2.6 Benefits of Renewable Energy: Why Should We Use It
This is Lesson 6 (“Benefits of Renewable Energy, Why should we use it?”) from the Grow Your PALS Program Guide, part of the National FFA Mentoring Program’s Renewable Energy unit. The large-group lesson teaches elementary students why renewable energy is used, how it benefits humans and the environment, and the challenges of using it, through interactive activities including a candy-and-bead demonstration, motion comparisons, group commercials, and a flowchart-building exercise.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- Identify four reasons why renewable energy is used.
- Explain how the use of renewable energy benefits humans and the environment.
- Discuss five challenges with using renewable energy.
- Time required
- 60 minutes
- Materials
-
- bag of candies (M&Ms, Skittles, Reese's Pieces and/or miniature marshmallows)
- beads (Use a bead of similar size to the candies mentioned above.)
- writing surface
- PALS.6.TM.A – 1 per student
- PALS.6.TM.B – 1 per student
- tape or other means to affix paper to writing surface
- 8 ½- by 11-inch paper – 1 per student
- markers
- Lesson Type
- Large Group
- Unit
- Renewable Energy
- Precepts
- C. Vision — C5. Persuade others to commit; E. Awareness — E1. Address issues important to the community
- Key Terms
- renewable (energy source)
- Resources
- Energy Kid's Page – Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy (www.eia.doe.gov/kids/); Alliant Energy Kids (www.alliantenergykids.com; www.powerhousekids.com); RenewableEnergyWorld.com (www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/why)
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NA-T.K-4.2Acting by Assuming Roles and Interacting in Improvisations
- NPH.K-12.5Responsible Behavior