Wisconsin Electricity Sources Sort (English)
Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education|Published on: July 4, 2026
Grades: 4-12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Science, Social Studies
Authors: K-12 Energy Education Program
Region: Wisconsin
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this lesson, students explore how Wisconsin generates electricity, comparing electricity sources based on how much they are utilized, if they are produced in Wisconsin or imported, if they are renewable or non-renewable, and if they emit greenhouse gases.
- The 15-20 minute lesson includes a teacher guide, presentation slides, and printable graphics.
Teaching Materials
Classroom Implementation:
- Use the biomass/biogas special case to prompt a deeper discussion about why a source can emit carbon dioxide and still be sustainable.
- For a class with Spanish-speaking multilingual learners, divide students into groups by English fluency level and use a mix of English and Spanish materials to encourage language development.
- Although this resource is based on Wisconsin, it can easily be adapted to other states by replacing information about Wisconsin's electricity generation with local data.
Extensions:
- Have students investigate where their own school or community's electricity comes from, and propose concrete actions to make their electricity procurement more sustainable.
- Have students, in their groups, choose another place in the world and research its electricity sources to then compare them with those of Wisconsin.
This resource details all the sources of Wisconsin electricity and presents how electricity generation and use contributes to climate change. The educator guide includes clear text, clearing up common misconceptions such as the difference between weather and climate. This resource is a solid introduction to renewable electricity generation and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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