http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_energy2/cub_energy2_lesson08.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program, damelectric generatorenergygeneratorhydroelectrichydropowerpowerriverturbinewaterwater powerwaterwheelDamEnergyGeneratorHydraulic headHydroelectric power plantHydroelectricityKinetic energyPenstockPotential energyRenewable energyReservoirRotorTailraceTurbineWaterwheel

Students learn how water is used to generate electricity. They investigate water’s potential-to-kinetic energy transformation in hands-on activities about falling water and waterwheels. During the activities, they take measurements, calculate averages and graph results. Students also learn the history of the waterwheel and how engineers use water turbines in hydroelectric power plants today. They discover the advantages and disadvantages of hydroelectric power. In a literacy activity, students learn and write about an innovative new hydro-electrical power generation technology.

Hydroelectric power has been used by people for thousands of years, with engineering design of hydroelectric power plants for industrial use dating to the 1880s. Hydroelectric power accounted for 7% of U.S. power generation and 45% of renewable power generation in 2003. Environmental engineers are concerned with dams that aid in the production of hydroelectricity because of the effects on humans and animals in the surrounding environment. It is the job of these engineers help to design maximum efficiency dams that do not harm the environment and its inhabitants. Describe the energy transformations that occur in a hydroelectric power plant.Describe some of the environmental effects of hydropower.Identify how engineers are involved in designing and constructing hydropower systems. 15TeachEngineering.orgXochitl Zamora-ThompsonSabre DurenNatalie MachMalinda Schaefer ZarskeDenise Carlsonhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_energy2/cub_energy2_lesson08_reading.pdfhttp://www.howstuffworks.com/hydropower-plant.htmhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/dam/index.htmlhttp://www.americanrivers.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AMR_content_8cf8http://www.dictionary.comhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/water.htmlKagen, S. Cooperative Learning. San Juan Capistrano, CA: Kagan Cooperative Learning, 1994. (Source for Inside –Outside Circle assessment tool.)Maxwell, Jessica. “Swimming with Salmon.” Natural History, September 1995, pp. 26-39.http://www.fwee.org/http://water.usgs.gov/http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/S1141716International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyC. The use of technology affects the environment in good and bad ways.35S11417D7International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyD. Tools, machines, products, and systems use energy in order to do work.35S11424F3ColoradoSciencea. Identify and describe the variety of energy sources 44S11424F5ColoradoSciencec. Describe the energy transformation that takes place in electrical circuits where light, heat, sound, and magnetic effects are produced 44United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-03-284Teacher