Renewable and Nonrenewable
Energy Sources and their
Impacts
Fourth Grade – Unit PowerPoint
Sustainability for Young Learners Courses
Lessons 1-5

Primary Standards Covered
• 4-ESS3-1: Earth and Human Activity - Obtain and combine information to
describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and that
their uses affect the environment. [Clarification Statement: Examples of
renewable energy resources could include wind energy, water behind
dams, and sunlight; non-renewable energy resources are fossil fuels and
fissile materials. Examples of environmental effects could include loss of
habitat due to dams, loss of habitat due to surface mining, and air pollution
from burning of fossil fuels.]
• SS3.A (4-ESS3-1): Disciplinary Core Ideas: Natural Resources - Energy and
fuels that humans use are derived from natural sources, and their use
affects the environment in multiple ways. Some resources are renewable
over time, and others are not.

Standard Connections Covered
• 4-ESS3-2: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions Generate and compare multiple solutions to a problem based on how
well they meet the criteria and constraints of the design solution.
• Literacy Common Core Standards Connections: RI.4.1 Refer to details
and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly
and when drawing inferences from the text. (4-ESS3-2)

Vocabulary words
and The Story of a Spoon
Lesson #1

Vocabulary Words
Lesson #1, Activity #1

Energy
• The power or ability to make something work, move, or be active.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Fossil Fuels
• Any carbon-containing fuel formed from the remains of prehistoric
plants and animals. Ex: coal, petroleum, and natural gas

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Non-renewable resources
• Resources that have a limited supply and cannot be replaced by
natural means at a pace that meets its consumption.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Renewable Resources
• Any source that can or will be replenished naturally over a short
amount of time to meet consumption needs. Ex: wood or solar (sun)

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Climate Change
• A change in global and regional climate patterns attributed to an
increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Pollution
• Pollution happens when the environment is contaminated, or dirtied,
by waste, chemicals, and other harmful substances. There are three
main forms of pollution: air, water, and land.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Sustainable
• Ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Coal
• A hard black or dark brown substance that is found in the earth and
burned as fuel.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Oil
• Liquid found beneath the earth’s surface used for fuel to power cars.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Natural Gas
• A mixture of gases found in the earth’s crust and extracted by fracking
to be used for cooking and heating.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Solar Energy
• Radiant energy from the sun that is captured to create energy.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Wind Energy
• Wind is used to create energy via turbines. The wind turns the
turbines, which creates energy and electricity.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

Hydropower
• Producing electricity by converting the power of waves and water into
energy.

Lesson 1, Activity #1

The Story of a Spoon
Video and Discussion
Lesson #1, Activity #2

The Story of a Spoon - Video
• Click here to watch the video
• Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg-E1FtjaxY

Lesson 1, Activity #2.1

The Story of a Spoon - Discussion

Lesson 1, Activity #2.2

Coal and Oil
Lesson #2

Coal Reading and
Handout
Lesson #2, Activity #1

SEARCH CLIMATE KIDS

Coal Reading
B

• The Story of Fossil Fuels by
NASA Climate kids.
• The article for this activity
can be found at this link:
https://climatekids.nasa.gov
/fossil-fuels-coal/

Q

W a
&
C a

T

S

F

A

A ce

A
a

4,000
a

F

F

A

, Pa

Wa

Pa

&A

a

1: C a

d

a a ,
.I a
.S

E

C

a a

T eI d
Re

a

a

a .T
a

.

B

a 1600 ,
a
a
. (S
a
a
a .)

a
L

a

a
.W

a

.K

a

.T

a
a

a
T

a
a

S

a ,
C a,

a

a
a

a
T
a
a

S ea
a

a
a

a

a

.

Pc

D

a

,
a

.

a.A
a

F
a
.O
.P
T
a

a
a
a

a

a a
a B a .I
a a

a

R
a

a
.T
a
a
a

a
a.

a
R
R

a
a E
a
a
a
410 CE a
Da A
E
, a a
a
.

B
R

.T

,
a
.Ta
Ia .

a

B

a
a
B

a

CE a
E a." I
a

a

N

.I
a

1712. I
.I

a

a
a

a

,
a

a

W a d e
CE ea ?

R

.

T
a

a

.T a a

a

a

a.

a
a a

a
a

a

.

