Science of Biofuels – Bell Ringer
Summary
Three bell ringer prompts introduce students to biofuels by building from what plants do, to what fuels are, to the real trade-offs of growing crops for energy. Short enough for a warm-up or lesson opener, the questions scaffold thinking across direct and indirect energy use, basic definitions, and weighing pros and cons. Fits naturally into a middle or high school energy unit.
Describe 2-3 ways that plants provide energy, both directly and indirectly.
A fuel is any material that is burned or used to produce energy. What do you think a biofuel is? Can you describe some examples?
Biofuels are made from living things like plants and algae.
What do you think are some pros and cons of growing crops like corn or sugarcane for fuel?
