Science of the Electric Grid – Teacher Guide

Summary

This teacher guide provides structured instruction for teaching the electric grid, including vocabulary scaffolding, reading integration, computation exercises, data analysis, and a project-based microgrid case study.

The guide walks educators through introducing generation, transmission, and distribution systems; facilitating discussions about grid reliability and resilience; and guiding students through real-world case studies such as Puerto Rico’s microgrid implementation. It also includes research project and debate pathways to differentiate instruction and support deeper analysis of grid expansion versus microgrid development.

Clear objectives align with NGSS practices, including data interpretation, evidence-based reasoning, systems thinking, and evaluation of technological tradeoffs.

Pair with the Student Guide for ready-to-use materials. For additional infrastructure-focused lessons, explore Science of Energy Efficiency.