Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students will revise and consolidate their knowledge of the environmental impacts of coal-fired power stations and other ‘dirty’ energy production methods in comparison to the clean energy alternatives. They will plan an Environmental Impact Study related to a hypothetical clean energy installation in Tasmania.

Activity developed in partnership with   tasmania_hydro_200x84_300pxl

Hydro Tasmania has been at the forefront of clean energy innovation for one hundred years. It is Australia’s largest producer of clean energy – generating hydro and wind power – and the largest water manager. Hydro Tasmania has 55 major dams, operates 30 hydropower stations and has built some of Australia’s largest wind farms.

Hydro Tasmania also sells energy in the National Electricity Market through its retail business Momentum Energy, and sells its expertise internationally through its consulting business Entura. Visit the Hydro Tasmania website to learn how the business is working towards Australia’s clean energy future.

Learning goals:

  • Students develop knowledge about clean and dirty energy generating infrastructure that impact the environment.
  • Students synthesise facts and draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence.
  • Students design research methodologies to gather data on key investigative questions.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Personal and social capability.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.7, OI.8.

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 9 Science

  • Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS164).
  • Plan, select and use appropriate investigation methods, including field work and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data; assess risk and address ethical issues associated with these methods (ACSIS165).

Year 10 Science

  • Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS198).
  • Plan, select and use appropriate investigation methods, including field work and laboratory experimentation, to collect reliable data; assess risk and address ethical issues associated with these methods (ACSIS199).

Syllabus Outcomes: SC5-4WS, SC5-5WS, SC5-6WS. 

Topic: Hydro Tasmania, Energy.

Time required: 60 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activity.

Resources required: Internet access, Environmental Impact Study – Project Investigation Worksheet, Student Worksheet (one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet), images of Tasmania (from books, magazines or online – use Google Images).

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Homework and extension opportunities: Includes opportunities for homework and extension.

Keywords: Coal, clean energy, electricity, Hydro Tasmania. 

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Overarching learning goal: By participating in this activity students will develop knowledge about clean and dirty energy generating infrastructure that impact the environment. They will synthesise facts and draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence and design research methodologies to gather data on key investigative questions.

Teacher background information: Energy is the lifeblood of our modern life. It gives us light and keeps our food fresh. It powers our industry, fuels our cars, and charges our iPhones. Our energy is produced by burning fossil fuels and this has a range of environmental, social and economic impacts. One of the most significant is the emission of greenhouse gases. A solution is the transition to clean energy sources. The brilliant thing is that we have huge amounts of free, renewable and clean supplies of natural energies. These include sunlight, wind, running water, oceans and underground hot rocks.

According to the Clean Energy A

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Is nuclear power a clean or dirty source of energy?

Energy sources

1. List three ‘dirty’ sources of energy production used in Australia.

a)

b)

c)

2. Now can you list three ‘clean’ energy sources used in Australia?

a)

b)

c)

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of burning fossil fuels like coal and gas to create energy? Write one advantage and disadvantage related to each of the suggested aspects of the energy producing operation.

Use of resources

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

 

Time efficiency

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

 

Environmental impacts

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

 

Habitat impacts

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

 

Technology requirements

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

4. Explain the meaning of the term ‘renewable resource’:

5. Provide a list of three renewable resources that relate to energy production or other industries:

a)

b)

c)

Designing a plan for an Environmental Impact Study

In this activity, you will think about h

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