Renewable Energy Learning Lab

• This interactive resource houses three learning sections where students can explore numerous linked articles, videos, and maps to learn about renewable energy, energy use, and how one school in Maine is helping their community be more sustainable.
• In addition to the interactive maps and linked content, students will explore The Ecology School, a location under construction in Maine that will serve as an environmentally-friendly and self-sufficient venue for students to learn about what it looks like to live sustainably.
• A comprehensive teacher guide that includes six lessons designed to work with the learning lab can also be used to create an entire renewable energy unit for your class.
  

Positives

• These interactive presentations are engaging collections of valuable learning resources!
• Students learning about The Ecology School will get to see a modern version of living sustainably, possibly challenging some preconceived notions about going "off the grid."

Additional Prerequisites

• Students who click the green graphic in the virtual classroom will need to enter an email to read the article.
• The "Climate Strong" link in the virtual classroom is broken.
• On the map, the pin on Greenland is a broken link.
• The "click to learn soils" and "click to meet the farmer" links on the third presentation are broken.

Differentiation

• Students who are exploring the resources independently may benefit from a worksheet or from guided notes to ensure they are viewing all necessary resources and understanding key concepts.
• Students reading lengthy articles in the virtual classroom can do this reading in groups or pairs.
• Younger students or classrooms where technology is not 1:1 can complete these learning labs as a class, with the teacher displaying the presentation.
• Consider using some of these resources to connect to physics concepts about electricity generation through different means and electricity transport through wires.