preparatory activity, invite pairs of pupils to play the electricity generation game (approximately 15 minutes) at news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/06/electricity_calc/html/1.stm
2. In groups, ask pupils to imagine that they work for a public relations company. The government has decided to develop alternative sources of energy and they have been asked to think about how the public can be persuaded to support these changes. They should use Resource Sheets 2 and 3 to help them think about the different sources of energy. They should make notes about the following points for each energy source, to share with the rest of the class:
- Why might the public oppose this type of development?
- How might we persuade people to support this scheme?
3. Invite pupils’ to share their work with the whole class.
Extensions:
Ask pupils to develop an energy plan for the UK in 2020. Ask them to explain:
- The percentage of total needs that will be created by each source.
- The action that will be taken to achieve these changes.
- The action that will be taken to persuade the public to support these changes.
Evaluation:
Ask pupils to complete the following:
- One thing I’ve learned about alternative energy sources is…
- Creating energy without damaging the environment is…
- I think nuclear power is…
- I’m going to become more energy efficient by…