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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 3 - 5

The Great Divide

A 3-dimensional drawing of a pie chart, with four different colored sections. Three people are each trying to grab the three largest sections.Students examine the distribution of our nonrenewable resources

In this activity, students use cookies to simulate the distribution of our nonrenewable resources (energy). Then, they discuss how the world's growing population affects the fairness and effectiveness of this distribution of these resources and how engineers work to develop technologies to support the population.

Some engineers develop creative and inexpensive technologies for individuals, groups or countries that lack the funds to buy expensive natural resources. For instance, civil engineers design small-scale water cleaning systems for communities that are unable to afford water treatment facilities and large water transfer networks that bring clean water to homes. This provides a clean local water source for cooking, drinking and cleaning. They also design dependable, robust and affordable water filters to reduce sickness from poor water quality.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Develop an understanding of how nonrenewable resources are distributed.
  • Understand some of the important issues (fairness and effectiveness) surrounding the division of the Earth's natural resources.
  • Relate a model of energy resource consumption using fractions.
  • Understand how engineers work to develop technologies to conserve our natural resources and replace current technologies.

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