The Geologist's Dilemma Lesson Plan
Students will explain the relationship between supply and demand and its impact on energy resources.
Email gg-info@lists.utah.edu to receive the full lesson with the procedure and worksheet.
Objective
Students will explain the relationship between supply and demand and its impact on energy resources.
Concepts
- There are renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
- These energy sources have costs and benefits associated with them.
- Demand for energy sources is shaped by supply and cost.
Skill Reinforcement
- Critical thinking
- Math-number manipulation
- Cooperative learning
- Evaluation of multiple factors
Grade Level
4-12
Time Needed
One or two class periods
Materials
- chalkboard or graph paper for recording
- glass jar
- five different colors of beads or types of beans
- rice in the same quantity as beads
- About 31 percent of the beads should be black (or black beans), 27 percent white (or navy beans),19 percent blue (or kidney beans), 13 percent green (or rice) and 10 percent red (or lentils).[1] Since the beads represent our energy sources, which are unknown to all, do not attempt to count all the beads or beans. N O T E : Any resources not found the first time are waiting to be recovered the next time the game is played.