Instructions
Get the following materials from your teacher.
- 1 6-sided die
- Scenario cards (mixed up and stacked face-down)
- ~ 25 Energy tokens (e.g. colored paper slips or small objects)
How to Play
- Place the Scenario Cards face down in a stack.
- When a player draws a Scenario Card, they should read it out loud, and then record the card name on the Tracker Sheet.
- The person sitting to the right of the card picker will roll the die to determine the outcome listed on the card.
- The person who rolled the die will then read the roll choice scenario out loud, and record Roll Choice description on the Tracker Sheet. They will also record impact and energy points on the Tracker sheet. This includes recording a gain or loss of energy tokens, adding emissions points, water use points, land use points, or waste points.
- After 4-8 rounds, or a set time, the group will add up their
- Total emissions points + total water use points + total land use points + total waste points = Total Environmental Impact
- Total energy points = Total Energy
- Student groups are successful if their environmental impact points do not exceed their total energy points!
- Start with Round 1 on the Tracker Sheet below! Game start!
Impact and Energy Tracker Sheet
Use this sheet to record your points for each round of the Energy Impact Dice Game. Fill in each section like the example below.
| (This is An Example) Card Name: Solar Farm Installed Roll Choice: A utility-scale solar farm is installed in open land. It generates low emissions energy but takes up space and will require future disposal planning. | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| +2 | +1 | Place 1 energy token here. | ||
Game Start!
| Round 1 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| Round 2 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| Round 3 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| Round 4 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| Round 5 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| Round 6 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| Round 7 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
| Round 8 Card Name: Roll Choice: | ||||
| Emissions | Water Use | Land Use | Waste | Energy Tokens |
Add up the total Impact points (emissions, water use, land use, waste): ____________________
Add up the total Energy points (energy tokens): ____________________
Do your Energy Tokens exceed your Impact points? ____________________
If yes, you have succeeded in creating a balanced energy landscape for your community!
Reflection Questions
- How does this game reflect real-life energy decisions made by communities and governments?
- What surprised you most about the outcomes of different energy scenarios?
- How can individuals or communities reduce the negative impacts of energy use in real life?
- How did tracking your group’s environmental impact help you understand the consequences of energy choices?