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Kick off your advanced lesson with these thought-provoking wind energy bell ringers. The prompts encourage high school students to compare wind energy to traditional sources, weigh the pros and cons of onshore vs. offshore wind farms, and brainstorm solutions for wind power’s intermittent nature. These questions activate prior knowledge and set the stage for a deeper, more technical discussion.
Think about how we commonly produce electricity (like with coal or natural gas). List as many things as you can think of that makes wind energy different from these traditional sources.
If you lived in a coastal city on the plains, and needed to choose between building a wind farm on land, or an offshore wind farm, which would you choose?
Explain your reasoning.
Wind turbines make power when the wind blows, not necessarily when people use electricity. Brainstorm ways to ensure people still have reliable power when they need it.
