KQED Curriculum Bank
Search or browse KQED Education's library of lesson plans, educator guides and student activities inspired by programming from KQED television, radio and interactive.
Please note, the Curriculum Bank is temporarily unavailable as of 4-18-13. We hope to restore access soon, thank you for your patience in the meantime.
Trainings and Events
Find out about and sign up for trainings and events to enhance your professional practice.
Climate Watch
KQED e-Newsletters
Get regular updates on great programs and events
More from KQED
Please note, the PDF lesson plans linked to from this page are temporarily unavailable as of 4-18-13. We hope to restore them soon, thank you for your patience in the meantime.
In lessons 4a-4e below, students will explore renewable energy sources in depth, examining how different technological advances in using renewable energy may help mitigate climate change. By the conclusion of this strand, they should be able to compare various renewable energy resources, understanding the costs and benefits of the choices we make about energy production and consumption.
Media Included in the Strand
Energy Sources
Solar Power
Turning Waste into Energy
Geothermal Energy
Plug-in Hybrids
Clue
into Climate Student Workbook (PDF)
The Student Workbook can be used with any of the content strands for student
engagement and reflection.
Strand
4 Educator Guide - Renewable Energy (PDF)
Use this educator guide to teach this entire content strand as a unit.
Strand
4 Background Article - Renewable Energy (PDF)
Look here for background information on renewable energy.
Lesson
4a: Comparing Renewable Energy Sources (PDF)
Although California uses more renewable resources than many other states, much
of the state's electricity still comes from nonrenewable sources. In this
lesson, students research how using renewable energy sources to create electricity
helps reduce fossil fuel consumption, and they investigate which form of
renewable energy has the potential to have the largest impact on climate
change.
Energy Sources
Video Transcript (PDF)
Click here to download this video
Lesson 4b: New Breakthroughs in Solar Power (PDF)
Solar power is an infinite renewable energy resource that produces
no greenhouse gas emissions. In this lesson, students will learn how energy
from the sun is captured, and they will discuss the benefits and challenges
of harnessing and using solar energy. They will also compare traditional solar
cells with new nanotechnologies.
Solar Power
Video Transcript (PDF)
To see the full 4 minute version, visit Solar City: The Future of Nanosolar on QUEST.
Lesson 4c: Turning Waste into Energy (PDF)
Methane is a greenhouse gas known to trap heat more effectively than carbon
dioxide. Methane digesters, however, can be used to turn pollution into an energy
solution. In this lesson, students will learn how methane digesters turn waste
into usable gases and other fuels.
Turning Waste into Energy
Video Transcript (PDF)
To see the full 10 minute version, visit From
Waste to Watts: Biofuel Bonanza on QUEST.
Click here to download this video
Lesson 4d: Geothermal Energy: Harnessing the Power of the Earth (PDF)
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source produced from the heat inside
Earth. In this lesson, students will learn about how geothermal energy is produced,
and they will discuss its limitations.
Geothermal Energy
Video Transcript (PDF)
To see the full 11 minute version, visit Geothermal
Heats Up on QUEST.
Click here to download this video
Lesson 4e: Plug-In Hybrids: The Latest in Electric/Hybrid Car Technology (PDF)
Cars that run on electricity produce about one-half the greenhouse gas emissions
of conventional gasoline vehicles. In this lesson, students will learn how plug-in
electric hybrid technology works and compare plug-in hybrids with conventional
vehicles and standard hybrids.
Plug-in Hybrids
Video Transcript (PDF)
To see the full 9 minute version, visit Plug-In
Hybrid Cars on QUEST.
Click here to download this video
