a guide to teacher lesson plans for grades 1-2

A Guide To Teacher Lesson PlansFor Grades 1-2

Easy and fun activities to raise awareness of natural gas—

its origins, uses and ways to conserve it.

A Guide to Teacher Lesson Plans for Grades 1-2 2

Welcome!

Here’s your guide to promoting natural gas conservation in your classroom.These lesson plan activities—including a science experiment, word search, quiz and more—will help you teach your students about natural gas conservation. Hopefully, students will share what they learn with parents, siblings, relatives and neighbors. The more people who know about the importance of conserving natural gas, the better!

Minnesota Energy Resources is proud to help expand our community of conservation-conscious natural gas customers. You can implement the enclosed lesson plan in one day or stretch it out over several days. We’ve even developed a certificate of knowledge that will help extend and reinforce the information beyond your teaching time.

All lesson plan materials can be downloaded at minnesotaenergyresources.com/business/educators.aspx

Before you download the lesson plan materials, take a moment to read through this guide. You’ll find an overview of natural gas—its origins, uses and ways to conserve it. The step-by-step instructions are especially useful in implementing each section in your classroom. As you’ll see, the most effective way to teach the materials is in the order they appear.

3 A Guide to Teacher Lesson Plans for Grades 1-2

Why teach natural gas conservation?

Natural gas—how it’s made, procured and used—is an interesting story to share with students. The cleanest-burning fossil fuel, natural gas can be used to heat homes, light streets and dry clothes. And, it all began more than 200 million years ago.

The buried remains of tiny plants and sea animals were covered by thick layers of mud, sand, silt and rock, and they were pushed deeper and deeper into Earth’s crust. As the layers built up, pressure and heat from the shifting surface of the earth filled the resulting cracks with oil and natural gas.

Today, large pipes and wells bring natural gas to the surface. It’s cleaned, processed, pressurized and sent through long, underground pipelines across the United States. Before it reaches its final destination, natural gas receives a special odor to help people detect leaks. Many people think the harmless additive smells like rotten eggs.

Over half of all American households use natural gas for their energy needs such as: heating the house and water, cooking food, washing clothes and others.

Because natural gas is a nonrenewable resource, people will eventually exhaust its supply. By teaching students about conservation, you are helping to extend its vital everyday use in our lives and the lives of our children. Conservation also helps save money on energy bills and helps keep the environment clean.


Lesson Plan Activities

Simple for you. Fun for students.

The following activities will help you teach your students about conserving natural gas. All lesson plan materials can be downloaded at minnesotaenergyresources.com/business/educators.aspx.

The activities are most effective when accomplished in the order they appear. However, you’re encouraged to introduce the activities in whatever order best meets the unique requirements of your classroom.

Word Trace & Learn

This activity is an introduction to terms your students will be learning throughout Gas Smart. It’s a simple way to begin your students’ natural gas education.

Use this Word Trace & Learn in your classroom:1) Download the Word Trace & Learn at

minnesotaenergyresources.com/business/educators.aspx.

2) Explain to students the importance of natural gas. Read the words and give brief explanations. Future activities will get into more detail.

3) Ask your students to trace the words and try to write them.

Note: There is no answer key for this activity.

Minnesota Energy Resources Gas Smart Program Grades 1-2

Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

Word Trace & Learn

Welcome to Gas Smart! You’re going to learn how natural gas is made and used, and why it’s important to use less natural gas. Let’s start with some words that may be new to you. Use a pencil and trace the words. Then, try to write them yourself in the blank space. In the next Gas Smart activity, you will learn what these words mean.

Gas

Fossil Fuel

Conserve

Pipeline

Rotten Egg


Lesson Plan Activities cont’d

Natural Gas Spelling Spectacular

A great way to introduce more terms and concepts, this activity is simple to complete. It helps explain the terms introduced in Word Trace & Learn.

Use this Spelling Spectacular in your classroom:1) Download the Spelling Spectacular sheet at


2) Distribute Spelling Spectacular to your students.3) Read the sentences to your students. Ask them to

circle the correct spelling for each.4) Review the correct answers.

