Alternative Energy Company

Grade 5 Research

  1. Open a new presentation document in OpenOffice. Select “Introducing a New Product” template.
  2. You will create a presentation for a company that you might create some day. Enter the name of the product and the name of the company. Choose a color scheme to compliment the source of energy.
  3. You will complete information on the following slides
    1. Long-term Goal
    2. Customer wishes
    3. Fulfilling Customer Needs
    4. Cost Analysis
    5. Strengths and Advantages
    6. Next Step of Action
    7. Bibliography
  4. Add images where appropriate. Images may come from Google images.
  5. View the following advertisements. Do they provide information about long-term goals, customer wishes, etc.
    1. Exxon Mobile Algae Advertisement (We’ll talk about algae as a biofuel later. For now, listen to how they present their long-term goals, etc.)

Alternative Energy Research

Grade 5 Research

  1. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  2. At the top place the alternative energy source you are investigating.
  3. Enter the how, which, or why question you will investigate. (This is from your cluster map.)
  4. Enter the following sentence, “Energy is not created or destroyed. It is only changed from one form to another“.
  5. In a bullet list or numbered list write everything you already know about the topic and the question.
  6. Go to Fact Monster – Science – Environment, Energy, and Nature.  Follow the links to find information that might answer your question. Make notes on the text document. Include the URL for the source of the information.
  7. Go to BrainPOP Jr. science. Follow the links to find information to answer your question. Take notes after each video clip that you watch. Include the URL for the source of the information.
  8. Write a paragraph summary with the answer to your question.

Alternative Energy Cluster Map

Grade 5 – Cluster Map and Research Question

  1. Open a new drawing document in OpenOffice.
  2. Create a Cluster map. The center circle should be titled “alternative energy”.
  3. Create an outer circle for each alternative energy source that you can name. Label each circle with the name of an alternative energy source.
  4. Arrows should point from the center circle to outer circles.
  5. Select the text for the alternative energy source that you are most interested in. Make it bold.
  6. Create a rectangle near the bold alternative energy source. Enter a question you would like to investigate about the form of energy. The question must be a how, which or why question.
Sample start for cluster map

Sample start for cluster map

Citation Practice: Nuclear Safety

  1. Read this article on U.S. nuclear safety in focus after Japan quake.
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  3. Write a summary of the article in your own words. Do not use any quotations.
  4. Create a bibliography for the article using EasyBib.
  5. Paste the bibliography entry into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  6. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  7. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  8. Save the article and place in the class dropbox.

Sample Student Work (8th Grade)

Nuclear
by Ariel M.

Japan’s earthquake and catastrophic events have nuclear plants worried in the United States about their readiness for disaster. Many people in the United States felt that Japan was more prepared for this then they appeared to be. However, while the general public may be concerned about the safety of the United States power plants, owners and engineering excepts are certain the the U.S. is well drilled and well prepared (U.S. Nuclear Safety).

Bibliography

“U.S. Nuclear Safety in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News.” Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News – CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc., 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/14/earlyshow/main20042815.shtml>.

  • This is valid because it is an article from an official news website.

 

Nuclear Power Plants in Japan
by Michele P.

The earthquake in Japan is a wake up call for our nuclear power plants here in the US. Many plants are located on fault lines, that may be hazardous if affected by an earthquake. Officials say that the nuclear power plants in California are well prepared for a disaster. The officials believe that we are more prepared then the Japanese were, and that the age of the power plants may be a contributer to the fall of the nuclear power plants in Japan ( U.S. Nuclear Saftey in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News).

Bibliography

“U.S. Nuclear Safety in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News.” Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News – CBS News. CBS, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/14/earlyshow/main20042815.shtml>.

  • This is a verifiable site because it was made by a news station and has an official publishing sponsor.