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Debating the Grid Example
https://cleanet.org/clean/literacy/teach_guidance/debate_grid.html

Cheryl Manning, Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)

Students research electricity, its sources, how energy grids function, how to make grids most efficient, and how to bring different types of energy generation together to diversify grids. Students debate the costs and benefits of moving to a modernized Smart Grid.

This learning activity takes ten 45min class periods

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Grade Level

Regional Focus

Online Readiness

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Curricula builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

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

Energy Literacy

This Curricula builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

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

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

  • This unit utilizes other CLEAN resources. Educators may want to consider which resources they will use and organize them in advance as it may get challenging to keep track of them.
  • Preparation for running a classroom debate would be beneficial if teacher does not have experience with this type of student learning activity.

About the Content

  • In this unit, students investigate electricity and energy grids. They learn about electricity sources, regional differences in sources and grids, electricity waste, renewable sources of energy and sustainability, and stakeholders involved in energy policy decisions. Students then debate the costs, benefits, and impacts of maintaining a Smart Grid in the US.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • This unit utilizes many CLEAN resources to help students learn about electricity generation and electricity grids.
  • The final assignment is an argument-based activity that allows students to debate the costs and benefits of developing and maintaining a Smart Grid in the US, where they need to synthesize the other information they've learned.
  • This unit includes argument-driven inquiry that is geared towards AP level classes. Unit could be adapted and scaffolded for other HS level classes.
  • This activity also stresses that body language and respecting other opinions are important in communications, and the rubric includes these elements.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • Links to all necessary resources are included in the unit.
Entered the Collection: March 2023 Last Reviewed: April 2022

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