B1.1
Complete “A Bioenergy Challenge”, to create a realistic energy plan for a fictional town.
ON – Environmental Science, Grade 11, University/College Prep
Summary
This alignment guide connects Switch Classroom resources to Ontario Grade 11 Environmental Science (University/College Prep) and gives teachers a clear way to align major environmental issues with energy-focused classroom content. It supports instruction on climate, waste, media literacy, energy sources, life cycle impacts, and household energy use.
Students explore social and economic issues tied to environmental challenges through Introduction to Bioenergy, Energy Demand and Scale, Introduction to Energy Choices, and Introduction to Environmental Impacts, then deepen that work through National Energy Issues Debate, Life Cycle Assessment with Garvin Heath, and Recycling Waste Audit. The guide also includes extensive support for comparing energy technologies with lessons on Coal, Geothermal, Hydropower, Natural Gas, Nuclear, Oil, Solar, and Wind, plus energy audit and building design activities.
Resources
Energy Demand and Scale
B1.2
Discuss daily electricity use and what affects power demand. Then, complete a CER activity to evaluate the question: “Should managing demand be prioritized as much as building new power plants?”
Cleaning Up an Oil Spill: Investigative Lab
B2.2
Challenge students to evaluate different materials and methods for cleaning up an oil spill by designing and conducting their own experiment.
Developing Media Literacy - Mini-Unit
B2.4, B2.5
Introduce students to the fundamentals of media literacy through the lens of researching energy topics.
Introduction to Energy Choices
B3.1, B3.5
Assign the hands-on activity to understand the impacts related to energy choices.
Introduction to Environmental Impacts
B3.1, B3.5
Assign the hands-on activity to understand the impacts related to energy choices.
National Energy Issues Debate
C1.2
Have students research an assigned stance on energy policy relating to human health, then participate in a classroom debate.
Life Cycle Assessment with Garvin Heath – Video
E1.2, F3.2
Watch the video and discuss how life cycle assessments can be applied to everyday products to evaluate their total impact. Explore the factors that influence our energy decisions.
Recycling Waste Audit
E2.4
Conduct a school recycling waste audit, designed to help students become more aware of waste in their immediate surroundings and be empowered to make positive changes.
Science of Biofuels
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Coal
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Geothermal
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Hydropower
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Natural Gas
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Nuclear
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Oil
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Solar
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Science of Wind
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of this energy source, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Energy Sources Activity Stations
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of different energy sources, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Understanding Energy Transformations
F1.1, F1.2, F3.3
Examine the pros and cons of different energy sources, notice energy transitions, and answer critical thinking questions along the way.
Home Electricity Audit
F2.2, F2.3
Practice reading utility bills and calculating appliance energy consumption, and identify ways to reduce unnecessary electricity use.
Introduction to Hydropower
F2.4
Complete the Hands-On activity to build a working waterwheel.
Thermal Transfer Investigative Lab
F2.5
Challenge students to investigate how different materials affect heat transfer by measuring temperature changes over time.
Introduction to Energy Choices
F3.2
Explore the factors that influence our energy decisions.
Introduction to Energy Efficiency
F3.5
Identify strategies from the video for reducing energy consumption.