This interactive resource displays data comparing the amount of carbon released per unit of energy produced in various countries.
Students can view the data as a line graph, map, or data table.
Teaching Tips
Positives
Students can customize the interactive to display data for specific years and locations.
Students can visualize the change in the carbon intensity of energy production over time.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should be able to read a map and a line graph and be familiar with absolute and relative change.
The data and visuals are available to download.
Differentiation
This resource can be used in math classes as a practical application of the uses of line graphs or to illustrate the concepts of absolute and relative change.
Geography classes can use the map to investigate patterns in the location of countries and the carbon intensity of their energy production.
This resource could be incorporated into physics classes when learning about methods of energy generation and their carbon intensity.
Scientist Notes
Students can investigate the amount of CO2 emitted per unit of energy production. This is essential to calculate carbon footprint from countries that emit CO2 per unit of energy production. Datasets and methods used in quantifying per unit production of energy are valid. The resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science and Engineering
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-1 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes.
MS-ESS3-5 Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
