VIDEO

Energy From Biofuels

Watch this brief, video picture of practice that captures everyday classroom life and provides real-life examples of how students learn and think about energy topics.

Grades

3 - 8

Subjects

Earth Science

Biofuels come from plants, so they must be good, right? Actually biofuels are a promising energy option for our future, but currently biofuels are very energy- and water-intensive to produce. Students likely are not aware of drawbacks to using biofuels. One starting point for discussing this energy source is to consider how changing land use might impact the environment. While biofuels have additional complications at present, focusing on land use can add a new level to their understanding of biofuels.

Watch this video of 4th and 5th grade students in San Diego, California—a working class community. The purpose of this classroom video is to hear students discuss drawbacks to biofuel power.

Credits

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Writers

Lindsey Mohan, Ph.D.

Ivan Salinas, B.S. Chemistry

Marcia S. Matz, M.A. Design

Jose Marcos-Iga, Ph.D. Natural Resources

Nicole D. LaDue, M.A.T. Earth Science Education

Tania T. Hinojosa, M.Ed. Educational Technology

Rachel J. Fisher, M.S. Biology

Designer

Cindy Olson

Editors

Kristen Dell, National Geographic Society

Lindsey Mohan, Ph.D.

Chelsea Zillmer

Educator Reviewers

Catie Boarts, Heal the Bay

Rachel J. Fisher

Meghan E. Marrero, New York State Marine Education Association (NYSMEA)

Marcia S. Matz

other

Last Updated

January 8, 2024

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

Media

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.