Renewable Energy

Landmark 16 (Renewable Energy)

Our grade 5/6 class has been learning about renewable energy sources in order to better understand the importance of energy in our communities and in our everyday lives. Through virtual explorations and knowledge building circles, students were able to locate sources of renewable energy in and around our community: the wind turbines in Clarington, the solar farm on Lily Lake Road in Peterborough, and the many waterpower stations of the Otonabee River. Many students could connect these places to personal experiences, making the learning that much more meaningful.
Students were particularly interested in wind energy. We spent an afternoon learning about ancient Greek mythology about the wind, local and global winds, windsocks, and wind turbines. In an effort to examine multiple perspectives on the topic, students researched the pros and cons of wind energy and participated in a respectful debate about the importance of this renewable resource. We extended this critical lens to discuss not only the pros and cons of wind and other renewable resources, but also issues of equitable access to clean and affordable energy.
After a lot of learning and discussion, it was time to participate in joyful, creative, hands-on exploration of wind devices. Students made and tested pinwheels to comprehend how wind turbines function, and windsocks, which they used to determine the direction and speed of the wind. What was most exciting to see was students- without prompting- pulling out their windsocks later in the week to test them out on a particularly windy day.

R.F. Downey Gr 5/6 – December 14, 2022