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Environmental

Lesson Overview

high school economics

Lesson Material

Hello Educators! Check out our video overview of Learning Power's High School Environmental lesson where students apply STEM concepts to explore sustainability and how real-world choices impact our energy future. Ready to amp up your Environmental lesson? Schedule your free visit today!

Georgia Standards of Excellence

Environmental Science:

Lesson Focus: Evaluate sustainability of resources and discuss usage and consumption of renewable/non-renewable energy sources.

SEV3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to evaluate types, availability, allocation, and sustainability of energy resources.

  • b. Construct an argument based on data about the risks and benefits of renewable and non-renewable energy sources. (Clarification statement: This may include, but is not limited to, the environmental, social, and economic risks and benefits.)
  • c. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate data to predict the sustainability potential of renewable and non-renewable energy resources.

Class Activities

Lesson Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • Define sustainability
  • Evaluate the sustainability of various types of energy sources
  • Describe risks and benefits of renewable and non-renewable energy sources
  • Construct and defend arguments that predict the sustainability of renewable and non-renewable energy resources using data

Part 1: Discussion: Energy Overview

Purpose of Activity

  • Learn about energy sources, energy efficiency and careers within our company
  • Using prior knowledge, determine which energy source is best suited to move Georgia in the next generation

Part 2: Activity Sheet: Sustainability Cube

Purpose of Activity

  • Review the three elements of sustainability – environmental, economic, and social
  • Investigate various renewable and non-renewable energy sources

Part 3: C-E-R (Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning) Framework

Purpose of Activity

  • Construct an argument of why their energy source is the most sustainable based on the three elements of sustainability
  • Convince peers of energy source sustainability and defend arguments with newly acquired understandings

Part 4: Group Vote: Energy Scoreboard

Purpose of Activity

  • Using newly acquired knowledge, determine which energy source is best suited to move Georgia in the next generation
  • Learn how to be more sustainable and energy efficient in the future

Part 5: Wrap Up

Purpose of Activity

  • Assess student increase in knowledge of energy efficiency
  • Determine commitment to become more energy efficient 
  • Assess interest in GA power careers