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Year 8

Using renewable energy resources

I can describe how renewable energy resources can be used to generate electricity.

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New
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Year 8

Using renewable energy resources

I can describe how renewable energy resources can be used to generate electricity.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Non-renewable energy resources cannot be replaced in our lifetime once they are used up.
  2. Renewable energy resources are not used up, or they can be replaced in our lifetime.
  3. Most renewable energy resources do not require burning and do not pollute the atmosphere.
  4. Resources are used up in order to make machines that can make electricity from renewable energy.
  5. Renewable energy resources have their advantages and disadvantages.

Keywords

  • Renewable energy resource - is not used up, or it can be replaced in our lifetime.

  • Non-renewable energy resource - will run out and cannot be replaced in our lifetime.

  • Pollution - is where substances that can harm living organisms are released into the environment.

  • Burning - is a chemical reaction where a substance reacts with oxygen to release energy. It is also called combustion.

Common misconception

Pupils often assume that there are no disadvantages to using renewable energy resources and do not know that non-renewable energy resources are used setting up for the use of renewable energy.

Ensure that pupils are able to evaluate the use of each renewable energy resource by providing both advantages and disadvantages and consider what may be involved in setting each up for use.

Suggest ways in which pupils can organise the information in this lesson, for example by producing fact files for each non-renewable energy resource. Encourage group work and discussion to capture ideas and then summarise to ensure the pupils have collated the key points.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Combustion is the reaction between a fuel and .
Correct Answer: oxygen
Q2.
Which of the following are disadvantages of burning non-renewable energy resources?
Correct answer: they will eventually run out
Correct answer: they produce pollutants such as carbon dioxide
they can release large quantities of energy
they are relatively easy to access
Q3.
Wood pellets can be burned in a power station to generate electricity. Which of the following are products of the combustion of wood pellets?
Correct answer: Water
Correct answer: Carbon dioxde
Oxygen
Hydrogen
Q4.
Burning a fuel is an example of a combustion reaction and .
Correct answer: an oxidation reaction
Correct answer: an exothermic reaction
an endothermic reaction
a thermal decomposition reaction
Q5.
In a power station, steam turns the which turns electrical generators that produce electricity.
Correct Answer: turbine, turbines
Q6.
Which of the following are examples of non-renewable sources of energy?
Correct answer: Coal
Correct answer: Nuclear
Solar
Wind

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following terms to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:Renewable energy resource,Resource that is not used up or can easily be replaced in our lifetime

Resource that is not used up or can easily be replaced in our lifetime

Correct Answer:Non-renewable energy resource,Resource that is used up and cannot be easily replaced .

Resource that is used up and cannot be easily replaced .

Correct Answer:Pollution,Substances that harm living things are released into the environment.

Substances that harm living things are released into the environment.

Correct Answer:Burning,A chemical reaction; a substance reacts with oxygen to release energy.

A chemical reaction; a substance reacts with oxygen to release energy.

Q2.
Which of the following are examples of renewable energy resources?
Natural gas
Nuclear
Correct answer: Geothermal
Correct answer: Biomass
Q3.
Which of the following are disadvantages of solar power?
Correct answer: They only generate electricity if there is enough sunlight.
They do not cause pollution.
Correct answer: They use fields that could be used for animals or crops.
They can be placed on the roofs of buildings.
Q4.
Which of the following are advantages of wind power?
They are expensive to manufacture and install.
Correct answer: They are cheap to run.
Correct answer: They do not directly cause pollution.
They can disturb wildlife.
Q5.
power uses turbines that turn when sea water flows through them.
Correct Answer: tidal
Q6.
True or false? Geothermal energy uses hot water and steam from deep underground to turn turbines.
Correct answer: true
false