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Clarkson Energy Choices Board Game
https://www.howtosmile.org/resource/smile-000-000-002-019

Clarkson and St. Lawrence Universities

This board game, designed for middle school students, introduces the concepts of energy use in our lives and the real impact that personal choices can have on our energy consumption, energy bills, and fuel supply.

Activity takes about 1 class period for game and 1 class period for follow-up discussion. Cards and Game board need to be printed.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Energy Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:A) Individuals and groups
Other materials addressing:
A) Individuals and groups.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:D) Technology
Other materials addressing:
D) Technology.
3. Skills for Understanding and Addressing Environmental Issues:3.1 Skills for Analyzing and Investigating Environmental Issues:A) Identifying and investigating issues
Other materials addressing:
A) Identifying and investigating issues.
3. Skills for Understanding and Addressing Environmental Issues:3.2 Decision-Making and Citizenship Skills:B) Evaluating the need for citizen action
Other materials addressing:
B) Evaluating the need for citizen action.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • Game may miss an opportunity to relate the impact of personal energy use choices on global environmental (focus is on financial cost to player). This piece should be added by the educator.

About the Content

  • Well-designed game that makes relative energy use of household appliances, heating/cooling systems, and transportation choices easy to compare so players can weigh the impact of their choices as they play the game.
  • Neither sources for the numbers that are used are cited nor mathematical equations given for how relative energy use of systems, appliances, and vehicles was determined. Educator should be prepared to answer these questions from students and might need to find this information elsewhere.

About the Pedagogy

  • Game is played in groups, allowing for group problem solving, strategizing, etc.
  • Game structure provides for follow up discussions about energy choices.
  • Great design design - very middle school oriented.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • Ready to go.
  • Game and all instructions and materials are downloadable in pdf form from site.
  • Needs prep time to cut out cards.
Entered the Collection: February 2012 Last Reviewed: July 2016

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