Explain MS-4

2.5 CLASS PERIODS (based on 55-60 minute periods)

Please plan accordingly. This section works best in a one to one computing environment.  At the most you want no more than 2 students to a computer.  Students will have to access YouTube to watch a video tutorial and each computer will need to have the most up-to-date version of Flash Player (11 or higher) for the interactivity of the energy maps to work properly.

For this section we will utilize tools from the Department of Energy’s, U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA site.  Before introducing this section you may want to watch the tutorial video (4:58) to get a better sense of the tool your students will be using.  Your students will also be watching the tutorial as they prepare to gather data and learn more about energy production and consumption in the U.S. and their home state.

PART 1 – 30 MINUTES

1. Explain to students they will be exploring energy production and consumption in the U.S and in their state. To collect data and make analyses we will be using the Department of Energy’s, Energy Information Administration web tools.
2. Before viewing the tutorial have students make a top 10 list. Rank the top 10 states for energy production and energy consumption. Have students use the example to the right when they set up their page.
3. Have students go to the EIA site. In the right hand navigation is the video tutorial where students will learn about the information and tools available for data collection.
4. Let’s look at the U.S. before looking at our home state. Students will now compare their predictions for energy production and consumption against the actual data.  Looking below the U.S. map students can use the blue toggle arrows to rank the states in order for production and then for consumption.

• Write the top ten states for production and consumption next to your prediction.
  • Did any of your predictions align with the actual data?
  • Were you surprised by any of the state’s positions for production or consumption? Explain.

PART 2 – 2 CLASS PERIODS

In part 2, students will look specifically at their home state using the EIA U.S. States data analysis tool.  Again students will need access to laptops or a computer lab where are hardware is up-to-date, specifically Flashplayer.  Options: You may want each student to investigate the state in which you all live, however you may also choose to have students draw a state to investigate.  While it is important to understand the energy of our home state, having general knowledge about the energy use found around the nation provides students the opportunity to be better informed decision makers. 

1. Provide each student or each pair of students with the State Energy Profile student handout found on page.
2. Go to: http://www.eia.gov/state/ and have students choose the state in which they live.