Mar. 26, 2008: Energy for the Future

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Cut out newspaper words and pictures about energy. Paste them on a large piece of paper to make an "Energy Works" collage.

2. Make a list of three chores you do around your house. Now find items or equipment in the newspaper that you could use to do your chores. Find items that don't use electricity and items that do use electricity to do those same chores.

3. Go through the newspaper, and with a colored marker circle items that use electricity. Circle items that use gasoline with another marker. Circle items that use natural gas with another marker. Which source of energy was used the most?

4. Which sources of energy (a) use plants, (b) use the movement of natural elements, (c) have been used in space, and (d) can be used to operate cars, trains and planes?

5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about the forms of alternative energy that could be effective where you live. Use these questions to guide your research: What is the weather like where you live? Are there long periods of sunshine? Are there many windy days? What geological features are near you, such as rivers, oceans, volcanoes or hot springs? Write a paragraph discussing how alternative energy sources could benefit your community.

This week's standard:

• Students develop abilities of technological design, understanding about science and technology. (Science: Science and Technology)
  
  

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)