Lesson summary
In this lesson, students will be immersed in, and connect with, the documentary film 2040, focusing on the topic of renewable energy. Students begin by exploring what we mean by renewable and non-renewable resources, and investigate a range of resources, classifying them as either renewable or non-renewable based on their regeneration rates.
Students then look at renewable energy and then generate questions that they have about renewable energy that can be answered through research. These questions are then distributed amongst students who conduct the research required to answer them and share their results with the class. Finally, students explore how understanding the benefits of renewable energy can improve and empower communities by looking at and comparing a range of community energy projects.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand what renewable and non-renewable means in terms of resources
- recognise a range of renewable energy sources
- understand how people can use scientific knowledge around energy to improve and empower communities through community energy programs
Success criteria:
Students can...
- work independently and collaboratively
- participate in group discussion
- generate scientifically relevant questions
- conduct and share research
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
- Unit of work: 2040 – Science – Years 7 to 10
- Time required: 100+ mins
- Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and facilitate class discussions
To view our Australian Curriculum alignment, click here.
To view our NZ Curriculum alignment, click here.
Resources required
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Energy Answers Sheet – optional
Additional info
2040 is an innovative feature documentary that looks to the future, but is vitally important NOW! Director Damon Gameau embarks on a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them rapidly into the mainstream.
In Australia: Order the Schools Version of the 2040 DVD. The Schools Version includes an educational license and is for Australian primary and secondary schools that wish to utilise the film as a learning tool or host free on-site screenings for the school community.
In New Zealand: Order the Schools Version of the 2040 DVD. The Schools Version includes an educational license and is for New Zealand primary and secondary schools that wish to utilise the film as a learning tool or host free on-site screenings for the school community.
If you are teaching in either New Zealand or Australia, you can now organise a virtual screening of the film for your class. To enquire about this option, simply email schools@whatsyour2040.com and the 2040 team will help you set this up! If you have already bought a DVD of the film and you have a ClickView account, you can email the team for permission to upload the film to your account to make it more easily accessible for your teachers and students.
Cool.org, GoodThing Productions and Regen Pictures would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of Good Pitch Australia, Shark Island Institute, Documentary Australia Foundation, The Caledonia Foundation and our philanthropic partners in the development of these teaching resources.
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