Sustainability Camp Curriculum

RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTIVITY

Time:    3hrs (full block)
Place:   Micro hydro station field trip OR build a model energy system

Overview

We use energy every day. It surrounds us in different forms, such as light, heat, and electricity. Humans have invented thousands of machines and appliances that use energy to make our work easier, to heat our homes, and to get ourselves from place to place. Some of these machines use electricity, while others, like automobiles, use the energy stored in substances such as gasoline. Much of our energy supply currently comes from coal, oil, natural gas, or radioactive elements (nuclear). Some energy comes from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and micro hydro. In BC we use a lot of large-scale hydro power, but this is not really considered a sustainable renewable resource because it disrupts the natural flow of water, causing an array of ecological impacts. Large-scale hydro power also will eventually not renew itself because reservoirs will fill up with sediment. They have a limited life span. This block is designed to build on what students already know about energy – renewable and non-renewable, and to gain direct hands-on experience with a form of sustainable, renewable energy.

--with thanks, background information and activities are adapted from the Pembina Institute’s Re-energy.ca.

Prescribed Learning Outcomes

• Grade 7 Science: Assess the requirements for sustaining healthy local ecosystems.
• Grade 6 and 7 Physical Education: Participate safely in activities in a natural or alternative setting; an outdoor experience; Follow rules, routines and procedures of safety in a variety of activities.
• Grade 6 and 7 Social Studies: Identify and clarify a problem, issue or inquiry.
• Grade 7 Social Studies: Evaluate the impact of natural processes and human-induced changes in communities.
• Grade 7 Fine Arts: Demonstrate leadership and responsibility within a group.

Objectives

• Students will build on their knowledge of renewable and non-renewable resources and energy, and understand the importance of sustainable renewable energy sources.
• Students will have direct experience with a form of sustainable renewable energy – either by visiting a local micro hydro facility or through building their own solar oven, micro hydroelectric generator, or model wind turbine.

Materials

OPTION 1:
Field trip – ask field trip facilitator/micro hydro station interpreter.

OPTION 2:
Build a solar oven, hydroelectric generator, or model wind turbine (see below for document links; materials for this option must be prepared well in advance)

Procedure

• Ask students to gather in a circle (outdoors or indoors).
• Use the script below to introduce renewable energy (or adapt with your own knowledge and ideas):

“We use energy every day. It surrounds us in different forms, such as light, heat, and electricity. Our bodies use the energy stored in molecules of substances like carbohydrates and protein to move, breathe, grow, and think. We also use energy to do work and to play.
           
Ask: What do we use energy for?

Humans have invented thousands of machines and appliances that use energy to make our work easier, to heat our homes, and to get ourselves from place to place. Some of these machines use electricity, while others, like automobiles, use the energy stored in substances such as gasoline.  Most of the machines around us use either heat or electricity to do their work. An example is an electric clothes dryer. The dryer uses an electric motor to turn the drum that tumbles the clothes inside. The same motor also turns a fan that blows air through the clothes as they tumble. Lastly, a heating element creates large amounts of heat, which is used to dry the clothes more quickly.
           
Ask: Where does our energy come from in Canada? BC? Tofino?

Discuss. Note that much of our energy supply in Canada comes from coal, oil, natural gas, or radioactive elements (nuclear). These are considered non-renewable energy sources…

Ask: Why? (students should be able to recollect their learning from yesterday (Nature’s Resources Block)

Renewable energy on the other hand… [prompt students to fill in the blank]

… quickly replaces itself and is usually available in a never-ending supply. Renewable energy comes from the natural flow of sunlight, wind, or water around the Earth. With the help of special collectors, we can capture some of this energy and put it to use in our homes and businesses. As long as sunlight, water and wind continue to flow and trees and other plants continue to grow, we have access to a ready of supply of energy.

Ask: Are large-scale hydro dams renewable?

(kids will probably say yes, which is not really correct, because renewable energy science and advocates state that large scale hydro is not a sustainable renewable energy source because it dramatically disrupts the natural flow of water, and can cause severe impacts to aquatic (and terrestrial ecosystems). Reservoirs, which dams depend on, will also eventually fill up with sediment, making it a non-renewable resource because it has a limited time frame)”

• Explain that today we are going to have some direct experience with a sustainable renewable energy source…

OPTION 1: Field trip to micro hydro facility.
Ideally there will be someone knowledgeable to lead the group through a detailed learning experience at the Marion Creek micro hydro station, the importance of the station, how it works, etc. There may also be an opportunity to visit and learn about the biodiesel Tofino bus as part of this field trip. Or maybe students can ride the biodiesel bus to the micro-hydro station! Now that would be setting an example. While at the station, take some time for students to use their journals – reflect on the morning session, fossil fuels and renewable vs. non-renewable energy.

• The exact nature of this option, and whether this field trip can happen, will be determined by John before the inaugural camp.

OPTION 2: Build a solar oven, hydroelectric generator or wind turbine.

These models can be built using Re-Energy.ca building instructions. These activities work well when students are divided into small groups (ie. build 4 or 5 models in total). Each of these activities requires materials that must be gathered in advance. See instructions below.

The Pembina Institute offers support of educators and students who use these activities. You can email or phone [email protected] or 780-485-9610 Ext. 102 for help. There is a lot of background information on renewable energy at their site www.re-energy.ca as well.

Building solar ovens

• Solar Oven Building Plans (with thanks to Re-Energy.ca)

Building solar ovens with the students is fun! You can bake brownies or nachos, and kids love it. (Be sure to have brownie mix or nacho ingredients on hand!) This particular Re-Energy.ca activity is probably the easiest and requires materials and equipment that are found easily at schools and in the grocery store. To be successful though, you need some sunshine (ie. Tofino is not always that sunny J). If you are going to have sun, go for this one. For backgrounder material and more information see this link.
The Pembina Institute is also running a Solar Oven Challenge which might be an interesting larger initiative to link the sustainability camp to.

Note: BC Hydro has an alternate solar collector activity that is much more simple and requires less materials, but not as an effective demonstration and hands-on experience. See “Catch the Sun” activity on BC Hydro's website.

Building hydroelectric generators

• Hydroelectric Generator Building Plans (with thanks to Re-Energy.ca)
• Hydroelectric Generator Templates (with thanks to Re-Energy.ca)

Building model hydroelectric generators is also a great activity and especially relevant to Tofino’s renewable energy potential. This activity does however require significant materials that must be gathered in advance. See materials list here

Note: BC Hydro has an alternate water wheel activity that is much more simple and requires less materials, but not as an effective demonstration and hands-on experience. See “Build a Water Wheel” activity at BC Hydro's website.

Building model wind turbines

• Model Wind Turbine Plans (with thanks to Re-Energy.ca)

The Re-energy.ca wind turbine is another activity that is very valuable because kids will see how electricity is created – as they blow on the turbine and see an LED light up! It does however, also require significant materials that must be gathered well in advance. The instructions are saved on this CD, and can also be downloaded at:
http://www.re-energy.ca/t-i_windbuild-1.shtml

Note: BC Hydro has an alternate wind turbine activity that is much more simple and requires less materials, but not as an effective demonstration and hands-on experience. See “Make a Windmill” activity at BC Hydro's website.