Energy and Environmental Issues
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“Energy Revved Up” by Verna Arnold
ABSTRACT: Energy Revved Up is a two-part environmental education unit designed
to provide content rich and enjoyable learning experiences that are authentic,
literature-based and inquiry based. Primary grade students will value the lessons and
remember the facts and ideas that are presented in them. As a result they will acquire
knowledge that will whet their imagination unleashing infinite possibilities for
fulfilling their responsibilities as Caretakers of our Earth’s environment today and
in the future.
In Part one of the unit students are engaged in discussions and activities that leads
them to acquiring basic knowledge about: What Is Energy? While part two of the unit
challenges the student to use the activities to answer the question: The Environment:
Who’s Responsibility Is It? Users will find that the content and ideas presented in
the activities of both parts complimentary. However, each part can be utilized
independently of each other. 
“Taking a Closer Look at the Effects of Energy
and Deciding What Today’s Youngsters Can Do About the Environment” by Sandra
Baumgartner
ABSTRACT: I have developed a teachable, professional kindergarten unit, which
addresses what exactly energy is and how my students can start making their own choices
concerning energy conservation. My unit includes fifteen hands-on activities that will
touch upon several subject areas such as science, mathematics, reading, art, social
studies, and music. Although the unit is divided into sessions, these lessons can be
stretched out over a length of time. Both teachers and students will be encouraged to
investigate energy sources and issues as well as the physics of energy. I have used the
knowledge offered from Dr. Holman, who is a professor of physics at Carnegie Mellon
University, and my independent study to adapt it to a primary level of thinking. This unit
meets many of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Standards and appeals to all learning styles,
which is essential when teaching youngsters of this particular age group.
“Energy and the Environment” by Trudi
Busha-Smith
ABSTRACT: This unit is written for the seventh grade students at Arsenal Middle
School. Arsenal is an urban school in Pittsburgh, PA. We currently are a pilot school for
the High Performance Schools. It is the goal of this program to teach children that
decisions they make affect the Earth. Currently the program focuses on chemicals used in
the building, this unit will focus on choices made in energy consumption affecting the
planet. Now that Pennsylvanians can choose their energy supplier this will empower
students to make knowledgeable choices when the time comes. Seventh grade students will
explore the transportation crisis, how do we travel in a vehicle in an economic and
friendly manner.
“Helping Our Planet’s Environment:
Investigating
Energy An Interdisciplinary Unit” by Linnell Simmons
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this unit to develop an understanding of how
consumption of energy will affect the school, the community, the environment, as well as
to develop an understanding of the importance and value of energy so that our children can
also “Help Our Planet’s Environment”.
This unit is designed to fit the needs of all elementary children. Many times when one
thinks of science they have a vision of vigorous high level activities. This unit will not
only challenge the highest level student but also bring success to the lowest level
student. Integrated in this unit are all the disciplines of education. It especially
focuses on Language Arts and Technology, therefore, this unit will incorporate standards
in science, communications and mathematics.
“All About Heat Energy” by John Snodgrass
ABSTRACT: There is an old saying that all roads lead to Rome. To paraphrase;
with energy all roads lead to heat. An examination of the Second Law of Thermodynamics and
the Carnot cycle shows that every energy event or exchange results in waste heat. One
implication is the impossibility of constructing a perpetual motion machine. In other
words any useful results of the expenditure of energy requires a constant input of new
energy. At the same time energy is the magic genie by which people improve their lives and
material well-being.
Within the seeming limitless universe the exhaustion of every energy resource on this
planet would not raise its total temperature significantly. For our planet, however,
global warming and energy-cause pollution has consequences for all life. Since heat is an
all pervasive energy outcome, I intend to explore some of its characteristics, suggest
demonstrations and lab activities, and touch upon environmental consequences and effects
of heat energy. The level of discussion and activities will be aimed at middle school
students. and easily available materials will be used whenever possible. Much of the
discussion will also involve heat’s effect on water since water’s interaction
with heat and its part in the environment and life is so crucial.
“Nuclear Energy: Friend or Foe?” by
Vincent Vernacchio
ABSTRACT: The goal of this unit is to show teachers a way to incorporate nuclear
physics into their existing curriculum. Although the unit design is intended for secondary
Physics, it can be readily adapted for an Environmental Science, Chemistry, or General
Science course. This unit can be taught independently or with the concepts of work and
energy. In any case, the unit must be brought from the back of our textbooks and put to
our students as a topic that deals with real- life science issues.
The overall objective for students is to develop and defend their point of view
concerning the controversy surrounding nuclear energy and how to best manage it’s
waste. Students will be given a history of atomic physics, key vocabulary, and information
about nuclear processes. Nuclear energy will be a focal point of the unit about which all
other content revolves. Research on the role of nuclear energy will conclude the unit.
Students will conduct a classroom discussion in hopes of finding solutions to problems
that arose from their research.
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