LuduminaEN-11 · EN-U4 · Planned
Comparing energy resources
Learning objectives
Classify all listed resources; compare reliability, uses and environmental impacts; interpret trends.
DfE single-science pp.34–35 / Combined pp.29–30. Evidence checked 30 September–1 October 2026. Skills: WS1.3–1.6,3.5; MS1c,2c,4a.
Needs firstEN-10
Explanation
A renewable resource is replenished as it is used. Reliability and environmental effects depend on the resource, location and use. Nuclear fuel is non-renewable, while wind is renewable but varies with weather; neither label alone settles a community decision.
Concepts, equations and units: Coal/oil/gas, nuclear, biofuel, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal, solar and wave; transport, heating and electricity uses. J, kWh as labelled context.
Prediction, demonstration and game exercise
Predict, observe, explain
Show dated or explicitly fictional supply profiles; explain renewable replenishment and evidence versus policy choice.
Planned learner game exercise
Sort resource cards then choose suitable supplies for transport, heating and an electricity demand curve.
Independent practice
Interpret trend bars; compare two resources in a four-point explanation using supplied evidence.
Original practice example · Shared
A fictional site has variable wind and steady electricity demand. Name one advantage and one limitation of wind.
Show working and model answer
Working / reasoning
Wind is replenished and does not require fuel combustion during generation; output varies with wind conditions, so the demand may need complementary provision.
Answer
Renewable supply is an advantage; variable output limits reliability without complementary supply or storage.
Exit check and success criteria
All resource groups recognised and comparison covers reliability plus environmental impact without unsupported absolutes.
During practice, compare the prediction with evidence and give an error-specific prompt. The exit item uses a fresh context or fresh values, answered independently.
Misconceptions, practical links and mastery
Check these misconceptions
Renewable means impact-free; nuclear fuel is renewable; resources equal stores; detailed power-station engineering is required here.
Practical preparation
No RP; source/data appraisal.
Virtual preparation and revision only. Required hands-on activities and school records remain separate.
Proposed mastery
0: not yet evidenced. 1: supported. 2: independent exit criteria met. 3: successful changed-context transfer. Advance at 2; revisit with fresh retrieval. These are not GCSE grades.