Let's Go Careers: Biofuel & Biomass Careers...Recycling that helps us GO PLACES!
BIOMASS and BIOFUEL are terms that have been discussed increasingly during the past two decades, as we talk about society's energy needs. As we crave fruits and vegetables shipped from other countries, enjoy the convenience of driving cars, and yearn to jet long distances on vacations, we also face diminishing amounts of fossil fuels that help achieve these desires! However, there is also some GOOD NEWS on the "energy horizon." Motivated individuals have been developing new technologies to help solve our current energy woes, and their creative companies are spreading these new ideas around the globe! Learn about these new energy industries and see if one of these areas is a good fit for yourjob future.
*This lesson features videos from KnowitAll's Let's Go Careers Series
Essential Question
Learn how our energy future can be changed by studying BIOMASS and BIOFUEL ,and how students can prepare for a great job in the area of "recycling fuel".
Grade(s):
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Student Chromebook
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Spiral notebook / pen or pencil ( for notetaking)
Cell phone w/ video recording capabilities
Art Supplies: white and colored paper/ thin-tip and regular tip colored markers/glue/ magazines/scissors
Lesson Progression
STUDENTS: Watch all the attached videos...then follow this procedure:
1.As you watch each video, make notes on the MAIN POINTS of the video (either taking notes with your chromebook or a spiral notebook.)
2. Pause video and write definitions of all terms you think are important, especially any vocabulary you don't understand about this topic. (Write in chromebook or spiral notebook.)
3. After each video, write 2 statements : a THUMBS UP and a THUMBS DOWN statement.( use Chromebook or spiral notebook)
* What would you like BEST about the "career possibilities" this video presents?
* What would you like LEAST about the "career possibilities" this video presents?
Renewable Energy 101: How does BiomassEnergy Work? / Youtube - 1:30
This is a short video that discusses the term BIOMASS, a very important word to understand if one is working in a recycling industry like BIOFUEL. These are very similar industries...such as manufacturing a useful product out of things someone else is throwing away!
View ResourceLet's Go Careers! "Bio Joe " Renwick, Green Energy Biofuel/ knowitall.org - 7:00
Joe Renwick started a career he loves...he collects used restaurant oil ( from fryers), animal fat, and through an amazing process, converts it into BIOFUEL, which can substitute for gas in cars, tractors, etc. His company also manufactures BIODIESEL fuel, which can power huge tractor-trailer trucks. He loves his job, and gives tips for getting into this industry.
View ResourceBiofuels: diSCovering Science / knowitall.org - 2:38
John Weidner, Ph D. , a professor of Chemical Engineering at The University of South Carolina, discusses using the gas HYDROGEN to help convert tree & plant "leftovers" (science name = BIOMASS) into BIOFUEL.
View ResourceBiofuels 101 / YouTube - 3:10
1.What are 1st generation, 2nd generation, 3rd generation biofuels? You must be able to explain the difference.
2. Why are CARBON EMISSIONS dangerous for the Earth's atmosphere? (and this makes biofuels preferable for us to use in the 21st century for our vehicles...)
Science of Innovation / YouTube - 5:31
Find out how a biochemistry professor successflly "tamed" an algae, changing it's role in society from a destructive VILLAIN to a SUPERHERO! Professor Steve Hutcheson now has a new company that he developed from learning to research something so THOROUGHLY that he began to see NEW POSSIBILITIES! ( Yes, hard work DOES pay off!)
View ResourceAlgae to Biofuel / YouTube - 10:11
Vermont researchers and entrepreneurs demonstrate their innovations to biofuel, as they do RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ( known as R & D in industries) in the Northeast region of the United States.
View ResourceWhat is Biofuel? (STUDENT PRODUCED) / YouTube - 4:00
Watching and taking notes on this video will be part of your assessment. You'll be looking for
1. Successful parts of this video
2. Unsuccessful / NEED TO BE IMPROVED parts of the video.
BE SPECIFIC WITH EACH COMMENT
Assessments
1. Define these words, because YOU WILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEM for the assessment:
* LOGO / *AD SLOGAN / * PRINT AD / * RADIO or TV AD / *AD CAMPAIGN
2.. You will create a fictional BIOFUEL product. Whether or not it's possible right now, what is some kind of BIOMASS that is cheap or even FREE, from which to make your BIOFUEL/ something you might see street crews picking up and carting to the city dump, or see in a scrap heap at the saw mill, or farmer's market?
3. Come up with a name for your biofuel, and a CHARACTER which will be associated with it (a modern day product "character" is MR. CLEAN / cleaning products) . Have a brainstorming session by writing on a scrap sheet of paper...names of things in nature, and/or words associated with speed, efficiency, economy...or a name of a Greek / Roman god or goddess, athelete, etc.)
4. Once you have the character, NAME YOUR PRODUCT, and make a drawing/ rough sketch of it (a picture of both the graphics and the PRODUCT CHARACTER) that people will see everytime they buy your biofuel at the pump.
5. Write a slogan (6-8 words or less) to describe your fuel product...(think of catchy/ rhyming/ alliterative phrases that might be exciting)
6. PRODUCE 2 different PRINT ADS that might appear in a vehicle magazine to ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT. You may use computer drawings or sketches by hand.Print them on 2 separate sheets of paper.
7. PRODUCE 1 audio or video advertisement 15-30 seconds long ( w/ sound effects or music) to get the public interested in 'buying" your product. Rehearse it and record on your cell phone or a video camera.
