Bursts of Energy...
Biomass Energy
Trash to Energy
Recommended grade levels: 4-6
Goal: Students will investigate how biomass, recovered from trash, can be used as an energy source.
Process skills: Collecting data, hypothesizing, making graphs, observing and predicting.
Frameworks: Matter, Universe
Materials: (per student group) plastic gloves one aluminum pie pan scissors waste paper water matches safety goggles
Teacher background information: Biomass describes all solid material of animal or vegetable origin. Plants and plant products (such as paper, wood, and peanuts) and animal products (such as manure) are examples of biomass fuels. Municipal solid waste, which is mostly cellulose, is also considered biomass. Biomass can be burned, fermented, or treated chemically to release energy.
Note: (This activity works best outside. Step # 1 should be supervised by an adult. Step #6 involves fire and should be completed outside on a paved surface!)
Procedure:
Student groups will:
Burning should take place under adult supervision and out of the wind, away from the building. Safety rules should be strictly enforced. Safety goggles are highly recommended.
Discussion:
Extensions: Have students:
Teacher resources:
Foster, Joanna. Cartoons, Cans, and Orange Peels: Where Does Your Garbage Go?
Gr. 4-6. A brief, visually appealing introduction to garbage-where it comes from and where it goes. Especially interesting is a chapter on how a materials recycling facility sorts and processes trash by using sorting machines that shake, blow, and apply magnets. Composting and methane gas recovery are described briefly.
ISBN: O-R1fi8-0707-3
Rickard, Graham. Bioenergy
Gr. 4-6. From the Alternative Energy Series, this book describes the various kinds of bioenergy, ways we are using it today, and its advantages and disadvantages.
ISBN: 0-83-6807 L0-3