4.1 Ethanol and the Environment
This is a teacher’s lesson plan (Renewable Fuels, Unit 4 Lesson 1: “Ethanol and the Environment”) that teaches students how ethanol affects the environment. Students learn how ethanol promotes cleaner air, how it reduces emissions of EPA-regulated pollutants (hydrocarbons, ozone, aldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides), and the negative environmental effects of biofuel production. The lesson uses an interest approach, group poster activities, “Hieroglyphics,” “Karaoke,” and “Descartes” moments, and concludes with application activities and a matching/essay/unscramble assessment.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
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- Describe how ethanol promotes a cleaner environment.
- Identify the effects ethanol has on emission levels of other pollutants.
- Discuss the negative effects of biofuels on the environment.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 90 minutes.
- Materials
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- Writing surface
- Projector
- Blank paper- one per student
- Butcher paper- six large pieces
- Colored pencils/markers
- TM.A
- TM.B
- TM.C
- TM.D
- AS.A – one per student
- Assess. A – one per student
- Precepts
- A. Action — A4. Identify and use resources. A5. Communicate effectively with others.
- Resources
- www.energyportal.eu
- Key Terms
- Clean Air Act of 1990; Hydrocarbons (HCs); Renewable Fuels; Ozone; Aldehyde; Carbon monoxide (CO); Carbon dioxide (CO2); Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NSS-G.K-12.5Environment and Society.
- NT.K-12.2Social, Ethical and Human Issues.