In this 60-minute lesson, students play a competitive token game that simulates the consumption of renewable and nonrenewable energy resources to meet daily electricity needs.
Across four challenges, students model a renewable energy transition, represent different countries with real renewable and nonrenewable ratios, and design their own version of the game to meet electricity needs while preserving resources for the future.
Students also examine how electricity is generated in Wisconsin and consider how today's energy choices affect Wisconsin's goal of carbon-free electricity by 2050.
Before engaging in this lesson, introduce students to Wisconsin's Clean Energy Plan and analyze its progress towards its 2050 goal.
Guide students through the questions in the student worksheet by facilitating class discussions and sharing their answers after each challenge.
Although the lesson is designed for classrooms in Wisconsin, the challenges can be easily adapted to other states by adapting the ratio of tokens to reflect your state's energy sources.
Sustainable Development Goals Connections:
This resource can be used to make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy.
This resource can be used to make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Related Teaching Resources
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
