Super STAAR

Supporting Lessons

Geothermal Energy: US Department of Energy (PDF) - Investigate how conduction can transfer thermal energy from one liquid to another. Use Project Idea 2 on page 10 (“How is energy transferred between fluids in a binary geothermal power plant work?”).

Geothermal Energy
U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, www.eere.energy.gov

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Geothermal Energy:US Department of Energy (PDF) - Five ideas for lessons/projects that explore geothermal energy in depth. Includes teacher background and glossary.

Geothermal Energy
U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, www.eere.energy.gov

Assessment Ideas

Have students write persuasive newspaper editorials promoting the adoption and use of geothermal energy in the community. Students should defend their arguments by including information learned through all the lessons on alternative energy resources.

As a possible second step, hold a mock town hall meeting in which students advocate for different alternative energy sources. Structure the activity to suit the needs of your class. It could be a simple discussion, or an assignment for which students make posters and flyers, and dress in costume. In any case, have students discuss and debate various alternative energy sources. Conclude by holding a class vote to determine which type of alternative energy the town will adopt.

Literature Connections

Geothermal Energy: Using Earth's Furnace (Energy Revolution). Gleason, Carrie (ISBN-10: 0778729311)

A Refreshing Look at Renewable Energy with Max Axiom, Super Scientist. Krohn, Katherine E. (ISBN-10: 1429639024)

Geothermal Energy: Hot Stuff! (Powering Our World). Hansen, Amy S. (ISBN-10: 143589748X)

Solar and Geothermal Energy (Energy and the Environment). Tabak, John (ISBN-10: 0816070865)

Water and Geothermal Energy (Fueling the Future). Raum, Elizabeth (ISBN-10: 1432915711)