WebQuest: U.S. and World Energy

Overview
In this lesson you will examine about sources of energy produced and consumed in the world as well as alternate forms of energy.  You will then think about the relationship between people in a country and energy.

Introduction
The rising cost of gas prices has caused many people to become concerned with our energy consumption and with finding alternate sources of energy to help sustain our habits.  This WebQuest will allow you to look at the energy situation in the United States as well what alternative energy sources exist.  Additionally, you will look at other countries and see how their energy situation differs or compares to ours.

 

Quest(ions) and the Task

**Please record your answers in this word document.

PART 1:

1.  In the chart provided in the word document, think about the things that you use on a daily basis that require energy (oil, gas, solar power, batteries, electricity, etc.)  List these items in the Energy Users column.  For each item write down the energy source it uses in the Energy Source column.

2.  Using the chart from question #1, choose two of the activities listed which require energy.  If you wanted to conserve energy, how could you change that activity?  For help visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/ You might want to look at the ideas they have for home, vehicles and workplace.  They can be accessed from the menu at the top.

3.  What methods of conservation are most realistic for people to do regularly?  Which are hard?  Why?  What are renewable energy sources?  What are non-renewable sources?
For help visit http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/index.html (Glossary of energy terms)
 

4.  Many countries do not produce all the energy that is required by its citizens.  When looking at production and consumption data, you can tell whether or not a country needs to import that energy source.  If consumption is greater than production then they will need to import energy to make up for the difference.  Using the resources in the chart below, see how the United States compares to other countries.

Energy Type

U.S. world rank in consumption

U.S. world rank in Production

Does the U.S. import it? Yes or No

Oil

 Find the answer here

 Find the answer here

 

 

Natural Gas

 Find the answer here

 Find the answer here

 

Electricity

 Find the answer here

 Find the answer here

 

 

Coal

 Find the answer here
(pg 5)

 

 Find the answer here
(pg 4)

 

Nuclear

 

 Find the answer here
(use Figure 5.5!!!)

 

 

5.  Think about the results of the data you have just examined.  How will the economy be affected by rising gas prices?

 

6.  Go to the U.S. Department of Energy site http://www.eere.energy.gov/ and look through the different sources of renewable energy.  Which do you think is the best/most efficient?  Why?  How does it work?

 

7.  Do a search on the renewable source of energy you thought was the best.  Write a short summary (at least 5-7 sentences) about your energy source that includes information about where that source is produced, pictures, advantages and disadvantages.  Site your references.

 

 

PART 2:

You will each be assigned a country.  You will then research the gasoline (oil) usage and forms of alternative energy in that country.  Make a PowerPoint slideshow about your assigned country's energy situation.  Your slideshow should contain at least 5-7 slides and should include at least 2 images.  Use the questions below as a guideline for your research and slideshow.  Your slideshow MUST include a reference slide.  Your reference slide does not count towards the minimum number of slides you must have (5).  Next class each student will present their slideshow to the class.   

Gas Consumption:
What is the current price of gasoline in the country?
What are some of the other types of transportation available?
What statistics can you find on cars?  (how many were purchased last year, how many people own them, etc)
How much oil did your country import last year (or the most recent data you can find)?  Where did they import from?

Alternative Energy
What types of alternative energy are available in your country?
What kind of energy does your country produce?

Conservation
Have any conservation efforts been made in the past?  If yes, what were they?  Were they successful?
What energy concerns does your country have?

Possible resources: CIA World Factbook, World Energy Council, World Energy Outlook, USGS World Energy Assessment

 

Evaluation
Part 1: WebQuest questions completed in student handout. (word document)
Part 2: PowerPoint slideshow with references about your assigned countries energy situation.  Minimum of 5-7 slides.
Part 2: Presentation of PowerPoint slideshow.