Small Wind Energy: Is it one of the green solutions for rural Canada?

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1 Small Wind Energy: Is it one of the green solutions for rural Canada? Lesson Overview In this lesson, students will have an opportunity to learn about an alternative way of supplying energy to rural Canadian homes. The students will use several sites to locate information that will allow them to compare small wind energy as an alternative way to heating and lighting homes. Grade Level Grades 9-12 (secondary school) Intermediate with slight modifications Time Required 80 to 160 minutes Curriculum Connection (Province/Territory and course) Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation for Social Studies Curriculum: New Brunswick This lesson can be used in all Atlantic Provinces and can be easily adapted to other rural areas of Canada. Link to the Canadian Atlas Online (CAOL) An introduction to Wind Power can be located at Canadian Atlas online. Using the link below: locate explore by Themes, then press The Land and locate Extremes of Weather. Select Generating power and then Wind Power / Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required Computer and Internet access Student worksheet (attached) Student assessment rubric (attached) Video of small wind turbines (see teacher preparation note) Main Objective The primary objective of this lesson is to allow students to become familiar with an alternative way of providing energy to rural Canadian homes, small wind energy. It can also be used in urban areas but it may meet with more resistance and regulations. To achieve this objective, students will research several identified Internet sites to locate factual information that will allow them to make an educated decision about small wind generated power. Learning Outcomes By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: Define small wind energy.

2 Compare and contrast small wind energy and large wind energy. List advantages and disadvantages of wind power. Suggest whether small wind energy is a suitable alternative to rural Canada. Evaluate the importance of wind-generated power as a means of meeting Canada s obligation under the Kyoto agreement. Determine if the Canadian government should offer financial assistance to homes install small wind turbines. Teacher Preparation: If a suitable video is not available, locate short videos by searching small wind turbines at Select a video that you feel is appropriate to illustrate small wind turbines. Please note that there are a number of short videos and therefore you may choose several to view and discuss.

3 The Lesson Teacher Activity The Lesson Student Activity Introduction Lesson Development 1. Introduce lesson by using a video showing wind turbines. (This video should show both wind farms and smaller wind turbines.) If a suitable video is not available use the article located at Using tabs on left, highlight overview, then benefits and issues. 2. After viewing, ask students to compare wind power with current sources of energy. 3. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of wind power. 4. Place students in groups and assign different responsibilities for each group member. Duties could include locating information, recording answers to questions, watching short video clips of wind turbines, etc. 5. Instruct to research assigned sites and to do further exploration through 1. Watch video and/or read article on wind farms and small wind turbines. The article helps identify potential advantages and disadvantages of small wind energy. 2. Compare wind-generated power to current sources: hydro, diesel, and nuclear energy. 3.Discussions should lead to creating a list e.g.: Advantages: Environmental Cost Energy independence Remote electrical generation Disadvantages: Safety Noise Neighbours Aesthetics Extreme weather 4. Complete assigned computer project student worksheet Small Wind Turbines to groups of 4 students per group. 5. Research Internet using:

4 **Ensure that these sites have references to Canada. Conclusion 6. Conclude with a minute discussion on small wind turbines. Students should be encouraged to discuss how wind generated power is environmentally friendly and could help Canada achieve its world commitments to the reduction of greenhouse gases. With the increasing cost of world fuel prices, the cost of research and technology in wind-generated power could only benefit Canadians in years to come. 6. Discuss the benefits of wind-generated power for rural Atlantic Canada. 7. Students will complete the assigned worksheet. Lesson Extension Students could do a follow-up lesson into the advantages and disadvantages of large wind turbines. Students could research how this environmentally friendly power could help certain areas of Canada to meet the government s commitment to the Kyoto Agreement. The above web sites are a starting point and could be followed by sites such as: htm Assessment of Student Learning One possible way to assess the intended student learning is to use the attached rubric. Further Reading

5 Link to Canadian National Standards for Geography Essential Element #1: The World in Spatial Terms Maps and atlas used to observe the winds in Canada Location/allocation situations for wind turbines Essential Element #2: Places and Regions Regional analysis of geographic issues and questions on small wind turbines Issues and problems of a region in supplying energy to remote and rural areas Essential Element #3: Physical Systems Components of Earth s physical system (atmosphere) World patterns of extreme events Wind Power (Canadian Geographic Atlas) World climate regions Essential Element #4: Human Systems Human population distribution Human settlement patterns rural versus urban Canada Essential Element #5: Environment and Society Patterns of resource distribution and utilization of energy Use and sustainability of resources wind power versus other sources of energy Geographic Skill #1 Asking Geographic Questions Plan and organize a geographic project on small wind energy Research and answer questions Identify energy as an issue in rural Canada Geographic Skill #2: Acquiring Geographic Information Use various websites to locate information Use a variety of research skills to locate and collect information Geographic Skill #3: Organizing Geographic Information Use a variety of media to develop and organize geographic information Geographic Skill #4: Analyzing Geographic Information Use the processes of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and explanation to interpret geographic information from a variety of sources Geographic Skill #5: Answering Geographic Questions Communicate clearly and effectively Formulate valid generalizations based on information collected and processed