This video explores renewable and nonrenewable energy and then describes petroleum, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy.
A full transcript and interactive quiz are included on the site.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The video is an informative introduction to nonrenewable energy sources.
The video encourages students to pay attention to their personal energy use and where the energy comes from.
Additional Prerequisites
This is a great introduction to renewable and nonrenewable energy. No background knowledge is required.
Differentiation
Science classes could use this resource with the next video in the series for lessons on energy sources, fossil fuels, nuclear energy, or renewable versus nonrenewable energy.
This resource pairs well with this Khan Academy video on greenhouse gas emissions and the greenhouse effect.
Other resources on this topic include this Newsela article on the advantages and disadvantages of nonrenewable energy sources, this video and text on the impact of nonrenewable energy sources on the environment, this video on what would happen if we burned all the fossil fuels, and this NOVA Labs video on the need for renewable energy.
Scientist Notes
This video presents an overview of nonrenewable energy sources, including oil, coal, and nuclear material. The video is clear and concise and it ties personal energy use directly to sources of energy. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
HS-ESS3-3 Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.
HS-ESS3-6 Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
