Renewable Energy Lesson: Pros and Cons
Lesson Plan
1 hour 25 minutesGrades3, 4, 5Science, English Language Arts
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Written by Ashley Nelson, Lindsey Pockl
About this lesson
Students read about an energy resource and prepare an infomercial pitch to sell their assigned type of energy. Students discuss the pros and cons of each energy source to determine which one is “best.”
Inquire: Students recall what they have learned so far about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
Investigate: Students read a nonfiction book on a specific type of energy in order to prepare an infomercial arguing for its adoption by the town.
Inspire: Students pitch their energy source to the class and then discuss which energy source is “best.”
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Suggestions
- Students will have to weigh the pros and cons of different energy resources. This is happening in real life, as policymakers and other leaders decide the best way to rapidly deploy clean energy.
- It may be best to choose well-liked or confident students to research fossil fuels. They will most likely “lose” when your students vote. These students should be good sports and have good humor.
- Teachers can highlight specific public speaking skills for students to practice in their infomercial presentation.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 3 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Renewable Energy Unit.
- Teachers will need to create a free account as an educator to access the books. Students can be added to your class using a class code.
- It is important for students to understand the advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources. However, it is critical for them to know that burning fossil fuels is causing catastrophic climate and ecological breakdown. The students who are pitching the burning of oil and natural gas, therefore, should most likely “lose” the voting. If natural gas or oil “win” in the voting, it’s probably best to pivot and spend time teaching about the devastating effects of climate change.
- If students need to see the clear disadvantages of burning fossil fuels, you can show them this video on the causes and effects of climate change, this video on the sixth mass extinction, or this video explaining how climate change makes extreme weather worse.
- Learning about the effects of climate change can bring up strong emotions for students, who may have been personally affected. This guide for educators can support teachers in having these conversations with students.
Differentiation
- It may be best to group students of different abilities so that stronger students can model good note-taking for other students.
- Each student should have at least one speaking part when they give their infomercial to the rest of the class.
- For extension, students can make another commercial that argues against their assigned energy source, to show a deeper understanding of the pros and cons of the source.
- Students can record their infomercials and share with another class or others in their community.
From the scientist review
It is important for cities to shift to renewable energy. This lesson spotlights the offerings of renewable and nonrenewable sources and allows students to create and pitch a real-life renewable energy product. There are no contradictions in the lesson. Thus, this lesson is hereby approved for classroom use.
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About the teacher writers
Ashley Nelson
K-2 Science and Technology Teacher
Ashley has been teaching for 16 years and has taught in Vietnam, Thailand, California, and Virginia. She is passionate about teaching STEM, computer science, and technology and empowering teachers to try new things in their classroom practice. She is also a certified Yoga and Mindfulness teacher and believes we must take care of our inner world to care for our external environment properly. She lives in Richmond, Virginia and loves vegan cooking, climate change activism, and connecting to the natural world.
Lindsey Pockl
Lindsey worked with SubjectToClimate to develop accompanying materials for lesson plans for grades 3-12.
