BENERGY Module 1: Lesson 2

Energy Basics: How Energy Gets from the Original Source to Your Home 

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will:

  • Trace how energy moves from natural sources (coal, natural gas, solar, wind, etc.) to usable electricity in your home. 
  • Explore the efficiency, reliability, and tradeoffs of different energy sources. 
  • Engage in inquiry-based questioning, project-based exploration, and a citizen science connection. 
  • Learn persuasion and communication techniques to clearly explain and influence how others perceive energy systems. 

Part 1: How Does Energy Get to You?

1. Think

Every time you flip on a light in your house, what invisible chain of events had to happen—sometimes thousands of miles away—for that light to turn on? 

2. Watch

Watch the short video that follows and consider the impact that even a short (25 hour) citywide energy blackout can have on American citizens.

3. Write

In your notebook, write down your thoughts on where you think energy in your home actually comes from.

  • How does it travel to your light switch? 
  • What parts of this chain are invisible to most people? 

Part 2: What the Heck is the Grid?

1. Watch – How Electricity Gets to Our Homes (The Grid!)

Discover what the Grid is and how it works.

Pt 2 Questions - Before You Watch

Use these questions to activate your curiosity and gauge your baseline understanding.

1 / 4

1. Which of the following do you think is the first step in electricity reaching your home? 

2 / 4

2. Why do you think power stations are usually built far away from cities and towns? 

3 / 4

3. What do you think is the main purpose of a transformer in the power system? 

4 / 4

4. Why do you think electricity is transmitted at high voltages rather than low voltages? 

Your score is

The average score is 40%

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Pt 2 Questions - After You Watch

Use these questions to assess your understanding of the video’s key points and to help reinforce your understanding of the main messages. 

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1. What are the three main phases of electricity reaching our homes? 

2 / 6

2. In a hydro power station, how is electricity generated? 

3 / 6

3. Why is electricity transmitted at high voltages? 

4 / 6

4. What is the main function of a substation? 

5 / 6

5. Before electricity enters your home, what happens at the distribution pole (DP)? 

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6. Which of the following best summarizes how electricity reaches homes? 

Your score is

The average score is 83%

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2. Create

In your notebook, build a simple flow chart of energy moving from source → generation → transmission → distribution → your home.

Here’s an example:

Part 3: Share What You Know

1. Share (Citizen Science + Influence Training) 

Students present their flow chart and persuasive “most critical step” to the family or homeschool group. 

Hints: 

  • Speak with authority (clear, confident voice). 
  • Add a story (“Imagine a coal miner digging in Wyoming, and hours later, that energy is making your fridge hum here in Texas…”). 

2.  Extension (Project-Based / Citizen Science) 

  • Research your local electric and natural gas utility: 
  • What percent of electricity comes from natural gas, coal, wind, solar, etc.? 
  • How is it transmitted to your community? 

Part 4: Can We Rely on Wind and Solar? 

1. Watch – Energy Source Limitations 

  • Are alternatives as clean as we are told? 
  • Let’s look at why alternative energy sources may be less than ideal.

Before watching the following video, give your best answer to the following questions. 

Pt 4 Questions - Before You Watch

Use these questions to activate your curiosity and gauge your baseline understanding.

1 / 4

1. Which of the following is considered a renewable energy source?

2 / 4

2. Why might some people believe solar and wind energy are the best solutions for future energy needs?

3 / 4

3. What is one major difference between fossil fuels and wind or solar energy?

4 / 4

4. Which country is often cited as a global leader in renewable energy investments?

Your score is

The average score is 38%

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Now that you’ve seen the video, see how your pre-viewing answers match up to your post-viewing answers 

Pt 4 Questions - After You Watch

Use these questions to assess your understanding of the video’s key points and to help reinforce your understanding of the main messages. 

1 / 6

1. According to the video, why do solar and wind combined provide less than 2% of the world’s energy?

2 / 6

2. What does the “diluteness problem” of solar and wind energy refer to?

3 / 6

3. Which material is required in large amounts for wind turbine magnets?

4 / 6

4. Why can’t solar and wind energy function as independent, freestanding power plants?

5 / 6

5. What was the impact of Germany’s heavy investment in solar and wind energy, according to the video?

6 / 6

6. What phrase is used in Germany to describe households struggling to pay rising utility bills due to renewable subsidies?

Your score is

The average score is 72%

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Part 5: America in the Dark

Pt 5 Questions - Before You Watch

Use these questions to activate your curiosity and gauge your baseline understanding.

1 / 4

1. Which of the following is the main challenge with using renewable energy like wind and solar?

2 / 4

2. Which energy source currently provides the most carbon-free electricity in the U.S.?

3 / 4

3. What is the primary reason many states are pushing for renewable energy use?

4 / 4

4. Why might relying only on renewables increase the risk of blackouts?

Your score is

The average score is 88%

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Watch

Watch this video about what happens when renewables can’t meet our electricity demand.

Pt 5 Questions - After You Watch

Use these questions to assess your understanding of the video’s key points and to help reinforce your understanding of the main messages. 

1 / 6

1. According to the video, how much of the world’s energy needs were covered by wind and solar after nearly $2 trillion of investment (2011–2018)?

2 / 6

2. What was the conclusion of Google’s research team about the future of renewable energy?

3 / 6

3. What did a 2020 survey of grid operators identify as the single biggest threat to the reliability of America’s electricity?

4 / 6

4. What percentage of U.S. land might be required if the country tried to run on 100% renewables?

5 / 6

5. Why is large-scale battery storage not currently a realistic solution for renewable energy backup?

6 / 6

6. In 2020, which source provided almost double the carbon-free energy of wind and solar combined in the U.S.?

Your score is

The average score is 67%

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Part 6: Show What You Learned

  1. In your notebook, trace the path of energy from natural source to your home in 4–5 steps. 
  2. Answer: Which step in the chain is most critical, and why? 
  3. How would you explain this process in 30 seconds to someone who thinks electricity “just comes from the wall”? 

Part 7: Exit Ticket

Exit Ticket: Module 1 Lesson 2

1 / 6

How did today's lesson connect to something you already knew, and did it change your understanding in any way? Answer with 2-3 complete sentences.

60 words left

2 / 6

How could the knowledge you learned today be used in the real world? Answer with 2-3 complete sentences.

60 words left

3 / 6

What is one question you still have about this topic that you want to explore next?

20 words left

4 / 6

If you were to teach this lesson, what would you emphasize or change to make it more valuable?

20 words left

5 / 6

How likely are you to recommend this lesson to others?

6 / 6

How likely are you to speak with others about what you learned today

Your score is

The average score is 100%

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COURSE NAVIGATION

  Module 1: Why Energy Matters
Lesson (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (Test) (Guide)

  Module 2: Why Affordable Energy Matters
Lesson (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (Test) (Guide)

  Module 3: Why Reliable Energy Matters
Lesson (1) (2) (3) (Test) (Guide)

  Module 4: Why Clean Energy Matters
Lesson (1) (2) (3) (4) (Test) (Guide)

  Module 5: Be a BEN Ambassador
Lesson (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (Test) (Guide)

  Module 6: Finals & What’s Next?
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