Alternative energy supplies
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe alternative sources of energy to using fossil fuels, and some of their benefits and limitations.
Key learning points
- Alternative energy sources include renewable energy sources and nuclear power.
- Renewable energy sources produce little or no greenhouse gas emissions.
- The cost of renewable technology is falling, making it more accessible.
- Nuclear energy is reliable and does not produce greenhouse gas emissions.
- There are disadvantages in using nuclear energy.
Keywords
Renewable energy - sources of energy that can be reused and will not run out
Geothermal energy - energy from the heat inside Earth
Nuclear energy - is the energy from inside atoms which can be used to generate electricity
Common misconception
Renewable energy is always expensive to set up.
Small-scale renewable energy projects such as micro-hydro plants can be fairly cheap and help communities in lower income countries.
Teacher tip
Use Google Earth with the class to look at the scale of the Bhadla solar park in India.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords with their correct meaning.
Current age where humans impact the planet
Making something easier to understand with images
Gases released when burning fossil fuels
When towns and cities grow and spread
Q2.Which of the following is a human cause of climate change?
Q3.What is the Anthropocene best known for?
Q4.One reason carbon emissions have increased in recent history is:
Q5.Which of the following shows a positive human impact on the planet?
Q6.Humans release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when they burn fuels.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords with their correct meanings.
Can be reused and won’t run out
Energy from heat within Earth
Energy from atoms used to make electricity
Q2.What makes nuclear energy different from fossil fuels?
Q3.Solar panels turn sunlight into .
Q4.Why is it wrong to say renewable energy is always expensive?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Alternative energy supplies, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: Alternative energy supplies, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Anthropocene: What is the impact of humans on the world? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.