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Energy Consumption Rates across the USA and the World
http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/google_earth/examples/energy.html

Glenn A. Richard, SERC - Pedagogy in Action Collection

Students use Google Earth to analyze oil consumption per capita in the US and around the world. Students then use spreadsheets to create graphs and calculate statistics regarding per capita energy use among various categories.

Activity takes about two class periods but may take longer depending on teaching strategies.

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Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

Topics

Fossil Fuels
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Usage Trends
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Energy Policy
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Grade Level

High School (9-12)
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College Lower (13-14)
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Climate Literacy
About Teaching Climate Literacy

A combination of strategies is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The most immediate strategy is conservation of oil, gas, and coal, which we rely on as fuels for most of our transportation, heating, cooling, agriculture, and electricity. Short-term strategies involve switching from carbon-intensive to renewable energy sources, which also requires building new infrastructure for alternative energy sources. Long-term strategies involve innovative research and a fundamental change in the way humans use energy.
About Teaching the Guiding Principle
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ans can take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts.
About Teaching Principle H
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Energy Literacy

Access to energy resources affects quality of life.
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7.5 Access to energy affects quality of life.
Some populations are more vulnerable to impacts of energy choices than others.
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7.6 Vulnerable populations.
The quality of life of individuals and societies is affected by energy choices.
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Energy affects quality of life .
Human demand for energy is increasing.
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6.3 Demand for energy is increasing.
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Human use of energy.

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:C) Collecting information
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C) Collecting information.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:B) Culture
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B) Culture.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:C) Political and economic systems
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C) Political and economic systems.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:D) Global Connections
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D) Global Connections.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:E) Change and conflict
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E) Change and conflict.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:B) Places
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B) Places.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:D) Technology
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D) Technology.

Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Learn more about the Benchmarks

Industry, transportation, urban development, agriculture, and most other human activities are closely tied to the amount and kind of energy available. People in different parts of the world have different amounts and kinds of energy resources to use and use them for different purposes.
Explore the map of concepts related to this benchmark

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

  • There are underlying assumptions and contributing reasons for varying energy use around the world. The students may need some explanations and clarifications.
  • Activity needs a grading rubric.
  • Flexible teaching and learning strategies applicable.
  • Students will ideally have some prior knowledge/experience with Google Earth.
  • Additional background information available from Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov.
  • Comment from expert scientist: Data on the sites that are linked in this activity should be checked for timeliness by the educator.

About the Science

  • Many approaches are used in the activity to examine the data such as globes, maps, tables, and spreadsheets.

About the Pedagogy

  • Very well-structured worksheet for students with all of the links to data embedded.
  • Students examine, compare, and interpret data.
  • Activity meets the needs of visual learners with engaging and motivating images.
  • Educator's guide is extensive and offers suggestions for scaffolding of prerequisite technological knowledge.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • All materials are printable, editable, and available online.

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