Group+2+Earth+Day+Lesson

Updated 3/20/12

Carbon Cycle & Alternate Energy Time: 15 mins. 7mins on each

Summary: Our lesson plans will include an explanation of the carbon cycle, how we impact the carbon cycle, what are some alternate forms of energy, and how these alternate forms of energy work.

Objectives: Lessons: Activity: Lesson:
 * Teach the students about the carbon footprint; what their carbon footprint is and how they can change it
 * Students will see what solar power can do and how it works through various activities
 * describe the basics of the carbon cycle
 * plants produce oxygen and glucose which humans need
 * humans eat the glucose and breathe in the oxygen and release carbon dioxide
 * producers take in carbon dioxide and make oxygen and get energy from food
 * discuss the carbon footprint:
 * how we impact it
 * discuss causes
 * anything that burns fossil fuels
 * have questions made up for the students
 * exs. Do you use solar energy to heat up your water? Do you reuse the rainwater to water your plants with?
 * have students shade in areas on the printed out carbon footprint to represent how they affect the environment
 * in the end we'll see who has the most/ least and discuss how they can change
 * OR have them line up and move up acording to the question
 * how can you change it?
 * use renewable energy
 * solar
 * windpower
 * hydroelectic
 * kids will see how the car reacts when the sunlight reflects on the solar panel
 * How solar energy causes the fan to rotate.
 * Show how thermal energy is absorbed when it hits the solar oven. We will include a s’mores sandwich that will melt; this will show how heat was transferred from the sun to the oven as heat
 * USE POSTERS TO SHOW HOW THE ENERGY IS CONVERTED

Activity: Materials: Assessment: Questions for first lesson: 1. Do you take five minute showers? (1 step) ten minute showers? (2 steps) fifteen minute shower? (3 steps) 2. Do you leave the water on when you brush your teeth? (2 steps) 3. Do you leave the lights on when you leave a room? (2 steps) 4. Do you leave your chargers plugged in when you aren't using them? (1 steps) 5. Do you ride the bus to school? (1 step) 6. Does your mom or dad drive you to school? (2 steps) 7. Do you leave the tv on when you sleep? (1 step)
 * we will put theometer/marshmellow into the oven and students will see how the sun will heat up the theometer/marshmellow due to the amount of the thermal heat
 * demonstrate how the car absorbs heat on the solar panel and we will see how the car moves off that energy (if there is no sun use a flashlight)
 * lollipops (maybe)
 * poster boards
 * cones for moving carbon footprint project
 * props for alternate energy sources
 * questions for activityrv
 * solar powered stuff
 * Theometer/marshmellow
 * flashlights
 * Ask children questions about the carbon footprint and alternate energy sources then reward them with lollipops if they get the question right.
 * quiz about the topics
 * example: how the car runs beforehand and then ask them at the end to tell us how the car runs

CLOSURE: (if time) Have a short Q&A sesssion with the kids. We will ask questions recapping the lesson.