UK's future energy needs

A report by the BBC suggests that within a decade the UK could face an energy shortfall of 20%. A panel of 150 experts said that the Government must act fast to decide where the additional energy will come from.

For this reason, decisions on the UK's future energy needs have to be made today. But how can these decisions be made?

Let your students control how the UK's energy needs are met in the future and see the effects of their decisions in the activity below:

11-14s: The energy company

Show your students how their energy management decisions would affect the world in the activity below:

14-16s: Global Energy Manager

Britons surveyed on green issues

A recent survey by the Energy Saving Trust found that 80% of Britons believe that climate change is affecting the UK. However, two-fifths of respondents admitted that they are doing nothing to reduce their energy usage. The Energy Saving Trust is planning to update these figures on a quarterly basis and hopes that they will become a 'Green Barometer' on public opinions of green issues.

Encourage your students to discover the effects of climate change in the activities below:

11-14s: Tackling the country's carbon emissions

14-16s: Climate change

Catching energy sources

Get your students focused on learning about energy by thinking on their feet about different renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

Equipment: bean bag or ball
Number of students: groups of 6-12

Students stand together in a circle in their group of 6-12. Then one person throws the bean bag or ball to someone else in the circle and calls out 'Renewable' or 'Non-renewable'. The other student must then catch the bean bag or ball and say as quickly as possible the name of a renewable or non-renewable energy source as appropriate. Each student has three seconds to call out the name of a renewable/non-renewable energy source before they are out. The last student remaining in the circle is the winner.

Where shall we build it?

Encourage your students to start thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of building a wind farm with a debate. Split the class into two, with one side in favour of the wind farm and the other half against. Tell the class that they need to consider the local environment, the local population and what a wind farm will bring to the area.

Acting as journalists, your students can discover more about the pros and cons of building a wind farm in the activity below:

11-14s: The power generator

Your students can consider different aspects of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including the best places to use them in the activity below:

14-16s: Where can we use it?

England

The secondary curriculum in England is currently under review through the 14-19 Implementation Plan. The reform aims to make learning more varied and engage students who are not motivated by the current learning system, by offering them more choices through general and specialised diplomas. The first five of the fourteen specialised diplomas will be introduced in September 2008.

The DfES Sustainable Schools programme is encouraging schools to bring the topics of sustainable development and climate change into whole school management practices, including curriculum content. The recent curriculum review proposes bringing these topics into the geography curriculum by 2008.

Scotland

In Scotland curriculum matters are currently under review. A Curriculum for Excellence aims to provide more freedom for teachers, greater choice for pupils and develop a single coherent curriculum for all young people aged 3-18. From August 2007, there will be a year of familiarisation, preparation and development with ongoing continued professional development. The implementation of A Curriculum for Excellence will begin in August 2008.

Wales

In Wales, after ACCAC's review of the curriculum, revised programmes of study for science for Key Stages 1-4 will be introduced from 2008. At Key Stage 4, the revised programme will have a greater emphasis on skills and, by being less prescriptive, will support the new GCSEs.

Did you know that...?

• If hydroelectric power from all the UK's rivers and streams could be tapped, it would meet just over 3% of our total electricity needs.
• The re-opened Hatfield Colliery in South Yorkshire will produce between 2 to 2.5 million tonnes of coal a year - enough to supply electricity to Leeds and Sheffield simultaneously.
• While around 6,000 UK homes currently have solar panels, there are around 140,000 homes in Germany and nearly 400,000 homes in Japan with solar panels.