WV State Standards: Math: MAS. 2, AM.1.2.1, AL.2.1 Science: SC10.5.1, SC10.5.2, SC10.5.4, SC10.6.2 National Standards:  Math: 1, 3 Science: Physical Science 9, Nature of Science 11  Blooms Taxonomy: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis  21st Century Skills: Problem Identification, Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity, Information and Media Literacy, Social Responsibility

Objective(s)

Students will:

• research climate, weather, geography, and topography of assigned country and complete handout
• connect previous knowledge of weather and climate to determine which alternative energy generation will be most efficient in their assigned country
• understand the importance of using alternative energy sources to conserve fossil fuels
• calculate the cost of constructing an alternative energy generation facility

Time Required

One-Two  90 minute class periods

Pre-Requisite Skills

Understanding of climate, weather, geography, topography, fossil fuels, alternative energy sources, ratios and proportions

Computers with Internet access, calculators

Where in the World Is.... ? , Alternative Energy Research , Calculating Cost to Construct Alternative Energy Generation

1. Briefly discuss the following alternative energy sources: wind, geothermal, solar, nuclear, and hydroelectric. 
2. Divide students into groups.  Each group of students will be assigned a country, an easy to use list can be found at  http://en.wikipedi.org/wiki/List_of_countries. 
3. The teams will research geography, climate, topography and the way various alternative energy sources work.
4. Using the Where in the World Is.... ?  and Alternative Energy Research handouts, students will take notes from the Internet, writing facts down or printing out valuable information. 
5. Students will calculate the cost of constructing a geothermal electric generating plant, a hydroelectric plant, a nuclear power plant, a wind farm, and solar generating plant, and place their answers on Calculating Cost to Construct Alternative Energy Generation.
6. After completing all research, students should have an understanding of which alternative energy source(s) will work most efficiently for their assigned country.

This lesson could be modified for various learners by allowing extra time and by completing the calculations together as a class. Additionally, lower level students can be given portions of the ratios for the calculations.  Consult your students' Individual Education Program for further modifications.

Math, Science, Geography, Technology

The instructor should pick from the list of countries a variety of different geographical locations and climates.  This lesson could easily be modified for a variety of different grade levels by requiring students to look up more or less information.

The completed instructional materials listed above will be used as the assessment for this lesson, as well as the culminating model and presentations that will be completed in lessons Four and Five.