National Teacher Enhancement Project

Middle School Home Energy Audit

In the Classroom - Teaching Example


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Sue Emmons, Powell Middle School, Littleton, Colorado

Class: Mrs. Emmons integrated 8th grade science classes consisting of 120 students with a variety of technological skills.

School" Powell Middle School in Littleton Colorado which is a school consisting of middle class and upper middle class students with a supportive parent and community.

School Year: Fall 2001

Curricular Area: Science-Littleton Public Schools District Curriculum -primarily with the earth science emphasis on fossil fuel/renewable energy. State Standards-No.1Scientific Investigation, No. 4. Students understand how science, technology, and economic activity have developed, changed over time.
Social Studies: State Standards. District in revision-Posted later Math-Colorado Standard No 3 that states student use data collection and analysis, statistics, and probability in problem solving. Districts- Posted later in revision.

Curricular Goals: The student will understand the background information for electrical energy and their personal home electrical energy usage.

Length of Unit: 4 weeks

The project starts with a challenge from a NREL research scientist concerning home energy usage and rolling brown outs across the country.

The project continues by having the students research energy, power, electrical production, electrical efficiency and measurement for background information before they can do their home audit. The students then audits their home electrical energy use by keeping a journal of amount of use for one week. The individual student will come up with specific suggestions for improved home energy usage.

In Mrs. Emmons 8th grade science classes we have the option to have 40-80 minute block periods. Usually they run 50 minutes and occasionally can run up to 200 minutes. The teacher will determine the length of the hour on a weekly basis and how much will be used for the project after discussing what needs to be done with her students.

The students will be in groups with emphasis on sections (Examples-Energy, Power, Electrical Produnction, Electrical Efficiency and Measurement) The students use the Internet as individuals and / or a group to research their section and to be able to communicate their finding to the teacher and other student groups in the class.

The role of the teacher is a facilitator who checks to see if the student/group is on the correct path or if she can help or find out where/who may be the best support. Powells' parent/community support is vast and the students will go to them for assistance as well as Dr. Camelio,the Computer Coach and the Media Specialist, Ms. Brown. T

The areas for the Internet, are in the media center, main and auxiliary computer lab and Mrs. Emmons'room.

The main Internet resources used will be NREL database. The students will be doing other forms of engaged learning such as labs in electrical energy and posting them for other students and scientist.

At the end of the 4 weeks the groups will present their findings and conclusions orally in the classroom. This will be during seminar time that the four core teachers will grade the students/group with a assessment rubric for the presentation and end product.

 

   


Created for the Fermilab LInC program sponsored by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Education Office and Friends of Fermilab, and funded by United States Department of Energy, Illinois State Board of Education, North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium which is operated by North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), and the National Science Foundation.

 

Authors: Sue Emmons, Powell Middle School, Littleton, CO; Kevin Lindauer, John F. Kennedy High School, Denver, CO; Linda Lung, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO; John Sepich, Scott Carpenter Middle School, Westminster, CO; ; Janet Stellema, Monarch K-8, Louisville, CO; Edited by Marge Bardeen NTEP II Project PI.
Webmaster: ed-webmaster@fnal.gov
Created: September 9, 1998 revised September 25, 2001
URL: /ntep/f8/projects/nrel/student/energyefficiency.html