This CNNfyi.com lesson plan is supplemented with material from

Bush unveils national energy plan

May 17, 2001
Web posted at: 5:36 PM EDT (2136 GMT)

Curriculum connections:

Objectives

Students will be able to:

• Explain and analyze features of President Bush's energy plan.
• Compare and contrast the present U.S. energy crisis with that of the 1970s.

Standards

Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)

Technology Standard 3: Students will understand the relationships among science, technology, society, and the individual.

Benchmark for 9-12 grades: Students will know that alternatives, risks, costs, and benefits must be considered when deciding on proposals to introduce new technologies or to curtail existing ones (e.g., Are there alternative ways to achieve the same ends? Who benefits and who suffers? What are the financial and social costs and who bears them? How serious are the risks and who is in jeopardy? What resources will be needed and where will they come from?

Materials

CNNfyi.com article, "Bush unveils national energy plan"

Internet use

Suggested time

One class period

Procedures

1. Ask students to define the term "energy crisis." Share answers; then ask if they believe the United States is currently experiencing an energy crisis. Ask them for examples why they believe the country is or is not in such a crisis.

2. Have students read the CNNfyi.com article, "Bush unveils national energy plan." Then answer the following questions:

• Why has Bush determined the country needs a comprehensive energy strategy? What steps are included in his plan? Why do you think the plan is likely to meet resistance in the Congress? Why are environmental groups angry about the proposal?
• What is ANWAR? Why does Bush want to tap that wildlife refuge? What details are included in his plan that would persuade Congress of the need to pursue new energy resources quickly? What are some of the tax incentives included in the proposal? Would the incentives persuade you to buy an energy-efficient car or install solar panels to your home? Why or why not?

3. Direct students to re-read the statements from former President Jimmy Carter. Have them research the oil crisis that occurred in 1973. Do they agree or disagree with Carter?

Assessment

Students can write persuasive papers in which they compare the energy supply and demand in the United States today to that of 1973 and/or 1979. Direct them to argue in favor of either Bush's or Carter's position, using specific examples to support their case.

Accommodation

Students can research "biomass" and deliver reports to inform the class about the theories, applications and environmental and economic implications of increasing the use of biomass fuels.

Challenge

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, "Our nation has not had a comprehensive energy policy in years, and that has contributed to the sky-high price of gasoline and energy." Just what is "sky high"? Challenge students to find out what people in several other countries pay for their energy; for instance, how much do people in Canada or London or Japan pay for a gallon of gas? (Remind students that other countries use metric liters rather than gallons, so they will need to use conversions to accurately compare the prices.) They may be able to conduct their research by contacting family friends or relatives in other countries or e-mailing pen pals in other nations, etc. Students can create bar graphs that illustrate the differences and hold a discussion in which they analyze the results. How do they account for the discrepancies? Do they believe that U.S. residents are paying "sky high" prices for their energy? Why or why not?

Extension

The lessons found in the Related stories links below also examine energy shortages and sources of alternative energy. Several contain supplementary lessons and activities provided by our education partner Riverdeep.

Fuel of the future
May 11, 2001
Alternative energy sources
April 13, 2001
Rivers feel heat as U.S. energy demand rises
April 11, 2001
Worth the cost?
March 23, 2001
Lesson plan: Power crisis in California
January 24, 2001

Energy Information Administration
Chronology of World Oil Market Events 1970 - 2000
American Biomass Association
Biomass

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