High School
Although the Junior Energy program was originally developed for younger students, high school students not only can participate, but can be very successful in the program. Older students can take advantage of their more advanced skills to help your school and the planet. By adapting the Junior Energy curriculum materials for your older students, you can help your students develop new skills and understandings that will make them more effective citizens.
In addition, we recommend really involving students at this age in the promotion of the program. In our experience creative activities like skits, designing promotional posters, using in-school media, working with school wide environmental groups and even mentorship programs can help spread the word about Junior Energy.
Activity 1: Race to Space - click to download now
In this activity, students get up and get moving, using their bodies to simulate the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If you’d like to add depth to the activity, consider comparing the graphs you create in the simulation to actual graphs depicting the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (Some of the sites where you can find these graphs include: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/warming/etc/graphs.html, and http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm)
Another excellent resource for investigating actual data about carbon dioxide and temperature can be found at: http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/
es2105/es2105page01.cfm. This site looks closely at how scientists use data from ice cores to look back through time at the Earth’s climate.
You might also have students research what effects rising global temperatures may have on sea level, wildlife, human populations, and other parts of life on Earth.
Activity 2: Does it Really Add Up? - click to download now
This activity focuses on savings. Students calculate how the change to CFLs will affect their energy use, their wallets, and the planet. You can make this activity more challenging for older students by having the students figure out how to do the calculations on their own, rather than using the student worksheets that walk them through the calculations.
Older students may also be able to research other common items, such as cars and household appliances, to investigate the amount of energy, money, and emissions that can be saved with different models. (Two government websites, http://www.energystar.gov/ and http://fueleconomy.gov/, might be especially helpful.)
Finally, students may be curious about why these two types of bulbs use such different amounts of energy. Students can investigate how each type of bulb works to better understand why CFLs use so much less energy.
Activity 3: Real Kids, Real Power - click to download now
Using stories of real kids who have made a difference, this activity helps kids simulate a newscast. As it’s written, it’s not appropriate for older students, but there are a variety of ways you can inspire your students with stories about real young people who are using their energy to help the planet. This also is a great opportunity for helping students hone their communications skills.
Activity 4: Lighting the Way to Your Inner Poet - click to download now
This activity blends science with creativity. Students express emotions, experiences, and facts about CFLs through the creation of seven different kinds of poetry. Incorporates a variety of language arts standards.
Activity 5: The Power of Persuasion - click to download now
In this activity, students put their persuasive writing skills to work in support the school's Junior Energy program. They'll get a fact sheet that gives them the information they need, a worksheet to help plan their writing, and depending on the level of your group, the students can write a range of different kinds of persuasive products. Focuses on language arts skills.
Consider having students research stories of people their age making a difference (they might interview other students in their school or community, or use the internet to find stories of student action around the world) and tell those stories using websites, blogs, your school newspaper, or other outlets. Students with AV equipment and skills could produce a video promoting what they’re doing with the Junior Energy campaign. You can use this as an opportunity not only to find out what other young people are doing, but to celebrate your success in the program, too.
More Activity Ideas:
A quick web search will lead you to many resources for teaching about energy conservation. A few that might be helpful for this age group include the following:
US Department of Energy
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/grades.cfm/grade=3
The US Department of Energy provides a variety of resources for teaching about energy conservation.
Exploring Climate Change Impacts (9-12)
http://www.climatehotmap.org/curriculum/index.html
The activities provided here explore the impacts of global climate change on ecosystems, natural resources, communities, and individuals.
Alliance to Save Energy
http://www.ase.org/section/_audience/educators/lessons/high/
The Alliance to Save Energy has collected a variety of activities for teaching about energy issues. Spend time looking around this site for other helpful resources, including information about the Green Schools program.
Energy Matters
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee/keep/HSSupplement/index.htm
Energy Matters is party of the University of Wisconsin’s KEEP K-12 energy education program. It includes online resources for high school students learning about energy issues.
Global Warming: It's All About Carbon
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/climate/video/
National Public Radio and National Geographic have produced a five-part cartoon series that illustrates the role of carbon in global climate change.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change Kids’ Site
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html
The EPA’s climate change site for kids includes a variety of resources for students and teachers including background information, activities, animations, games, and more. The teacher materials include an activity for high-school students to estimate their schools’ climate impact.