Gadgets

6th Grade Social Studies Lesson Plan: Gadgets and Toys! Securing the Future of Our Energy Consuming Lifestyles Activating Activities: Discussion: We all love our gadgets and toys. And most of them consume a lot of energy! Students will discuss and list the various energy consuming gadgets and toys they use. (Ipods, WII's, hair dryers, 4-wheelers, cell phones etc.) Given the scenario of various predictions of a shortage of energy and resulting decline in the availability and use of these devices, students will brainstorm "other" sources of energy that could help supplement regular energy sources. Ask what the greatest use of energy consumption is at our school. (heat and light) Propose to the students that you have a mission for them to help save the future of the gadgets they love by designing an acre of school property to house a plan for production of one of these renewable energy sources. By reducing our consumption of natural gas and fuels, and creating their own source of energy, students will be able to continue to use the gadgets and toys they love! Materials needed: GPS systems, batteries, geocache containers with teacher clues/questions/research prompts, renewable energy source wiki created by last year's 6th graders: http://smokesignals6.keystonespa.org/, graph paper, calculators, teacher created research links, student created rubrics 2. Geocaching with GPS Devices: Students in groups of 3 will learn how to use a GPS device to find teacher created geocaches located at the outlying cardinal direction boundaries of the school property. They will develop an understanding of latitude/longitude and corresponding distances between as they use these devices. In the geocaches will be clues and leads to information needed to design and set waypoints for an acre of renewable "energy" within our school property. (windmills, solar panels, geothermal heat, or corn fields (biomass) . Students will first do teacher guided research to supplement the information they find in the geocaches. They will then plot on paper a map of their "acre of energy." Next they will enter into the GPS system the waypoints of the devices' locations they have on their plot. Students will then exchange GPS devices to find and explore each other's "acres." 3. Assessment: Finally each team will draw a map and compare their map to the original team's map of an "acre of energy." Students will present their research and results on a previously created wiki of information as noted above. 4. Closure: Using a student created rubrics, the principal of our school will assess each plan and wiki, and provide feedback to each group.

7.1.6 Basic Geographic Literacy B. Describe and locate places and regions. • Coordinate systems (e.g., latitude and longitude, time zones)

2.4 .8Measurement and Estimation…………….…………….…… Types of measurement (e.g., length, time) Units and tools of measurement Computing and comparing measurements A. Estimate, use and describe measures of distance, rate, perimeter, area, volume, weight, mass and angles. B. Use scale measurements to interpret maps or drawings. Create and use scale models.

2.5 Mathematical Problem Solving and Communication.............. Problem solving strategies Representing problems in various ways Interpreting results A. Develop a plan to analyze a problem, identify the information needed to solve the problem, carry out the plan, check whether an answer makes sense and explain how the problem was solved. B. Show ideas in a variety of ways, including words, numbers, symbols, pictures, charts, graphs, tables, diagrams and models. C. Use appropriate problem-solving strategies (e.g., solving a simpler problem, drawing a picture or diagram).

4.2.10 Environment and Ecology 4.2. 10 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources A. Explain that renewable and nonrenewable resources supply energy and materials. • Identify alternative sources of energy.

ISTE NETS-S 1. Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.

3. Research and Information Fluency b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.

4. Ctritical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making b. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.