Notes on Local to global

Notes on Local to global  

 Current energy use

Science and geography

Timing: Half a lesson

Objective:

• Appreciate the difference between energy uses in developing and developed countries

Assessment:

• Self-assessment form
• Student performance during activity

Delivery:

Individually or in small groups – The students can run through the activity on their own or in small groups if there are enough computers.

As a class – You can use this activity with an interactive whiteboard.

Begin with an offline exercise to try to identify all the energy sources and appliances a typical family uses during the day.

Try to establish an understanding of high energy use activities (cooking, heating water, central heating) and low use activities (lighting and listening to the radio).

Then, in groups, the students complete the online activity. They have to estimate how much energy their household uses on an average day. Alternatively, one or two students can be nominated to plot their energy use in front of the class.

Next there is a simple activity that compares the UK with India by identifying appliances you would expect to find in typical households in both countries. The learning point here is that while the UK currently uses more energy, India’s needs are increasing rapidly.

Go to Current energy use

 Future energy use

Science and geography

Timing: One lesson

Objective:

• Understand why global energy demand will continue to rise

Assessment:

• Self-assessment form
• Student performance during activity

Delivery:

Individually or in small groups – The students can run through the activity on their own or in small groups if there are enough computers.

As a class – You can use this activity with an interactive whiteboard.

This online activity asks students why India needs increasing amounts of energy. It is in the form of a marked quiz, so before the answers are submitted, you can hold a brief class discussion. If working as a class, nominate someone to input their answers. If the class are in small groups, each group can nominate a member to input their opinion.

The next part of the activity is suited to older or more able students. It looks at some figures from the Indian Government census for 2001, and asks students to use this data to estimate how much more energy will be needed in the future. They should consider levels of poverty, the difference of between town and country living, and the fuels used.

Apart from the fascinating glimpse of life in India that these figures offer, the overriding fact is the average Indian home uses very little electricity. Yet consumerism is rife on the subcontinent and standards of living are rising.

Estimates suggest that India currently consumes 519 billion kWh (2003) of electricity. Development needs suggest a doubling of that total by 2025.

Go to Future energy use

 Your usage

Science

Timing: Half a lesson, or can be set as homework

Objectives:

• Investigate different energy sources and their associated advantages and disadvantages
• Tie together work on burning fossil fuels, and work on different energy resources.

Assessment:

• Answers on the activity card

Delivery:

Individually – If time allows, students can present their findings to the rest of their group.

Download Activity card 2: Local to global: Your usage