ENERGY and Conservation

Supporting Web Resources & Credits

Suggested websites for the culminating activity:

http://www.houseplans.com/

Here is a great website to find floor plans to use as examples (or to have the students search for their own blueprints).

http://www.touchtheearthranch.com/tirestart.htm

Find ideas for the type of construction you want for your home.

http://www.srpnet.com/menu/energy.aspx

This website has lots of advice about how to save energy throughout your home.

http://www.peoriaaz.gov/Utilities/conserve/conserve_waterconservation.asp

This website has information on water conservation and outdoor landscaping.

http://www.advancedenergy.org/buildings/knowledge_library/systems_approach/energy_efficient_water_heater.html

Here you can get information on the options for hot water heating.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_index

You can learn about energy efficient appliances and lighting options for your home.

http://www.aps.com/my_community/default.html

Visit the learning center to learn how solar energy actually works. Also, use this website for other energy saving and earth friendly habits.

http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/

This is an excellent website for learning about recycling and products that are made from recycled products.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/kid1.html

A slide show that will help you understand composting and how to do it.

http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/bugs/benefcl.htm

This website will show you the different insects that will help reduce the pesticides needed in the garden or yard.

Other Helpful Websites:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/index.html

This is the EIA Kids Website. It would be great for Internet research and note taking, but it is high level.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/kids/index.html

This is the US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Website. It contains articles and information about renewable energy sources

http://tiki.oneworld.net/energy/energy.html

This is an energy site in kid-friendly language. It explains most power sources, but is a little biased toward renewable sources.

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html

scroll down for table of contents of different types of power sources.

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0508/feature1

A National Geographic article about Future Power. It explores the question, Where on Earth can our energy-hungry society turn to replace oil, coal, and natural gas?

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0406/feature5/index.html

A National Geographic article entitled The End of Cheap Oil. It explores the question, Just how soon will the vital fuel become so scarce and expensive that we're forced to make hard choices about how we live?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1028_041028_alternative_energy.html

A National Geographic article entitled The Future of Alternative Energy. It talks about solar power, wind power, and ground heat.

www.epatrol.org

Find out what steps you can take to save energy in every room of your house.

www.crest.org

America’s Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology’s website. Up to date information on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the latest research.

Books:

Dear World by Lannis Temple

This book is a compilation of letters and artwork gathered from children across the world. Mr. Temple traveled to countries such as Egypt, Sweden, and Canada to develop a feel of how children view the earth's environmental concerns.

My Light by Molly Bang. Blue Sky Press (2004)

Talks about the energy we harness fro, the sun to make electricity. Has a list of facts about energy/resources at the end of the book.

Energy from the Sun by Allan Fowler. Children’s Press (1997)

Talks about energy from the sun, but mostly for plant life and food. Very briefly talks about coal and natural gas for electricity and machines.

Fueling the Future series. (Greenhaven Press)

Each book has several articles with wide range of views on the topic. Topics include: biomass, coal, geothermal, hydrogen, natural gas, nuclear power, oil, water, and wind. Texts are higher level.

World About Us series. (Aladdin Books Ltd.)

Reader friendly, lots of photographs for support, informative. Topics include: coal, future energy, gas, nuclear power, solar power, water power, wind energy.

Alternative Energy by Christine Petersen. Children’s Press (2004)

Discusses fossil fuels for electricity and reasons for the movement toward alternative energy. Describes the sources of renewable energy in a kid-friendly way.

Conservation by Christine Petersen. Children’s Press (2004)

Conserving resources, species, and wilderness. Talks about pollution and overuse.

Planet Under Pressure: Energy by Clive Gifford. Heinemann (2006)

Comprehensive information about energy use and alternatives. Lots of statistis and data about consumption, impacts, and innovations (such as CFL bulbs, hybrid cars)

Energy Essentials: Renewable Energy by Nigel Saunders and Steven Chapman. Raintree (2006)

Talks about nonrenewable energy, how it’s harnessed, pollution effects, benefits and problems. Also talks about renewable energy, describing each source with benefits and problems.

Fuels for the Future by Steve Parker. Steck-Vaughn (1998)

Has a lot of examples with photographs, maps, diagrams, and charts about energy use. The chapter about what we can do to conserve is informative.

Charged Up: The Story of Electricity by Jacqui Bailey and Matthew Lilly. Picture Window Books ( 2004)

Reads like a picture book, telling the story of how electricity travels from power plant to homes, and what happens during a temporary blackout.

Action for the Environment: Energy Supplies by Chris Oxlade. Franklin Watts (2004)

Very reader friendly, outlines the argument for sustainable energy and conservation. Offers a lot of information about what businesses, organizations, and politicians are doing, and also about what we can do.

Invisible Journeys: Energy by Caroline Grimshaw. World Book – Two Can Publishing Ltd. (1998)

Question and answer format, all about energy topics. Clear and concise answers with several photographs and illustrations.

Sustainable World: Energy by Rob Bowden. Kidhaven Press (2004)

About sustainable energy and how it’s developed, how it works, and how it affects us. Includes lots of statistics about energy use, trends, and global effects.