6.3 Back to the Future… Agriculture Style
This middle school agricultural literacy lesson, “Back to the Future…Agriculture Style!” (Lesson MS.NR.6.3), has students explore future applications of alternative energy in agriculture. Through a jigsaw-style group activity, students act as an alternative energy consulting firm, becoming “experts” on wind, solar, or biomass energy and developing an energy plan for a hypothetical off-grid farm/ranch. The lesson covers wind turbines, passive solar heating/design, photovoltaics, methane, ethanol, and biodiesel.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- As a result of this unit the students will… Describe alternative energy sources utilized in the United States.
- As a result of this lesson the students will … Explore future applications of alternative energy sources.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
-
- Overhead projector/transparencies
- MS.NR.6.3.TM.A – one per teacher (headings for Interest Approach)
- Sheet of clean copy paper – one per group
- MS.NR.6.3.AS.A – D — one per group
- Solar Energy Conference sign
- Wind Energy Conference sign
- Biomass Energy Conference sign
- Self-adhesive chart paper – one per group
- Assorted markers – several per group
- Colored index cards – one per student
- MS.NR.6.3.TM.A – one per student
- MS.NR.6.3.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Precepts
- E. Awareness; E1. Address issues important to the community
- Key Terms
- Wind turbines; Passive solar water heater; Passive solar design; Photovoltaic cells; Methane; Ethanol; Biodiesel
- Lesson Number
- MS.NR.6.3
- Curriculum
- Middle School Food and Agricultural Literacy Curriculum
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- BS.01.01.03.aExamine potential future applications of biotechnology in agriculture and compare them with alternative approaches to improving agriculture.
- CS.01.05.01.aDiscuss trends and issues important to the community.
- NL-ENG.K-12.12Applying Language Skills
- NS.K-4.6Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
- NS5-8.2Physical Science
- PST.01.01.01.cCompare the efficiency of energy production from various sources.