Spelling Spectacular answer key is on page 9 of this guide.

Word Search

This activity reinforces terms introduced in previous activities. This gives students a chance to ask about terms, and you can expand on definitions and natural gas processes.

Use this Word Search in your classroom:1) Download the Word Search sheet at


2) Distribute Word Search to your students.3) Review the definitions with your students.4) Ask them to complete the Word Search, either in

class or at home. Remind them that words can be found forward, backward, diagonally, vertically and horizontally.

Word Search answer key is on page 10 of this guide.


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________


1. Natural gas is also called a ___________ fuel.

A. fossil B. fossul C. fozzle

2. Natural gas is found ______________. A. undergond B. underground C. udderground

3. A smell like __________ eggs is added to natural gas so you will know if there is a gas leak.

A. roting B. rotten C. rottan

4. Natural gas is used to make products in _____________.

A. facteries B. faktaries C. factories

5. Because it takes a long time for natural gas to form, it’s called ___________________.

A. renewable B. nonrenewable C. nonredoable

6. Because natural gas is nonrenewable, we should ______________ it.

A. conserve B. canswerve C. cuncerve

7. Natural gas gets to our homes through a ________________.

A. pipplien B. pipeline C. pypeleen

8. Natural gas began with tiny plants and animals that lived more than 200 million years ago; when _______________ roamed the earth.

A. donosoruses B. denisoars C. dinosaurs

It’s okay if some of these natural gas words are new to you. Just do your best and choose the correct spelling that completes the sentence. Your teacher will read each sentence so you can practice how to say each word.


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

Word Search

F W E J P N O Y O M J E O R J V K I G F K V L H S U F B R R P D E B T N S R Z L E E A E A T B L I G B N K O S W L Y A E L R E G F Z E N B I O A F Z V W K N G D O A N K U V M Y E I X N G C W E E T Q R G A S M E T E R L B N E L O M W P G J P S O N A T U R A L G A S N Y P W S R A J I U S U

ENERGYFOSSIL FUELSNATURAL GASCONSERVE

PIPELINENONRENEWABLELEAKGAS METER

We’ve taken words you have learned

and hidden them in this puzzle. Can you

find them? Remember, words can be

found forward, backward, diagonally,

vertically and horizontally.



Experiment

The Magic Balloon Natural Gas Experiment is a natural follow-up to the Word Trace, Word Search and Spelling activities. Showing how natural gas takes up space brings the process to life instantly.

Perform this Experiment in your classroom:1) Download the Experiment sheet at


2) Gather the necessary materials and divide your students into working groups.

3) Review the steps with your students.4) Discuss possible outcomes of the experiment.


Work Sheet

This activity shows practical applications of natural gas. Students will recognize and relate to the uses of natural gas in their daily lives.

Use this Work Sheet in your classroom:1) Download the Work Sheet at


2) Distribute Work Sheet to your students.3) Remind students that if they ever smell natural

gas’ rotten egg scent, they should tell an adult immediately and leave without touching or using anything electric, not even a light switch.

Work Sheet answer key is on page 11 of this guide.


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

How Do You Use Natural Gas?

Remember, if you ever smell natural gas’ rotten egg scent, you should tell an adult right away. Then, leave the house without touching or using anything electric, not even a light switch.

Natural gas is a major source of energy in the United States, where about half of all homes use natural gas to heat water, dry clothes and heat stoves. Businesses also use natural gas to make steel, glass, paper and even fertilizer. Schools use natural gas for heating, too.

Circle the activities below that require the use of natural gas.


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

The Magic Balloon Natural Gas Experiment

Directions:1) Collect all materials listed above.2) Using the funnel, fill the body part of the balloon with baking soda.

Don’t stretch it too much.3) Wipe off the funnel.4) Using the clean funnel, fill the bottle about 1/4-full with vinegar.5) Stretch the balloon over the open end of the bottle. Let the balloon

hang down on the side of the bottle so none of the baking soda spills into the bottle.

6) Make sure the balloon is tightly wrapped around the bottle’s base.7) Quickly lift the balloon so the baking soda falls into the bottle.

