6th-8th Grade: Electricity and Climate Change-Wind Energy Challenge
Available to schools located in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
Schools in Healdsburg or Ukiah are welcome to register. If space is available, we may be able to accommodate those schools.
Teachers can choose between two 50-minute classroom visits or one 90-minute block to complete the lesson.
Classroom Lesson Summary:
This lesson explores the connection between the electricity we rely on every day and Earth's rapidly changing climate. Students learn about the nonrenewable and renewable forms of energy used to generate electricity in California and the state's progress toward its goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2045. Students work in small groups on a hands-on STEM challenge to generate electricity with wind and a small turbine.STEM Wind Challenge:
Teams work together to generate electricity by designing and creating wind blades capable of spinning a small generator.
Essential Questions:
- Where does our electricity come from in California?
- How is electricity generation connected to global warming and climate change?
- Can you work in a team to design and create a wind blade that spins a generator fast enough to make at least 2.5 volts of electricity?
Objectives:
- Students become aware of the connection between electricity generation and global warming.
- Students become aware of the need to move to renewable energies as sources of electricity generation.
- Students work in groups to complete a STEM challenge.
- Students reflect on the design and engineering process.
Teacher Guide - Essential Program Information (document coming soon)
Questions? Contact the Program Coordinator
Water and Energy Education programs are FREE thanks to funding from these partners:
