Renewable Versus Non-renewable Energy

Name: __________
Purpose: Renewable versus Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Through this project, students will learn about different sources of
electricity and how those sources impact our environment. Students will also
comment on the viability and/or potential of their energy source to produce
electricity on a large scale and over time.
Sources of Energy:
Coal and Natural Gas:
Crude Oil:
Nuclear Energy:

Maddie, Oakes, Malcolm, Elizabeth,

Maggie, Ella, Emma
Kyle, Zach, Bella

Geothermal Energy:
Hydro Electricity:
Solar Energy:
Tidal Energy:
Wind Energy:
Fuel Cell/Hydrogen:
Biomass and Bio-Fuels:
Waste Recycling:

Kiana, Camilo, Claire

Lucas, Kylie,
Danica, Olivia, Trinity
Ethan, Hamish, Brook
Cody, Brianne, KC
Maya, Jacqueline
Tessa, Charlotte
Nicky, Zack

Design: Your presentation will utilize a poster board, stand-up, picture and
information format. Your poster board should be neat, thoughtfully
organized and creative in its delivery. A short video may be included and is
encouraged.
Your poster board should include your name, definition of your energy
source, pros and cons to using this source to create energy, environmental
impact, how common is it, where and/or who invented it, future of your
technology and any other information you think is applicable.

Palfreyman 2016 1

Questions to Answer:
1. How is your source of energy used to create electricity? Be specific and
use pictures to explain the process of energy creation. For example, how
does a wind turbine spinning create electricity? How is energy created,
stored and then transferred to consumers from the turbine?
2. Is your energy source renewable or non-renewable? How much of it is
left to harvest for future generations? Does it pollute or create toxic
waste? Does it interfere with nature or effect migration patterns?
3. Is your energy source growing in popularity or becoming unpopular as
concerns about global warming grow? Where is your source of energy most
commonly used?
4. Is your source of energy only used by big corporations/countries to
create electricity or are individuals/smaller companies finding innovative
ways to use your energy source. For example: There are massive solar
energy plants in the desert and people who run water onto their roofs to
heat the water for their pools or use solar panels on their RVs.
5. Your opinion: Is your source of energy a viable energy source for the
future? Is it environmentally friendly? Is there a potential to create
energy on a large scale or is there drawbacks to the technology it uses?
6. Every source of energy has its limitations and environmental drawbacks.
Make sure you investigate your pros and cons carefully. How is your energy
source trying to overcome its limitations. For example: Hydro dams are big
and ugly. So, smaller less invasive ways of harvesting the power of flowing
water, such as mini-dams, are being invented.
7. Political impact: How has your energy source affected the politics of
the world? Have wars been fought over it? Could it be used to make
weapons? Are countries competing to be the first or leader in the
technology used to create energy with your resource? Are countries or the
United Nations trying to promote or restrict your source of energy
generation?

Renewable Versus Non-renewable Energy

Project Scoring
Poster Board
Generation/Technology
Environmental Impact
History/Future of Tech
Organization of Facts
Neatness, Use of Ruler,
Design and Readability

Total

Points
15
15
15
15
20

Presentation
You will be expected to explain your
poster board and answer questions
about your energy source. Writing
handheld notes are recommended
over reading your notes off of your
poster board.
Points 20

/100

Palfreyman 2016 3