Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students will learn about Hydro Tasmania’s history and transform an information text into an online timeline.

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 will develop knowledge and understanding in the areas of sustainability and energy production.

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Year 5 Science

  • Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and reflects historical and cultural contributions (ACSHE081).

Year 6 Science

  • Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources (ACSSU097).
  • Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples’ lives (ACSHE100).

Syllabus Outcomes: ST3-8ES, ST3-7PW, ST3-6PW.

Topic: Hydro Tasmania, Energy.

Time required: 60 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activity, assist with defining difficult words.

Resources required: A powerful century – Information sheet, Internet access, Student Worksheet (one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet).

Digital technology opportunities: Online timeline creation (e.g. Visme or Sutori), digital sharing capabilities.

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

Keywords: Energy, hydropower, timeline, 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 and understanding in the areas of sustainability and energy production.

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 Australia Report 2013:

  • 14.76% of Australia's electricity came from renewable sources in 2013: enough to power the equivalent of almost 5 million homes.
  • Wind turbines prov
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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: How many different types of energy are there?

Instructions

1. Read the Introduction to Hydro Tasmania below.

2. Read the separate A powerful century - Information sheet.

3. With your teacher’s help, define the tricky words from the Information Sheet numbered 1 to 12 in the spaces below.

4. In the spare space below, make some summary notes to help you with Step 5.

5. Using Visme or Sutori (check with your teacher), construct a detailed timeline showing all of the important events and details from the Information Sheet. Mark the events with specific dates or at least eras.

An Introduction to Hydro Tasmania

Hydro Tasmania provides electrical energy for the people of Tasmania, Australia’s island state. The word ‘hydro’ means ‘water’. Power stations can make electricity by using water to turn large engines (or ‘turbines’) that release energy. This energy is caught and sent to places where it is needed, to power people’s homes and businesses. A similar process is use

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