In this activity, students will read a digital book, Sven's Search for Clean Energy, then write a persuasive letter to their energy minister about renewable energy sources.
Students will have the chance to practice writing a letter and learn about renewable energy.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The teacher's guide is well organized and easy to use.
This activity brings together multiple academic subjects, including science, civics, reading, and writing.
Additional Prerequisites
Students will need to know how to write a formal letter.
Teachers may want to review note-taking skills with students so they can take notes as they read the book.
Teachers can display the digital book on a projector, allow students to read the book on individual devices, or print the book for students to read.
Differentiation
Students could look up information about their government representatives and how to contact them. They could send their letters (traditional mail or email) to multiple politicians at the local, state, or national levels.
In art classes, students could make artwork to illustrate the points that they made in their letters. Students could mail their artwork along with their letters.
This resource is activity-based and it can inspire students to learn writing skills, especially in seeking environmental justice and clean energy. This is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science and Engineering
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
4-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
English Language Arts
Writing (K-12)
W.3.3 Routinely produce a variety of clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, audience, and purpose.
Social Studies
Civics & Government
Civics & Government 2: Students understand the basic ideals, purposes, principles, structures, and processes of democratic government in Maine and the United States by explaining and giving examples of governmental structures including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches at national levels of government.
