Renewable Resources: Students as Environmental Advocates
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Renewable Resources: Students as Environmental Advocates

Grade 6Social StudiesGeography1 days
In this project, 6th-grade students take on the role of environmental advocates to promote renewable resources within their community. They begin with a scavenger hunt to identify local renewable resources and then delve into understanding the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources, including their benefits and functionalities. The students engage in portfolio activities such as researching and reporting on a specific renewable resource, conducting a community energy audit, and designing a renewable resource campaign to raise awareness and encourage adoption. Through these activities, students develop strategies to inspire their community to embrace renewable resources for a sustainable future.
Renewable ResourcesEnvironmental AdvocacySustainabilityEnergy AuditCommunity AwarenessResource Management
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as environmental advocates, inspire our community to embrace renewable resources for a sustainable future?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What are the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources?
  • What are the benefits of using renewable resources over non-renewable resources?
  • What are the different types of renewable resources and how do they work?
  • How can we encourage our community to use more renewable resources?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources.
  • Students will be able to identify the benefits of using renewable resources.
  • Students will be able to explain different types of renewable resources and how they work.
  • Students will be able to develop strategies to encourage their community to use more renewable resources.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Renewable Resource Scavenger Hunt

Teams embark on a scavenger hunt, both online and in the real world, to discover different renewable resources available in their community and beyond. Each resource leads to a challenge or puzzle related to its usage and benefits.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Resource Reporter

Students will research and report on a specific renewable resource, detailing its origins, how it works, and its benefits.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a renewable resource to focus on (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal).
2. Research the chosen resource, gathering information on its origins, how it works, and its environmental and economic benefits.
3. Write a detailed report summarizing the findings, including diagrams or illustrations to explain the resource's functionality.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive report on a renewable resource, including diagrams and a bibliography.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goals related to differentiating and explaining renewable resources.
Activity 2

Community Energy Audit

Students conduct an energy audit of their school or home, identifying areas where renewable resources could be implemented to improve sustainability.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Learn about energy audits and how to assess energy consumption.
2. Conduct an energy audit of their school or home, noting energy usage patterns and potential areas for improvement.
3. Identify opportunities to implement renewable resources based on the audit findings.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn energy audit report with recommendations for renewable resource implementation.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with learning goals related to identifying benefits and developing strategies for renewable resource use.
Activity 3

Renewable Resource Campaign

Students design a campaign to promote the use of renewable resources in their community, utilizing persuasive messaging and creative communication strategies.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Brainstorm ideas for a community awareness campaign focused on renewable resources.
2. Develop persuasive messaging and creative materials (e.g., posters, flyers, social media posts) to promote renewable resource adoption.
3. Present the campaign plan to the class, outlining target audience, messaging, and implementation strategies.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive renewable resource campaign plan with persuasive messaging and creative materials.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports learning goals related to developing strategies to encourage community use of renewable resources.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Renewable Resources Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Resource Reporter: Research & Explanation

This category assesses the student's ability to research, understand, and clearly explain a chosen renewable resource.
Criterion 1

Accuracy of Information

Demonstrates the accuracy and depth of research on the chosen renewable resource.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides comprehensive and accurate information, demonstrating a deep understanding of the resource's origins, functionality, and benefits. Includes detailed diagrams and proper citations.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides accurate information on the resource's origins, functionality, and benefits. Includes diagrams and citations.

Developing
2 Points

Provides mostly accurate information, but may have gaps in understanding of the resource's origins, functionality, or benefits. Diagrams may be incomplete or unclear.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides limited or inaccurate information about the resource. Shows a lack of understanding of its origins, functionality, or benefits. Lacks diagrams or citations.

Criterion 2

Clarity of Explanation

Assesses the clarity and coherence of the student's explanation of the renewable resource.

Exemplary
4 Points

Explains the resource's functionality and benefits with exceptional clarity and coherence, using precise language and effective visuals. The report is well-organized and easy to understand.

Proficient
3 Points

Explains the resource's functionality and benefits with clarity and coherence. The report is well-organized and easy to understand.

Developing
2 Points

Explanation is understandable but may lack clarity or coherence in some areas. Organization may be somewhat unclear.

Beginning
1 Points

Explanation is difficult to understand and lacks clarity and coherence. The report is poorly organized.

Category 2

Community Energy Audit: Analysis & Recommendations

This category evaluates the student's ability to conduct an energy audit and propose relevant renewable resource implementations.
Criterion 1

Thoroughness of Audit

Assesses the depth and comprehensiveness of the energy audit conducted.

Exemplary
4 Points

Conducts a highly thorough and detailed energy audit, identifying a wide range of energy usage patterns and potential areas for improvement with specific data and calculations to support findings.

Proficient
3 Points

Conducts a thorough energy audit, identifying key energy usage patterns and potential areas for improvement.

Developing
2 Points

Conducts a basic energy audit, but may miss some key energy usage patterns or areas for improvement.

Beginning
1 Points

Conducts an incomplete or superficial energy audit, with limited identification of energy usage patterns or areas for improvement.

Criterion 2

Relevance of Recommendations

Evaluates the appropriateness and feasibility of the renewable resource recommendations based on the audit findings.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides highly relevant and feasible renewable resource recommendations that are directly aligned with the audit findings and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of energy efficiency and sustainability principles. Includes a detailed action plan with cost analysis and potential impact.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides relevant and feasible renewable resource recommendations that are aligned with the audit findings.

Developing
2 Points

Provides some renewable resource recommendations, but their relevance to the audit findings may be unclear or their feasibility questionable.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides few or irrelevant renewable resource recommendations, demonstrating a limited understanding of energy efficiency or sustainability.

Category 3

Renewable Resource Campaign: Persuasion & Creativity

This category assesses the student's ability to design a persuasive and creative campaign to promote renewable resource adoption.
Criterion 1

Persuasiveness of Messaging

Evaluates the effectiveness of the campaign's messaging in persuading the target audience to adopt renewable resources.

Exemplary
4 Points

Develops highly persuasive messaging that effectively targets the audience, addresses their concerns, and motivates them to adopt renewable resources. Demonstrates a nuanced understanding of persuasive communication techniques and includes compelling evidence and testimonials.

Proficient
3 Points

Develops persuasive messaging that effectively targets the audience and motivates them to adopt renewable resources.

Developing
2 Points

Messaging is somewhat persuasive but may not effectively target the audience or address their concerns.

Beginning
1 Points

Messaging is not persuasive and fails to effectively target the audience or motivate them to adopt renewable resources.

Criterion 2

Creativity and Originality

Assesses the creativity and originality of the campaign materials (e.g., posters, flyers, social media posts).

Exemplary
4 Points

Creates highly creative and original campaign materials that are visually appealing, memorable, and effectively communicate the benefits of renewable resources. Demonstrates innovative use of design elements and media platforms.

Proficient
3 Points

Creates creative and original campaign materials that are visually appealing and effectively communicate the benefits of renewable resources.

Developing
2 Points

Campaign materials are somewhat creative but may lack originality or visual appeal.

Beginning
1 Points

Campaign materials are unoriginal and lack visual appeal.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

What was the most surprising thing you learned about renewable resources during this project?

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Question 2

How has your understanding of the importance of renewable resources changed after completing these activities?

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Question 3

Which part of the 'Resource Reporter', 'Community Energy Audit', or 'Renewable Resource Campaign' did you find the most challenging, and how did you overcome that challenge?

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Question 4

To what extent do you feel you are able to encourage your community to adopt renewable resources?

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Question 5

What is one thing you would do differently if you were to complete a similar project in the future?

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