Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy

• This teaching guide accompanies a 40-minute video that takes students on a virtual field trip to the Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and the Mojave Desert in North America. 
• The video features a mixture of background information on the two locations and information on renewable energy, including solar and wind energy. 
• The teaching guide features background information, relevant Next Generation Science Standards, student worksheets, discussion questions, and a game called Nature Spy.

Positives

• The teacher's guide is easy to follow.
• The discussion questions in the teacher's guide have answers for the teacher to reference while facilitating discussions.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should have a basic understanding of the importance of implementing renewable energy.
• Here is the link to the video.

Differentiation

• Students could answer questions during the field trip or after they have watched the video.
• This virtual field trip can be used as a starting point for students to further research renewable energy options.
• Vocabulary lists can be prefilled to help students understand the video or for students to research definitions as they watch.
• One activity is available in both English and Spanish.
• If students would like to read a personal story of how climate change is impacting other islands in the Pacific Ocean, they can read Even Weber's story about his home in Hawaii.