For Teachers
Table of Contents
- Network, Share, Collaborate
- Northwest Biofuels Association Holds Community College Biodiesel Training for Diesel Mechanics in the Northwest.
- ExploraVision Science Competition K-12
- Biodiesel Lessons and Labs
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
- Indiana Biofuels Mobile Learning Center
- SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- SciFusion Wiki
- Green Ambassadors: Laguna High School Students Research Biofuels
- Lincoln High Students Fuel Biodiesel Effort
- Graduate Students and American Indian Tribes Work for Biofuel Solutions
- Sears Tower Or Bust: My Algae-Powered Car Adventure
- Coast-to-Coast Biodiesel Pickup Project
Teachers will find many useful links and information on the Education Resources page.
This page provides links and information about a sample of programs and activities in schools; stories about teachers and students who “learned by doing;” and news reports about educational activities.
For more examples, click on categories such as Education and Teacher Resources along the right margin of the web site.
Network, Share, Collaborate
Advanced Biofuels USA is gathering contact information for educators around the world who are working on curriculum-based educational materials to teach about advanced biofuels. If you or someone you know is working on such materials–or wants to, please provide us with contact information and the reason you/they want to be a part of this network. Let us know what sorts of materials or services this collaborative network might provide that would be useful for developing quality, effective, up-to-date educational materials. Email us at info@advancedbiofuelsUSA and put Educational Network in the subject line.
On June 13, 2008, over 50 mechanics at Bates Technical College learned about biodiesel – from basics to detailed technical information related to specific diesel engine manufacturers. “We found the training to be very educational and opened our eyes to using alternative fuels,” said Ray Shjerven, Diesel Engine Instructor. To learn more about biodiesel training for mechanics or to assist in coordinating one in your area, contact Nikola Davidson at 206.389.8660 or nikola@nwbiofuels.org. READ MORE
ExploraVision Science Competition K-12
ExploraVision is a science competition that encourages K-12 students of all interest, skill and ability levels to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving. That’s what ExploraVision is all about. READ MORE
Biodiesel Lessons and Labs
“…a way to work biodiesel into almost every chapter in the standard first year chemistry textbook. … these labs can also be used for environmental science or other courses. Some of these labs can also be used with middle school science classes. … Each lesson includes:
- National Science Standards
- Objectives and Essential Questions
- Background information
- Student procedures
- Student data sheets
- Hints for the instructor” READ MORE
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
The materials on the Education Page were developed by teachers and professional educators associated with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center with input from our scientists. Many of the techniques described are the same, or closely mimic those conducted by researchers within the Center, with adaptations made as necessary to work within the constraints of the K-16 classroom. Clicking on the title of some activities will bring up a one page overview. Click on the activity image to preview and page through the activity before you download it. Click on a “package” to download a zip file containing all listed materials. READ MORE
FERMENTATION AND BIOPROSPECTING ACTIVITIES
Fermentation In A Bag Activity
Fermentation Challenge: Making Ethanol from Cellulose
Mini-Fermenter Instructions
Bioprospecting for Cellulose-Degrading Microbes Description
Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels 101 Description
Quantitative Modeling of Biofuels Life Cycles Description
Field Investigations: Biomass Yield and Carbon Cycling Description
Field Investigations: Bug Biodiversity and Ecosystem Benefits Description
Carbon Dioxide Production in Soil Microbial Communities Description
Root Depth Model
Global Energy Flows Activity
GENERAL INFORMATIONAL HANDOUTS AND VIDEOS
MATERIALS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Part 1: From Biomass to Cellulosic Ethanol. Depicts the process used to convert biomass (plant matter) into cellulosic ethanol and the improvements needed to optimize these processes. Downloadable 11″ x 17″ PDF, Browser-Friendly HTML Version
Part 2: Understanding Biomass: Plant Cell Walls.
Explains plant cell-wallstructure and some issues preventing their efficient conversion to ethanol.Downloadable 11″ x 17″ PDF, Accompanying preamble PDF, Browser-Friendly HTML Version
Indiana Biofuels Mobile Learning Center
The Biofuels Mobile Learning Center (BMLC) is an interactive traveling exhibit designed to explain and promote the use of ethanol and biodiesel. Featuring educational displays, fun interactive touch screens, videos and more, the exhibit is designed to appeal to all ages. The BMLC is offered for use at no cost courtesy of Indiana corn and soybean farmers.
SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Programs for K-12 Teachers and Students
- ESF in the High School is a school-college partnership program that enables qualified high school students to experience college-level course work and to understand the complex scientific and social perspectives behind news headlines.
- The Environmental Summit is a research symposium designed to bring together a community of high school aged scientists to present and discuss their original research to their peers, college science faculty, graduate and undergraduate students.
- The goals of National Science Foundation GK12 project are to enrich high school student science learning and engagement and to enhance teacher and graduate student professional development.
- The Science Corps supports campus-based, in-school, workplace and field-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning and professional development experiences for middle and high school students and teachers.
- ESF SCIENCE summer programs expose Syracuse middle school students to science and environmental education. Participants are involved in camps that emphasize urban ecology and urban ecosystems.
- The Environmental Challenge is a science fair and career exploration opportunity designed especially for all Syracuse City School District seventh and eighth grade students.
Other programs include the Introduction Green Entrepreneurship course, the Environmental Summer Institute for Teachers, and the Sustainability and Green Entrepreneurship project.
SciFusion Wiki
Welcome to the SciFusion Wiki. This space is available to all science teachers who are interested in collaborating on lesson plans and curriculum ideas for grades 6-10. To start a new discussion, simply select “Add a New Page” to the left and then pose a question or set a goal. Then invite those others that you know who might be interested. Once your group has come up with a product of your collaboration, send it to me, Steve Lanphear and we will add it to the resources page on the SciFusion website. We hope you have an enjoyable experience… READ MORE
Green Ambassadors: Laguna High School Students Research Biofuels
May 1st, 2007 Linsay Hassett (aka Betty Biodiesel) leads a group of Laguna High School students in the Green Ambassadors program on a tour of Dave Erikson’s home brew biodiesel lab. The Green Ambassadors program was created to get students learning science, civics and environmental stewardship through experience and action. Today’s lesson provided the group with basic information about biodiesel that they could present to their school board. This field trip is just one step in the process to further their mission of converting dirty diesel school busses into cleaner burning bio-machines. READ MORE
Lincoln High Students Fuel Biodiesel Effort
June 19, 2008 The Lincoln County High School Future Farmers of America club has started the first biodiesel production center at a public school in the state. With diesel prices in West Virginia nearing $5 a gallon and some analysts predicting it may hit $6 within a year, public school districts across the state are digging deep into their purses every time they fill the tanks of their school buses. One school in Lincoln County may have come up with a solution: It is making its own diesel fuel. READ MORE
Graduate Students and American Indian Tribes Work for Biofuel Solutions
March 14, 2008 In the midst of rising concern about energy sources, many are looking at local, waste-derived biofuels as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Most biofuel in the United States is made from plants, such as corn, and carried across the country. Transporting biofuel has an environmental impact, and proponents of the cradle-to-cradle philosophy seek to eliminate this impact. Eight University of Washington graduate students are working with local American Indian tribes on a research and education program about biofuels in the Bioresource-Based Energy for Sustainable Societies program. The research involves bioprocessing of cellulosic biomass, microscale chemical processing, fuel cells and forest biotechnology. READ MORE and MORE
Sears Tower Or Bust: My Algae-Powered Car Adventure
June 2, 2008 At Al Raby School for Community and Environment in Chicago, a Teach for America instructor instituted a yearlong biodiesel classroom project to create student understanding of the environment and the political impact of non-renewable energy sources. Students grew algae and processed it into biodiesel, eventually powering a vehicle from the school to Sears Tower and back, an approximately 20-mile round trip. Teachers reported that students invested time and energy into this work “because they cared and believed in it.” READ MORE
Coast-to-Coast Biodiesel Pickup Project
- Ross McCurdy: I graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in Biology and Science Teacher certification and began teaching at Ponaganset High School in 1998. In 2002 I received a Masters degree in Science Education and certification to teach Chemistry. Big advocates of renewable energy, in 2003 we created our fuel cell-powered band “Protium” and developed our Fuel Cell Systems course at Ponaganset High. The course focuses on fuel cells and other renewable energy and combines academics with hands-on projects. These include our ongoing Fuel Cell Model T project and our Biodiesel Pickup. READ MORE
For more examples of school-based projects click on the Teacher Resources category.
