What is Alternative Energy?

Hi SE students for the week of May 29. In last class we presented in two large groups which went very well I think. In this week's class we will move ahead with the alternative energy topic. There are many kinds of alternative energy sources. But what exactly is alternative energy? The word 'alternative' means 'another' or 'substitute.' And this is exactly what alternative energy is: a substitute form of energy, ranging from methane gas to biomass to hydrogen energy forms. There are even energy forms such as sidewalk power generation, wave power, and lightning energy power.

Your task in the upcoming design feature is to think of your own alternative energy source. That means you must be creative. I won't say that you can't use one already in existence, but if you do so, it must be uniquely yours. Try to include some new feature or interesting part of the source. For example, don't just design a hydro-electric plant. Design a hydro-electric plant combined with a wind turbine. What you can do is to create an energy source that we have never seen before. Can you do it? I think there are still ideas out there waiting to be found. So put on  your creative hats, and try to think outside the boundaries!

Alternative Energy

Good morning SE students! Last week you practiced presenting your work in larger groups and it went well. In this week's class I'll have you present in half-class groups. This is so you can feel what it is like to present in front of a larger group of people. It will take some time, but it is very beneficial for you. The more you present in English, the more comfortable you become.

After the practice presentations we will begin the next topic: Alternative Energy. Everyone knows that we humans must get away from fossil fuel use for the safety and sustainability of our planet. Fossil fuels are very dirty and contribute to air, land, and water pollution. We know of several types of alternative, clean energy sources: wind, solar, wave. But what about others? Can you think of other types of alternative energy sources? In this week's class we will do just that: begin to create your own clean, alternative type of energy source. You may think this is a difficult topic, but once students start to think about their topic and get creative, they come up with very unique and original ideas! For this topic there are no holds barred - anything that can generate energy, large and small, is acceptable. So the task in this week's class is to get creative, use your knowledge, start creating, and have fun!

Atmospheric Cleaning

Good day SE students! Last week found us wrapping up our topic on the atmosphere, and your assignment for this week was to at least start to design an atmospheric cleaning device. I think such a device will be very necessary in the future as our atmosphere becomes more and more polluted. Of course, countries now are slowly starting to change their tune on atmospheric pollution, but I think it will be long in coming before our atmosphere can return to the way in once was. It's amazing how short a time it took to make our air polluted, our rivers and streams dirty, and our forests barren. In just over eighty years (a blink of an eye in the time frame of the universe) many parts of our earth has gone from being clean and pristine to dirty and disheveled. But it can be changed. It will take time, that's all. That is where you come in. As young environmental scientists you will have the power to make decisions, change opinions, and create new opportunities. This is a major part of the thinking of this project - to think and plan how to readily clean our atmosphere so it will allow us as humans to keep living, striving, breathing, and fighting long into the future. Your designs and ideas can help those in the future to correct those immediate problems that we should address now before it's too late.

Atmosphere

Hello SE students! In the last class we practiced presenting our ideas in front of small groups. I remember listening to everyone's presentations, and they were all okay. Some of you had good ways of showing your pictures while you explained your ideas. Some of you made good eye contact, had good memorization, and had loud voices. As we practice more and more, your skills at presenting in English will improve.

In the last class we also began to learn about the atmosphere in English. We practiced reading together, and also practiced reading silently. We began to learn words associated with atmosphere discussions in English, and wrote the meanings in Japanese and provided an English synonym.

In this week's class we will write missing vocabulary words into the sentences, and write our own sentences using the vocabulary words which will then be checked on the board. After that we will practice listening, and move on to writing answers to the questions in English. Finally, we will begin our next design project: designing your own atmospheric cleaning machine. This is a very important device and will be very practical in the upcoming years. We will start to think about the design in the upcoming class, and you will have until the following week to prepare your ideas.

That's it for this blog Science English Troopers! Remember, English is useful and easier to learn when combined with other subjects. Please use this class as a good opportunity to not only learn more and further your English, but also to hone your skills in general science, and Japanese as well! See you in next class.