Car of the Future
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/3507_car.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/3507_car.html
Jeff Lockwood, NOVA Teachers
Activity takes about four class periods. Computer access is necessary.
Discuss this Resource»Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»
Topics
Grade Level
Ideal audience are students grade 7-12 but activity can be modified to meet the needs of a college-level "non-major" intro science course.
Climate Literacy
About Teaching Climate Literacy
GPg 
GPgActions taken by individuals, communities, states, and countries all influence climate. Practices and policies followed in homes, schools, businesses, and governments can affect climate. Climate-related decisions made by one generation can provide opportunities as well as limit the range of possibilities open to the next generation. Steps toward reducing the impact of climate change may influence the present generation by providing other benefits such as improved public health infrastructure and sustainable built environments.
Other materials addressing GPg
Energy Literacy
Fossil and bio fuels are organic matter that contain energy captured from sunlight.
4.3 Fossil and bio fuels contain energy captured from sunlight.
Energy infrastructure has inertia.
5.2 Energy infrastructure has inertia.
One way to manage energy resources is through conservation.
6.2 Conserving energy.
Earth has finite energy resources.
6.4 Earth has finite energy resources.
Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:C) Resources
Other materials addressing:
C) Resources.
Other materials addressing:
C) Resources.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:D) Technology
Other materials addressing:
D) Technology.
Other materials addressing:
D) Technology.
3. Skills for Understanding and Addressing Environmental Issues:3.1 Skills for Analyzing and Investigating Environmental Issues:C) Identifying and evaluation alternative solutions and courses of action
Other materials addressing:
C) Identifying and evaluation alternative solutions and courses of action.
Other materials addressing:
C) Identifying and evaluation alternative solutions and courses of action.
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Learn more about the Benchmarks
Social and economic forces strongly influence which technologies will be developed and used. Which will prevail is affected by many factors, such as personal values, consumer acceptance, patent laws, the availability of risk capital, the federal budget, local and national regulations, media attention, economic competition, and tax incentives.
When selecting fuels, it is important to consider the relative advantages and disadvantages of each fuel.
Decisions to slow the depletion of energy resources can be made at many levels, from personal to national, and they always involve trade-offs involving economic costs and social values.
Notes From Our Reviewers
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Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- Educators will need to preview activity to determine what prerequisite knowledge is required before the start of this project.
- Have the groups with "the best" proposals present them to school administrators or community members to raise awareness.
- Educators could use the jigsaw cooperative group method to organize students for this activity - divide students into 4 alternative technology groups and after students have become experts on their one area, reorganize groups to write proposals so that each group has one member from the original alternative energy groups.
About the Science
- Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
- Activity addresses concerns about air pollution, CO2 emissions, and the U.S.'s dependence on imported oil and introduces students to the following areas: hydrogen fuel, ethanol fuel, vehicle engineering, and hybrid and electric cars.
- Internet resources are provided as background readings for each area.
- Excellent worksheets and resources.
About the Pedagogy
- Student driven project with collaborative groups working together to create a final presentation.
- Good visual materials are provided.
- Interesting NOVA program clips (8-10 mins each) are provided for each alternative technology.
- Group work, research, discussions and presentations will engage learners of different learning types.
- Sample rubric and assessment questions provided.
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