Statistics indicate that Canadians have the highest per capita use of energy in the world. Saskatchewan generates the second highest amounts of greenhouse gases per capita in Canada. Statistics Canada reports that between 1971 and 1986 cropland area in Saskatchewan increased 20% and woodland area decreased by 62%. But still, the environment - everything that surrounds us - supports us, gives us a high quality of life, is aesthetically pleasing to most, and seems capable of accepting mistreatment without too much protest. But, for how long?
When we look closely at our environment, can we see signs of complaint? How closely should we be looking? What aspects of the environment are most vulnerable to attack from extravagant energy use? Is energy from one source less damaging to the environment than from another, or is the difference only in type of damage? These questions are the ones to be considered in this unit.
Students should start to make a distinction between needs and wants. Such reflection establishes a base for examining current land and energy use (patterns and sources), and for debating alternate energy sources and changing patterns of land and energy use.
Science writing and reading activities, as discussed in this Guide, should be incorporated into each lesson. Writing may take the form of stories, letters, advertisements or records of interviews. Reading may be from texts, magazines, or nonfiction books. The important thing is to give students a broad range of both writing and reading experiences so that they have an opportunity to refine their understanding of the concepts of science and develop their ability to communicate through the written word.
Science challenge, as described in this Guide, is meant to extend students' critical and creative thinking abilities in the context of the science concepts being studied. Activities involving science challenge should be incorporated into science lessons in each unit. The challenge is intended to give each student a chance to investigate an area of interest in more depth than would be possible for all students in a class to do. Science challenge is a key strategy for bringing the Adaptive Dimension to the classroom, and for encouraging independent learning.
As a challenge activity, from the renewable resources of Saskatchewan - solar energy, wind energy, lakes and rivers, soil, forests, other biomass, and geothermal energy - students could select a topic and research to report to the class.
Note: Many of the resources listed in Science: An Information Bulletin for the Middle Level - Key Resource Correlations describe activities or ideas for activities.
Are there any solar water heaters in your community or nearby communities? Try to obtain permission to study the design and operation of any facilities you are able to locate.
Factors: A9, B12, B13, C19, D9
Objectives: 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 5.2
Assessment Techniques: group evaluation, observation checklist, oral assessment
Instructional Methods: model building, reflective discussion
Factors: A9, B12, B16, C12, C15, D4, D9, G6
Objectives: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.3
Assessment Techniques: anecdotal records, presentations, oral
assessment
Instructional Methods: model building, cooperative learning groups
Factors: A9, B2, C6, C12, C15, D8, E2, F6
Objectives: 1.2, 2.6, 3.2, 5.2, 5.3
Assessment Techniques: extended open response test items, written
assignments, self assessment
Instructional Methods: guides for reading and listening, conducting
interviews, writing reports
Brainstorm to produce a list of other renewable resource- related attributes
that could be advertised. (How about the windiest property in Saskatchewan?)
On a map of North America indicate where each type of energy is produced?
Where is each type used? If these places are different, how is the energy
transferred from the point of production to the point of use? Does this
transfer require energy? What type of energy is used? Where does this
energy come from?
It takes energy to get out of a chair and walk across the room. Trace
that energy you used the last time you got up back to its ultimate source.
Can the energy used do any useful work after you have used it?