Energy in Canada

Overview

Students will use text information, data and graphs to learn about energy in Canada. Emphasis is placed on energy resources, energy production and the environmental effects of energy production. Students will answer questions based on sections from the Human Activity and the Environment 2004, "Energy in Canada" article.

Contributor: Alexander Budgell, Queen's University

Objectives

To learn about Canada's energy production and consumption

• To distinguish between renewable and non-renewable energy
• To learn about the different energy sources produced and used in Canada
• To explain ways to reduce energy consumption
• To learn about the environmental impacts associated with energy production
• To work effectively in groups
• To communicate findings to others in an effective manner

Suggested grade level and subject areas

Intermediate, Secondary
Geography, Environment

Duration

One to four 60-70 minute periods (depending on how many worksheets/assignments the teacher wishes to use)

Vocabulary

Energy - The capacity for doing work. Forms of energy include thermal, mechanical, electrical, and chemical. Energy may be transformed from one form into another.

Electricity - Electric current used as a source of power, produced by the flow or accumulation of electrons.

Hydro electricity - A type of electricity generated when the kinetic energy of the moving water is converted to electrical energy by a water turbine driving a generator.

Biomass Energy - Biomass energy includes energy produced by burning biomass such as wood and plant material, as well as ethanol and landfill gas.

Fossil Fuel - Buried deposits of decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust for hundreds of millions of years.

Nuclear Power - Electric energy generated using heat produced by an atomic reaction.

Renewable energy - Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible such as biomass, wind, hydro and solar energy.

Non-renewable energy - Non-renewable energy sources are those that cannot be replenished in a short period of time. Examples of non-renewable energy include coal, natural gas, oil and uranium.

Materials

• From the print or PDF version of Human Activity and the Environment 2004, a copy of relevant sections of the "Energy in Canada" article.
• Student worksheet 1: State of our energy resources   Answers
• Student worksheet 2: State of our energy resources II   Answers
• Student worksheet 3: Response   Answers
• Student survey 1 - Household energy Use
• Student assignment 1 - Energy resources
• Student assignment 2 - Energy resources
• Sheet (assignment 1)
• Rubric (assignment 2)

Classroom instruction

1. Introduce the topic: Energy in Canada. The topic could be introduced by getting the class to brainstorm all the ways we use energy sources in our daily lives and to think of what our lives would be like without it.
2. Conduct a class brainstorming session on the different sources of energy that exist in Canada.
3. Teacher should conduct a brief lecture regarding energy and electricity.
   • What is energy?
   • What is electricity?
   • Differentiate between energy and electricity.
   • Why is energy important?
   • How is energy produced?
   • How is electricity produced?
   • Why is there presently a concern with energy production?
4. Get students to read selections from the "Energy in Canada" article that correspond to the worksheet they will be completing.
   
   There are 3 student worksheets based on this article. The worksheets are designed to be completed individually. Each worksheet is designed to take students approximately half a period (30-35 minutes) to complete. Teachers may want to use 1, 2 or all 3 of the student worksheets.
   
   Student Worksheet 1 is based on the text, materials, tables and graphs from pages 1 to 3 of the "Energy in Canada" article.
   
   Student Worksheet 2 is based on the text, materials, tables and graphs from pages 3 to 8 of the "Energy in Canada" article.
   
   Student Worksheet 3 is based on the text, materials, tables and graphs from pages 26 to 32 of the "Energy in Canada" article.
   
   Student Survey 1 is based on Table 3.2 on page 28 of the "Energy in Canada" article. The survey should be used as a supplement to worksheet # 3. The survey should be distributed to students 1 day before the lesson so they may take the sheet home and collect their household's answers.
   
   Student Assignments 1 and 2 are based on the text, materials, tables and graphs from pages 4 to 25 of the "Energy in Canada" article.
5. Take up worksheets using teacher answer sheets.
6. Assign either Assignment 1 or 2. Use rubric to evaluate Assignment 2.
7. Debriefing.

Assignments

There are 2 suggested assignments for students to complete based on energy resources. The activities are similar to each other and should not be used together. Activity 1 is designed to be formatively evaluated and completed in one 60-70 minute period. Activity 2 is designed to be summative (use rubric for evaluation) and completed in two to three 60-70 minute periods.

Evaluation

The discussion questions may be taken up in class by the teacher using the answer sheets.

Enrichment

• Students could create 2 posters based on an energy source, one poster that displays the advantages of an energy source and another that displays the disadvantages of the same energy source.
• Students could use E-STAT to obtain additional information and graphs based on an energy source.
• Students could research potential energy sources that may solve our future energy problems.
• If feasible, you could organize a field trip to an electricity production plant.
• If possible, you could arrange for a representative from an energy or electricity company to talk to the class.