"C
a
a .W
2015,

a

T
a

a

a
.T

Lesson 2, Activity #1.1

Coal Activity
• Students will fill out the
following section of the
activity

Lesson 2, Activity #1.2

Oil Reading and
Handout
Lesson #2, Activity #2

Oil Reading

SEARCH CLIMATE KIDS

Big Q estions

• The Story of Fossil Fuels by
NASA Climate kids.
• The article for this activity
can be found at this link:
https://climatekids.nasa.gov
/fossil-fuels-oil/

Weather &
Climate

Atmosphere

Water

Energ

Plants & Animals

The Stor of Fossil F els, Part 2: Oil
ANc
C
Ea

Rd
d
A

1888, B

aB

a 66ca . S
ba
B

'
Pa

a
-M

P
,O ,
Ga : W a
a Na
?
.S
a

. T a ca
a

a

aba
b
b .

A

a

a

a
.D

a

a
H

ab

?
:

a a

Petrole m

ac

c
c -

.I
c
ca b
P
T

a

a

a
,b
ab
c a c

a
.B
a

B

a
a
a a
a
cc
ca
a
.A ,
a
a .S
ca
a ac . T
a
.

T

R

P

a
.B
ca

a c ca
a
a
c a c. S
.S c a
a
a
,
a
a
ca
b
ca
a

a
a

,

.W
c
. I c
c a.

a
a

.I

a

B
ca
b ac
ca . Y
c
ca
Gasoline
a
(
a

a c

c
a c

b

a
.
a

.

a
a
c c
.
a
c

.P
c -

a
P

a ac
ba
a
a
b
c a
a ac b

.B

O
a

a

ab
B
a
.B
a a
ba , Ka B
. Ka a a
c
b
b
a
a b
B
a
, Ka a
a
,a
a a a a a
b .

ca
a
ca a
a c

a
a c

ca . I
ca

ac
).

ca

a
.
Kerosene a
c
ca
a
c
a
a
!

a
.I

Lesson 2, Activity #2.1

Oil Activity
• Students will fill out the
following section of the activity

Lesson 2, Activity #2.2

Oil and Coal
Discussion
Lesson #2, Activity #3

Coal and Oil Class Discussion

Lesson 2, Activity #3

Gas and the Environmental Cost
of Using Nonrenewable
Resources
Lesson #3

Gas Reading and
Handout
Lesson #3, Activity #1

SEARCH CLIMATE KIDS

Gas Reading
Big Q es ions

• The Story of Fossil Fuels by
NASA Climate kids.
• The article for this activity
can be found at this link:
https://climatekids.nasa.gov
/fossil-fuels-gas/

Wea her &
Clima e

A mosphere

Wa er

Energ

Plan s & Animals

The S or of Fossil F els, Par 3: Gas
AF e
Y

ca

c

f Ma

d a a a
a
a a
c -

H a
a
500 BCE,
a a a .T

U e
a

N
Re

,c a,a d
c .I c
a a c a a d .I,

c

e e ab e
ce?

,

.

F

ab
a a a
C a
d ba b
d
b
a .

a

.A

a
,b

d

a d

a

a

a

da . I a
a
c a,
a a a
a
a
T

a

,a d
,a d
c

a.

a :T
a
d
a 200 ears
d
a 500
million ears. I
a ba
b
a
da
a
,
d .E
d ,
b
c
.

A a
CE. T a
b

a
1,900

ab
a a a b
a .T
ab
d
-da I a . B
, d d ca c
a a a

100 a d 124
a

a

ab

ab

c

.
T da , a

a

a

d
a

AC
P
a d da
N

ica ed F
c c

d
.M

c

a d

a

c

.I
d.
S
c
a
a a
I
ad
c
c

e

d a a a a
b
a dc a
a

.I

a
b

a ab . Na a a
c a
b
a
.T a
a
ca
. Ma
ac
c d
b
c a
b
a a a .T a
a
ac
a
.

d .

c

b
a
a

a
ac
b ca

.

c a
d

a
a

S ,
a

a a

d

c a

ac

.

a,a
b

,
.

