DeWitt Clinton High School

Ms. A. Vasquez

Science Department

Bronx, New York

Biophilia88@aol.com

Energy, energy, energy! It is so important…where does it come from?

Do we have enough energy to sustain all the needs of our society today?

During 2003 more than 1800 MW of energy producing wind turbines will be installed in the US.  This represents a 35% increase in capacity in just one year!  It is enough energy to power at least 600,000 US households.  In states like CA, TX, NY, and OK a wide variety of large and small scale facilities are currently under construction.  You may have noticed windmills appearing on ridges and hills near your home.  Have you ever wondered how they work and what they are doing up there?

You are the director of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

and the President of the United States share his concerns about energy resources for this country.

He was told that wind energy is a good option but he wants you…the expert to give him the latest information about the effectiveness of this method.

For this task you need to work with your cabinet to conduct this investigation. Your group of researchers will consist of one Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, a public service commission representative, one research scientist, and one representative for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

You will work in groups of four students and your team will complete the following tasks:

1. Create a report that will include your findings regarding the following aspects

** Some facts about the history of wind energy

** Government programs in the United States at the present time.

** Efficiency of wind energy.

** Statistics.

2. Offer a final presentation describing your findings.

**You will have ten minutes for the oral presentation.

In your group you need to use the Public Policy Analyst steps to complete the worksheets that will allow you to summarize information to complete the task.

a. Define the Problem : With this worksheet your group will be able to describe the research that the president of the USA asked you to do.

b. Gather Evidence: By using this worksheet your group will be able to collect information to answer your research questions.

c. Identify Causes: At this point your group will be able to identify possible reasons to study wind energy in the USA.

d. Evaluate Existing Policy: On the other hand this worksheet will help you estimate present energy resources and where wind energy stands among the other sources of renewable energy.

e. Developing Solutions: This step will allow your group to observe possible options for the benefit of the people of the USA.

f. Select the Best Solution: Now, your group is ready to make a final decision regarding pros and cons of wind energy.

At this point your cabinet can give a final report to the president.

Wind Energy Basis

American Wind energy Association

Wind Energy Web links

Wind Power New York

DeWitt Clinton High School

Name: ________________________

Teacher: Ms Vasquez

Date submitted: ____________

Title of Work: Human Impact on the environment___________________

CRITERIA

	4	3	2	1	Points
Introduction	All questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were clearly stated.	All questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were not clearly stated.	Not all questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all answers were not clearly stated.	All questions were not answered completely.	25
Task	All areas of the task were addressed and handled with a high degree of sophistication. The plan followed demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least one area of the task was not addressed. The plan followed demonstrated a great deal of thought.	At least two areas of the task were not addressed. The plan followed demonstrated a moderate level of thought.	The task is incomplete and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the development of the task.	25
Project: Originality Using PPA	Completed six worksheets required for the PPA analysis.	Completed five worksheets required for the PPA analysis.	Completed only four worksheets required for the PPA analysis.	Completed three or less worksheets required for the PPA analysis.	25
Grammar, Format, and Spelling for the final essay.	The final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had 1 error related to grammar, spelling, or formatting errors.	The final body of work had 3-5 grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	The final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors.	25
				Total---->	100

Science is an important factor driving the growth of wind power and this webquest was designed to help you relate the science behind wind power. After completing this task you should be able to describe the benefits of wind energy as well as other energy resources.

New York State Standards

Standard 4-Science

Key Idea 7:

Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and living environment.

Population growth has placed new strains on the environment in massive pollution of air and water, deforestation and extinction of species, global warming, and alteration of the ozone shield. Some individuals believe that there will be a technological fix for such problems. Others, concerned with the accelerating pace of change and the ecological concept of finite resources, are far less optimistic. What is certain, however, is that resolving these issues will require increasing global awareness, cooperation, and action.

Since the students of today will be the elected officials and informed public of tomorrow, the teacher should encourage a diversity of activities that will allow students to explore, explain, and apply conceptual understandings and skills necessary to be environmentally literate. Explain how individual choices and societal actions can contribute to improving the environment.

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 7.3

Describe the range of interrelationships of humans with the living and nonliving environment.

Major Understandings

7.3a Societies must decide on proposals which involve the introduction of new technologies. Individuals need to make decisions which will assess risks, costs, benefits, and trade-offs.

7.3b The decisions of one generation both provide and limit the range of possibilities open to the next generation.