MiniPage Teacher's Guide

MiniPage activities meet many state and national educational standards. This week's standards: Students develop abilities of technological design, understanding about science and technology, and abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans. (Science: Science and Technology) Students understand how societies use technology for problem-solving. (Technology: Problem-Solving)
Activities:
1. Use newspaper words and pictures to make a collage of energy-saving appliances or equipment that people can use in their homes.
2. Look around your house or apartment. Name one or two things that your family does to reduce the use of energy. Name two new things you could do to save even more energy.
3. Interview family members and friends. Ask them to identify at least two changes they would be willing to make in the way they live in order to save energy. For example, would they reduce water usage for daily chores? Would they be willing to live in a smaller house? Would they be willing to buy more locally produced foods?
4. How do these characteristics of bamboo make it a valuable "green" product: (a) the strong but hollow structure of the stem, (b) the many different varieties, and (c) the locations where bamboo grows?
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about renewable energy sources. Use these questions to guide your research: Why is energy important in your area? For example, are there many highways? Do you live in a cold climate where you need to heat your home in the winter? Do you live in a hot climate where you must use air-conditioning much of the year? What renewable sources could be used: solar? wind? geothermal? Write a paragraph discussing the ways alternative energy sources would be effective in your community.