In this Gas Smart experiment, you’ll learn

how natural gas takes up space. Natural

gas companies use special tools to

fit gas inside pipelines so it can

move to other locations. Follow

the directions carefully, and

ask your teacher for help.

Materials needed:• Empty bottle• Balloon (don’t blow it up)• Funnel• Baking soda• Vinegar

Lab Questions:1) What do you think is happening inside the bottle?2) As the bubbles pop, they are releasing gas into the air. Where is that gas going?3) Is the balloon filling up with gas? It’s taking up space, right?



Pipeline Maze

Students now have a basic knowledge of natural gas. This activity stresses the challenge of getting natural gas from a gas company to homes that use it.

Use this Pipeline Maze assignment in your classroom:1) Download the Pipeline Maze sheet at


2) Distribute Pipeline Maze to your students. 3) Remind students of natural gas conservation terms

and concepts.4) Ask students to complete the mazes.5) Discuss the unique challenges involved in

transporting a material like gas, which is not a solid or a liquid.

Pipeline Maze answer key is on page 12 of this guide.

True Or False Quiz

This activity begins to emphasize the importance of conserving natural gas. Some terms used in the True Or False Quiz are also found in the Word Search, so the quiz can be used to test comprehension of that activity.

Use this True Or False Quiz in your classroom:1) Download the Quiz at minnesotaenergyresources.

com/business/educators.aspx.2) Distribute Quiz to your students.3) Discuss each answer with the class.

True Or False Quiz answer key is on page 13 of this guide.


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

True Or False Quiz

Conserving natural gas helps reduce the

money we spend on energy and helps

save the environment. So, how Gas

Smart are you? Try these simple

true-or-false questions and

find out. But, be careful!

Some of them are tricky.

Over half of homes in the U.S. use natural gas for their energy needs.

The natural gas we use formed deep inside the earth 100 years ago.

Natural gas is renewable, so we can always make more of it.

Natural gas smells so bad because it’s made of rotten eggs.

Underground pipelines are used to deliver natural gas to homes.

Natural gas is often used to run electric power plants.

The United States uses more natural gas each year than any other country in the world.

T FT F

T F T F

T FT F

T F

1

4

2

5

6

3


7


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

Pipeline Predicament

Moving natural gas from a gas company to your home is done with many miles of underground pipes. Below, you’ll need to follow the three pipes and determine which ones lead to which houses.

START HERE 1

A B C

2 3

Pipeline #1 goes to house _____ Pipeline #2 goes to house _____ Pipeline #3 goes to house _____



Follow-Up Questions for Discussion

By this time, students should have a good grasp of the importance of conserving natural gas and the various ways to do so. Both at home and at school, students can help conserve natural gas.

Use these Follow-Up Questions in your classroom:1) Download the Follow-Up Questions for Discussion

at minnesotaenergyresources.com/business/educators.aspx.

2) Remind students of natural gas conservation terms and concepts and the results of the in-class experiment.

3) Discuss questions as a class. Ask for additional conservation ideas.


Certificate

Once students have completed most or all of the lesson plan activities, present them with this certificate of accomplishment.

Use this Certificate in your classroom:1) Download “Gas Smart Conservation Kid!”

certificate at minnesotaenergyresources.com/business/educators.aspx.

2) Sign each certificate.3) Distribute certificates to students (make it as

official as you wish); instruct them to have a parent or guardian sign it as well.

4) Hang the certificates on your classroom wall or tell students to display theirs at home. Refrigerators are a popular location.


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

Follow-Up Discussion Questions

1) What uses energy at home? Which use natural gas?

2) What uses energy at school? Which use natural gas?

3) Are you using natural gas conservation ideas you learned about?

4) How could you save more energy at home?

5) How could you save more energy at school?

You are so Gas Smart! You know where

natural gas comes from, how to conserve it

and the many ways to save energy both at

home and at school.

Here are some questions to

discuss in class. Think about how

you can conserve more

natural gas.

Gas Smart Conservation Kid!

