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 Popcorn and the FUTURE
A lesson plan for middle to high school students based on BPA's Solar Schools metering website.
Here is the "popcorn cycle"
- 1. You heat the popcorn
- 2. A few kernels pop at first
- 3. With continued heat, lots of kernels pop open
- 4. You enjoy the popcorn
Often a new product has a cycle similar to popcorn. At first, only a few people
buy it. Successful advertising gets lots of people to try the item. For example,
when cell phones became available, very few people had one, and they were expensive.
Now, many people own one, and costs are reasonable. Cell phones moved from the
"few are popping" stage to the "you enjoy" stage. Can
you name other products that have gone through the popcorn cycle?
Some people predict renewable energy, such as solar energy, will go through the popcorn cycle just like cell phones did.
- What is renewable energy?
- Where is renewable energy in the popcorn cycle, stage II, III or IV? Give reasons for your answer.
- How many schools display their solar power output at this web site?
- Which school has the largest solar output?
- Which school shown is nearest your school?
- What five or six items in a school use the most electricity each day?
- What is a watt? A watt-hour? A kilowatt? A kilowatt-hour?
- What are some advantages of solar power? Disadvantages?
- What is this year's total of all solar generation shown on this web site?
Role Playing:
Solar Representative: You just started a solar
power company. Present reasons that will convince a group of investors to
put money into your company. (It's okay to use the popcorn story.)
Money Manager: You work for ABC Bank in charge of venture
capital, funds to be invested to earn money. After hearing the solar representative,
give your response to the request for money, and give the reasons for your
answer.
Have the Representative and the Manager meet twice to sharpen their message.
FREE POPCORN FOR PARTCIPANTS
Teachers in Oregon, Washington, Montana, & Idaho - to get a free supply of popcorn,
use the above lesson in your class, then send BPA an email report that: 1) evaluates
the experience and 2) includes your school phone & address to: Popcorn
(Offer available through the end of 2005. One request per teacher, please.)
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