Lesson 3, Activity #1.1

Gas Activity
• Students will fill out the
following section of the activity

Lesson 3, Activity #1.2

The King Who Banned Coal - Reading
• The Story of Fossil Fuels by
NASA Climate kids.
• The article for this activity
can be found at this link:
https://climatekids.nasa.gov
/fossil-fuels-next/

SEARCH CLIMATE KIDS

Big Questions

Weather &
Climate

Atmosphere

Water

Energ

Plants & Animals

The Stor of Fossil Fuels, Part 4: Next
T eK

gW

Ba

dI E a d
c a
1306.
da a d
e
e
c .I a
ec .T e
ba ed c a . I a a e
bee
e
e
e a a

ed C a

T e P ce
S cce

f

K

Ed a
ed ba
T ea
a
ed. T
c a a

C a a
e
e ca
T
I d

e
d
e

e e.

a

a
da e
a
d. Ma
ea
ed c a , e e

e. T e e a
,be e ,a d
a a a
e a .

ea e
a Re
. I ca

e ea e
e a
e ed. T e
a a e
.T ee a
ed ac d a , c e , a d e e dea .

F

e
a e c a ed
e
a
. Ca , a a e , a d
e
- e ed
e
c a ed
e e
e
e. W
e , e
d be
e d ee .
ec

A
e e
d
c e
a ac .T ec
, e de
c
a d ca e a d a a
ab a ,
e
cea , a d a
ac
c e ca
e
d.
G ba a
be e
b e
be
a .
G ba a
a ec
e e
e
Ea .

A

a
a
e
e
e USA a d B a . T e
1955.

AQ e e T

e
a

ea

e a
ed a

e add e ed
,b

T ee
e
a
e c a e

Lesson 3, Activity #2.1

The King Who Banned Coal – Discussion

Lesson 3, Activity #2.2

Renewable and
Nonrenewable Energy
Video and Discussion
Lesson #3, Activity #3

Video - Difference Between Renewable and
Nonrenewable Resources
• Difference Between Renewable
and Nonrenewable Resources
• Click here to watch the video

Lesson 3, Activity #3.1

Video - Safety Smart® Science with Bill Nye
the Science Guy®: Renewable Energy
• Safety Smart® Science
with Bill Nye the Science
Guy®: Renewable Energy
– PREVIEW
• Click here to watch the
video

Lesson 3, Activity #3.1

Conversation on Renewable & Nonrenewable
Energy

Lesson 3, Activity #3.2

Climate effects of burning fossil
fuels – Introduction to solar,
wind, and hydropower
Lesson #4

How we use
energy everyday
Lesson #4, Activity #1

Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Sources:
What it is and how we use it – Worksheet
• Students will complete the
following worksheet

Lesson 4, Activity #1

Renewable
Resources
• Any source that can or will be
replenished naturally over a short
amount of time to meet
consumption needs. Ex: wood or
solar (sun)

Non-renewable
resources
• Resources that have a limited
supply and cannot be replaced
by natural means at a pace
that meets its consumption.

Lesson 4, Activity #1

Explaining solar, wind,
and hydropower
Lesson #4, Activity #2

Video – Renewable Energy 101: How does
hydropower work?
• Renewable Energy 101: How Does
Hydroelectricity Work?
• Click here to watch the video

Lesson 4, Activity #2

Video – Renewable Energy 101: How does
wind energy work?
• Renewable Energy 101: How
Does Wind Energy Work?
• Click here to watch the video

Lesson 4, Activity #2

Video – Renewable Energy 101: How does
solar energy work?
• Renewable Energy 101: How Does
Solar Energy Work?
• Click here to watch the video

Lesson 4, Activity #2

Renewable and
nonrenewable energy
source handout
Lesson #4, Activity #3

Video – Renewable Energy 101: How does
solar energy work?
• Students will complete the
following handout

Lesson 4, Activity #3

Reducing our use of
nonrenewable resources
Lesson #5

Group Review and
Brainstorm
Lesson #5, Activity #1

How can we conserve energy?

Lesson 5, Activity #1

Worksheet and
Sharing Solutions
Lesson #5, Activity #2

Worksheet - Renewable and Nonrenewable
Energy Sources
• Students will
complete the
following twosided worksheet.

Lesson 5, Activity #2.1

Sharing the Solutions in Groups
• Optional activity, if time permits.

Lesson 5, Activity #2.2

Call to Action:
Pledge
Lesson #5, Activity #3

Call to Action
• The class will create a pledge
and every student will sign
the pledge.

Lesson 5, Activity #3

Thank you for your time.

Content Creator:
Sydney Lund
Master of Sustainability Leadership
End of the Unit Presentation