Students compare the energy sources that power modern life — renewable sources that naturally replenish, and nonrenewable ones that will eventually run out — and weigh their costs, benefits, and role in a sustainable future.
Students will be able to…
Nearly everything we do runs on energy — but some sources will run out and others never will. How do we power civilization without exhausting the planet?
Project this and sort each energy source by whether it naturally replenishes (renewable) or will eventually run out (nonrenewable).
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Some energy sources are endless; others will run dry. Which is which?
Students investigate.
Teacher explains.
Apply.
Three quick checks.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (High School Earth & Environmental Science) and Common Core literacy in science.
Evaluate competing design solutions for developing and managing energy resources.
Explain how availability of natural resources affects human activity.
Design a device that converts one form of energy into another.
Evaluate the reasoning and evidence in a scientific text.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students design an energy mix for a community, balancing cost, reliability, and emissions, and justify their choices with evidence. A printable energy sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.