A parking lot with charging stations for electric cars

Electric Vehicles in Rural Communities (Human Impact) - Teacher's Guide

Grades 9-12

This lesson focuses on two main ideas:

Technological solutions to limit the effects of human impacts on the environment
Why electric vehicles are better for the environment than gas-powered vehicles

Procedure

INTRODUCTION (15 minutes)

Read the introduction to students and review new vocabulary. Students will watch the “Motorweek” video. After the video, have a discussion around the essential questions and thinking questions aligned to the topic and video.

EXTENSION (15-30 minutes)

Complete extension activities with students, as you see fit.

ASSESSMENT (15 minutes)

Have students apply their newfound knowledge by completing a Summative CER on the lesson using evidence from the video and activities as support.

REFLECTION (10 minutes)

Have students complete a reflection.

Standards

NGSS Performance Expectation

HS-ESS3-4.
Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.

Science and Engineering Practices
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Constructing explanations and designing solutions in 9–12 builds on K–8 experiences and progresses to explanations and designs that are supported by multiple and independent student-generated sources of evidence consistent with scientific knowledge, principles and theories.

Design or refine a solution to a complex real-world problem based on scientific knowledge, studentgenerated sources of evidence, prioritized criteria, and tradeoff considerations.

Disciplinary Core Ideas
ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
- Scientists and engineers can make major contributions by developing technologies that produce less pollution and waste and that preclude ecosystem degradation.
- Forces at a distance are explained by fields (gravitational, electric, and magnetic) permeating space that can transfer energy through space. Magnets or electric currents cause magnetic fields; electric charges or changing magnetic fields cause electric fields.
ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
- When evaluating solutions, it is important to take into account a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, and to consider social, cultural, and environmental impacts. (secondary)
Crosscutting Concepts
Stability and Change
- Feedback (negative or positive) can stabilize or destabilize a system.
Connections to Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science
Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World
- Engineers continuously modify these technological systems by applying scientific knowledge and engineering design practices to increase benefits while decreasing costs and risks.

Summative CER

Option 1:

Construct an argument as to whether the addition of an electric shuttle system to rural areas is a good solution for limiting the impact of human activity on the environment. Use evidence and reasoning from the video and activities to support your argument.

Option 2:

Develop an explanation of another solution that has been helpful in reducing carbon emissions in the environment. Use evidence and reasoning from the video, activities, and other sources to support your explanation.

Reflection Questions

Why are electric vehicles better for the environment than gas-powered vehicles?
What current technological solutions exist to help reduce carbon emissions?

Summative CER Rubric

No Response Score Point 0	Not There Yet Score Point 0.5	Beginning To Score Point 0.75	Yes Score Point 1.0
The claim is missing	The claim is incorrect or irrelevant.	The claim partially takes a position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt.	The claim takes an appropriate position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt.
There is no type of evidence in the response	The evidence is irrelevant or does not support the claim.	The evidence partially supports the claim and demonstrates some understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources.	The evidence supports the claim and demonstrates a strong understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources.
There is no use of words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.	Use of words, phrases and clauses fail to show or explain any relationship between the claim and evidence.	Scientific words, phrases, and clauses used lack cohesion but partially clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.	Appropriate scientific words, phrases, and clauses are used to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence.