Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future With 20 Projects

by Joshua Sneideman, Erin Twamley, Heather Jane Brinesh (Illustrator)

Overview

How do we heat our homes, light our rooms, and power our cars? With energy! In 2014, the United States relied on fossil fuels for about 67 percent of its power. But as the fossil fuel supply dwindles and climate change becomes an increasingly urgent issue, individuals, businesses, and governments are expanding their sources of renewable energy, including solar, wind, biofuel, hydro, and geothermal.

In Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future, readers ages 9 to 12 learn about these renewable energy sources and discover how sunshine can be used to power light bulbs and how the earth's natural heat can be used to warm our houses. Young readers weigh the pros and cons of different energy sources and make their own informed opinions about which resources are the best choices for different uses.

Renewable energy industries provide a booming field for future scientists and engineers. This book shows kids these future jobs and gets them excited about contributing to a world run on clean energy. Hands-on projects, essential questions, links to online primary sources, and science-minded prompts to think more about energy, the environment, and the repercussions of our choices make this book a key addition to classrooms and libraries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781619303607
Publisher:	Nomad Press
Publication date:	04/12/2016
Series:	Nomad Press Build It Yourself Series
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	993,773
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	940L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Joshua Sneideman is an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow with 10 years of experience as a middle school science teacher. He founded ECO International, an intercollegiate Environmental Congress to help Costa Rican high schools develop environmental community action plans. Joshua lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Erin Twamley is a professional adult educator and education specialist providing research and communications support in education. Erin lives in Washington, DC.

Heather Jane Brinesh holds a degree in art from Hampshire College and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Illustration from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She currently serves as the lead artist for an independently-published serial and teaches art and humanities at Marin Montessori Junior High. Heather lives in in Berkeley, California.

Table of Contents

Timeline
Introduction
Chapter One: Energizing Our Future
Chapter Two: Sun Power
Chapter Three: Fluid Dynamics? Wave, Water, Tide, and Wind
Chapter Four: Biological Engineering: Farm to Fuel
Chapter Five: Earth's Inner Fire
Chapter Six: In the House or Think Globally, Act Locally
Glossary
Resources
Index

Editorial Reviews

Chidren's Literature Review

This book explores five renewable energy sources and helps the reader make informed decisions about the best energy choices. Covered are solar, wind, biofuel, hydro, and geothermal energy. A table of contents helps the reader navigate the six chapters and a timeline about energy precedes the introduction. Color illustrations complement the text. Sidebars throughout provide energy-related Worlds to Know. Twenty energy-related projects are included within the chapters. The content discusses pros and cons, links to online primary sources, hands-on activities, and accessible science links. The glossary defines relevant words. Seven essential questions are asked at the end of the text to serve as a comprehension check for readers. The index provides easy navigation through the text. Other Nomad titles related to renewable energy include Canals and Dams, Climate Change, Explore Electricity, and Explore Weather Climate. All of the books in this Build It Yourself series would be excellent additions to school libraries.

From the Publisher

05/01/2016
Gr 4–6—Owing to an overreliance on fossil fuels, the need for renewable energy has become urgent. Examining the benefits and trade-offs of solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, wave, and biofuel energy, this work offers information and hands-on projects. A "PS" icon (primary source) is used to indicate online resources that may be accessed through a QR code. Although these electronic materials may be helpful for additional information, they are useful only for students with smartphones or tablets. A few activity ideas to help readers further understand the concepts end each section. Some of the experiments require materials that are not easily obtainable, such as beeswax candles or heat-proof glass beakers, and the instructions are often not clear enough for younger students. With adult supervision and input, some of the activities could be appropriate for science fair or classroom projects. The illustrations, done in primary colors, help to visualize the concepts presented. VERDICT A useful addition for larger collections with students studying renewable energy sources.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

School Library Journal