5 th Grade Alternative Energy Click on this picture to see a little history about our energy use and the importance for us to find alternative energy resources.

Intro to Alternative Energy You are about to watch a video created by the US Department of Energy. In this video, President Obama and scientific researchers express the need for our country to develop research and technology for alternative energy sources. As you watch, think about question below: o Based on what you heard in this video and the previous video, why do you think it is so important for our country to advance in alternative energy research and production? Click here to play the video:

What is Energy? Energy is one of the most fundamental parts of our universe. We use energy to do work. Energy lights our cities. Energy powers our vehicles, trains, planes and rockets. Energy warms our homes, cooks our food, plays our music, gives us pictures on television. Energy powers machinery in factories and tractors on a farm. Energy from the sun gives us light during the day. It dries our clothes when they're hanging outside on a clothes line. It helps plants grow. Energy stored in plants is eaten by animals, giving them energy. And predator animals eat their prey, which gives the predator animal energy.

What is Energy? Everything we do is connected to energy in one form or another. Energy is defined as: " the ability to do work. " When we eat, our bodies transform the energy stored in the food into energy to do work. When we run or walk, we "burn" food energy in our bodies. When we think or read or write, we are also doing work. Many times it's really hard work! Cars, planes, light bulbs, boats and machinery also transform energy into work. Work means moving something, lifting something, warming something, lighting something.

There are many sources of energy… Some things that we use oil, coal, and natural gas to produce electricity could be powered with alternative energy sources. Click on the picture below to see the renewable energy sources the world is using.

These alternative energy sources all produce electricity: Hydropower Solar Energy Biomass (Biogas) Wind Energy Geothermal But how is electricity made from these sources? Click on the link below to find out how electricity is generated.

How do generators make electricity?

Hydropower

Hydropower See what happens when water passes through a dam: oelectricDam.html oelectricDam.html

Vocabulary Connection Hydro = water Hydrate – containing water o I had to hydrate my plants by adding water to the soil because they were wilted. Dehydrated - the loss of water o I worked out really hard and sweated a lot so I was very dehydrated. What are some other words that have “hydro” in them? How do those words relate to water?

Hydropower Your teacher will show you an example of using moving water to generate electricity. In your notebook, sketch the model and label the parts to show how electricity is generated using a water wheel. In your notebook, write at least one question that you could answer using the water wheel equipment. What variable would you be testing? What variables would you control?

Solar Energy

Vocabulary Connection sol (Spanish) = sun solar - involving the sun parasol – an umbrella that protects you from the sun o Because it was very hot outside, the ladies at the picnic shaded themselves from the sun with their parasols. Solarium - a room where one is exposed to sun light. o Our plants grow best in the solarium because they get light every day. Why do we say our planets and moons are a part of the “solar system”?

Solar Energy

Active Solar Heating

Solar Collector  Glass on outside  Absorbent on inside  Circulating Fluid

Using solar energy to heat water…saves electricity!

How do you think this car uses solar energy to move? What are the advantages of using solar energy to power cars? What are some disadvantages?

Biomass (Biogas/Biofuel)

Vocabulary Connection bio = life or living systems mass = amount of matter that is in an object Biomass = organic matter used as a fuel, especially in a power station for the generation of electricity. This energy source is also called “biofuel” or, if it is in gaseous form, “biogas.” What other words have the prefix “bio” in them? How do those words relate to “life”?

Biomass Basics This organic matter can be burned directly. Also, once these things ferment (or rot), produce gases such as methanol or ethanol that can be used to fuel a fire. The gases can also be compressed to turn a turbine which then generates electricity. Click here to see an animation: e_Energy_Website/biomass.htm e_Energy_Website/biomass.htm

Biomass Basics What else (besides wood) on farms could be burned or allowed to ferment (rot) in order to generate energy?

Biomass Energy Your teacher will show you an example of the power of biofuels/biogas. electricity. Of course we know that some gases can be burned to produce heat energy, but that is not safe in our classroom. So we will make a model to show how powerful gas can be. In this experiment, chemical reaction will generate a gas similar to the gases produced when we burn waste.

Wind Energy

Vocabulary Connection wind – natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction. turbine – a machine for producing continuous power in which a wheel or rotor, is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water, steam, gas, air, or other fluid.

What Makes Wind It is all about DENSITY!!

Wind Energy How does a wind turbine work?

Wind Energy Your teacher will show you an example of how to use wind (moving air) to generate electricity. In your notebook, sketch the model and label the parts to show how electricity is generated using wind power. In your notebook, write at least one question that you could answer using the wind turbine equipment. What variable would you be testing? What variables would you control?

Geothermal Energy

Vocabulary Connection geo = relating to the earth therm = heat geothermal = relating to the internal heat of the Earth Geothermal energy is power generated from natural steam, hot water, hot rocks, or lava in the Earth's crust. What other words have the prefix “geo” in them? How do those words relate to “the Earth”? What other words have the prefix or root word “therm” in them? How do those words relate to “heat”?

Geothermal Energy Basics See how geothermal energy creates electricity:

Geothermal Energy Your teacher will demonstrate how power plants help us harness the energy of the earth. In your notebook, sketch the model and label the parts to show how electricity is generated using geothermal energy.

What conclusion can you make about how geothermal power plants work? What testable questions do you have now? What variables would you be testing and which variables must you control? Geothermal Energy

Evaluating models: What do these things in our model represent? The boiling pot of water? The steam? The aluminum foil? The can? The pinwheel? What are the limitations of this model? Geothermal Energy

Where Geothermal Energy is Found Geothermal reservoirs are naturally occurring areas of hydrothermal resources. They are deep underground and are largely undetectable above ground. Geothermal energy finds its way to the earth's surface in three ways: Volcanoes (or holes/cracks in the earth’s crust) Hot springs Geysers (See Old Faithful erupt: ) When magma comes near the earth's surface, it heats ground water trapped in porous rock or water running along fractured rock surfaces and faults. Hydrothermal features have two common ingredients, water (hydro) and heat (thermal). Geologists use various methods to find geothermal reservoirs. Drilling a well and testing the temperature deep underground is the most reliable method for locating a geothermal reservoir. Why does Old Faithful erupt on a schedule? Check this out to see how geysers erupt and recharge: Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Geothermal Energy Basics Most geothermal resources are near tectonic plate boundaries The most active geothermal resources are usually found along major tectonic plate boundaries where earthquakes and volcanoes are located. One of the most active geothermal areas in the world is called the Ring of Fire. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

5 th Grade Energy Review

Excellent diagrams to show how the energy sources actually create energy. Great to show that most energy sources turn turbines (mechanical energy) to produce the electricity. kids/renewable-energy kids/renewable-energy-101 Drag and drop the correct labels to match the energy source: Sources-01.htmhttp:// Sources-01.htm Short videos to show how turbines work, etc. Videos are designed for 5 th – 12 th but are well done. Need more review?...

Name that Energy Source!

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Name that Energy Source!