Congratulations!_______________________________________

(name)

knows all about natural gas: how it is made, how to use it and how to conserve it.

__________________________________(teacher)

__________________________________(parent)

_____________(date)

Minnesota Energy Resources Gas Smart Program

9 A Guide to Teacher Lesson Plans for Grades 1-2Minnesota Energy Resources Gas Smart Program Grades 1-2

Name ______________________________________ Date ____________


1. Natural gas is also called a ___________ fuel.

A. fossil B. fossul C. fozzle

2. Natural gas is found ______________. A. undergond B. underground C. udderground

3. A smell like __________ eggs is added to natural gas so you will know if there is a gas leak.

A. roting B. rotten C. rottan

4. Natural gas is used to make products in _____________.

A. facteries B. faktaries C. factories

5. Because it takes a long time for natural gas to form, it’s called ___________________.

A. renewable B. nonrenewable C. nonredoable

6. Because natural gas is nonrenewable, we should ______________ it.

A. conserve B. canswerve C. cuncerve

7. Natural gas gets to our homes through a ________________.

A. pipplien B. pipeline C. pypeleen

8. Natural gas began with tiny plants and animals that lived more than 200 million years ago; when _______________ roamed the earth.

A. donosoruses B. denisoars C. dinosaurs

It’s okay if some of these natural gas words are new to you. Just do your best and choose the correct spelling that completes the sentence. Your teacher will read each sentence so you can practice how to say each word.

Answer Key

A Guide to Teacher Lesson Plans for Grades 1-2 10Minnesota Energy Resources Gas Smart Program Grades 1-2

Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

Word Search

F W E J P N O Y O M J E O R J V K I G F K V L H S U F B R R P D E B T N S R Z L E E A E A T B L I G B N K O S W L Y A E L R E G F Z E N B I O A F Z V W K N G D O A N K U V M Y E I X N G C W E E T Q R G A S M E T E R L B N E L O M W P G J P S O N A T U R A L G A S N Y P W S R A J I U S U

ENERGYFOSSIL FUELSNATURAL GASCONSERVE

PIPELINENONRENEWABLELEAKGAS METER

We’ve taken words you have learned

and hidden them in this puzzle. Can you

find them? Remember, words can be

found forward, backward, diagonally,

vertically and horizontally.

Answer Key


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

How Do You Use Natural Gas?


Natural gas is a major source of energy in the United States, where about half of all homes use natural gas to heat water, dry clothes and heat stoves. Businesses also use natural gas to make steel, glass, paper and even fertilizer. Schools use natural gas for heating, too.

Circle the activities below that require the use of natural gas.

Answer Key

A Guide to Teacher Lesson Plans for Grades 1-2 12Minnesota Energy Resources Gas Smart Program Grades 1-2

Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

Pipeline Predicament

Moving natural gas from a gas company to your home is done with many miles of underground pipes. Below, you’ll need to follow the three pipes and determine which ones lead to which houses.

START HERE 1

A

A

B

B

C

C

2 3

Pipeline #1 goes to house _____ Pipeline #2 goes to house _____ Pipeline #3 goes to house _____

Answer Key


Name ______________________________________ Date ____________

True Or False Quiz

Conserving natural gas helps reduce the

money we spend on energy and helps

save the environment. So, how Gas

Smart are you? Try these simple

true-or-false questions and

find out. But, be careful!

Some of them are tricky.

Over half of homes in the U.S. use natural gas for their energy needs.

The natural gas we use formed deep inside the earth 100 years ago.

Natural gas is renewable, so we can always make more of it.

Natural gas smells so bad because it’s made of rotten eggs.

Underground pipelines are used to deliver natural gas to homes.

Natural gas is often used to run electric power plants.

The United States uses more natural gas each year than any other country in the world.

T FT F

T F T F

T FT F

T F

1

4

2

5

6

37


FALSE—The natural gas we use started to form 200 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

FALSE—Natural gas is a nonrenewable energy source, so there’s a limited amount we can get from the earth.

FALSE—The rotten egg smell is added by gas companies to help detect leaks and increase safety.

a guide to teacher lesson plans for grades 1-2

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