1. Renewing our Energy Choices Lesson 1
Key Stage 3 Geography Resources
Renewing our
Energy Choices
Lesson 1
Outline the overall direction of the next two lessons and the key skills pupils will develop, including a clear understanding of renewable energy particularly wind energy.
In this first lesson pupils gain an understanding of energy choices and different types of renewable and non-renewable sources. They develop analytical skills to set out the advantage and disadvantages of energy sources. They can develop creative skills in their method of presenting their work to the class.
These lessons teach you about renewable energy and the decision making involved in locating a new wind farm.

2. Lesson 1 Sustainable Energy Learning intentions Pupils:
understand what renewable and non-renewable energy is;
identify the advantages and disadvantages of our energy choices through discussion and debate (T, PS & DM); and
make new connections between ideas and information when considering arguments for and against wind energy (Being Creative).
Set out the learning intentions for the lesson.
Ask your pupils to copy these learning intentions into their notes to give them a clear understanding of the learning expectations from the start of the lesson.
This lesson links to the CCEA STEMworks activities Click here to view these materials.

3. Getting Started Sources of Energy
How many sources of energy can you name?
Create a spider diagram in
your book
Sources of
Energy
Starter:
Assess the residual knowledge of your class by asking them to write down as many energy sources as they can think of.
Allow the class three minutes to do this. Use a countdown timer for visual effect. Use random selection to get feedback and collate ideas on the whiteboard.

4. Definitions Renewable energy
This is energy from sources that can be replaced quickly.
Non-renewable energy
This is energy from sources that cannot be replaced once it is used.
Ask your pupils to write down the definitions of the key terms, then apply them by colour coding their spider diagram accordingly.
Look back at your spider diagram. USE two DIFFERENT COLOURS to highlight renewable and non-renewable sources. (Don’t forget to add a key)

5. Active Task
Working in small groups, prepare a mind map that shows examples of renewable and non-renewable energy, giving an advantage and disadvantage for each energy choice.
Include pictures and make it colourful and easy to understand.
Show your group’s ideas to the rest of class.
Give out A3 paper and colour pens to help stimulate creativity for this task. Prepare a sample of a mind map to help your pupils to understand what theirs should look like.
Encourage your pupils to use text, illustrations and lots of colour. Ask them to make sure the rest of the class can read their mind map clearly during presentation feedback.

6. Let’s Focus
on Wind
Why might some people be for and others against a wind farm?
Start to narrow the focus on general renewables to wind, as this is the topic for the next lesson.
Discuss local examples of wind farms. Ask what your pupils think about them. Encourage your pupils to see that there are different opinions on their purpose in our countryside.

7. Extension work ! Imagine a new wind farm is planned for your locality.
Name three groups of people who might be for wind energy and three who might be against it.
We will focus on wind energy in the next lesson
Ask your pupils to identify groups who may be for and against a new wind farm. Encourage them to keep this specific to your locality and consider local environmental groups, wildlife areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty etc.

8. © CCEA 2018