Illinois EPA and University of
Illinois at Introduce Online Curriculum Focusing on Energy
Annual Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest
to Follow Unit
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[November 11, 2021]
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Office for Mathematics,
Science, and Technology Education (MSTE) have again partnered to
create a new online science curriculum unit for fifth and sixth
grade educators: How does a bulb light?
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The
unit helps students explore energy, electricity use, and power
sources and how they relate to climate change. The Illinois EPA’s
Annual Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest theme “Get Energized About
Slowing Down Climate Change!” will follow the new curriculum.
Educators, parents, and caregivers are asked to introduce these
topics using the newly developed free, online curriculum. The unit
is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Following
the unit, students are asked to create posters or written works for
the Poster, Poetry, and Prose Contest related to the theme’s focus.
Entries must be submitted to the Illinois EPA by February 1, 2022.
Additional information on the Contest can be found at:
https://www2.
illinois.gov/epa/topics/education/contest/
Pages/default.aspx.
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“Educators and students have faced numerous challenges as they have
adapted to hybrid, remote, and in-classroom learning. It is our hope
these virtual opportunities allow students to continue to grow their
knowledge of the environment and the importance of protecting it,”
said Illinois EPA Director John Kim. “This year’s unit is especially
relevant to current events related to climate change, and we are
excited to see it translated to pieces of art and written work for
the upcoming Contest.”
How does
a bulb light? will help students investigate the everyday phenomenon
of an electric light turning on. Students will observe two strings
of LED lights turn on, one being powered by battery and the other by
plugging into a wall outlet. Students will record their observations
and “wonderings,” which will drive the flow of the unit as students
plan and carry out their own investigations to answer their
questions.
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This will include investigating electricity production and
delivery, when and how to conserve, and recent and future changes in the energy
system, including changes in transportation energy demands. The curriculum is
available online to teachers and parents at
https://pathways.mste.illinois.
edu/curriculum/energy.
Illinois EPA is proud to again partner with the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign Office of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education to
expand the Environmental Pathways curriculum. Earlier units developed through
this partnership include “Where does my food go?” and “Why is the pond green?,”
which can be found at:
https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/topics/
education/Pages/pathways.aspx.
Information about all of Illinois EPA’s environmental education programs can be
found at:
https://www2.illinois.gov/epa/
topics/education/Pages/default.aspx, or by contacting Kristi Morris,
Environmental Education Coordinator for the Illinois EPA by email at
Kristi.Morris@illinois.gov.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information]
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