CBC Archives

Ask students to name daily activities that require electricity, and write their responses on the board. As a class, discuss our dependence on electricity. Then ask: What are some different ways to generate electricity? Examples include hydro, nuclear, solar, wind, tidal, coal, and biomass. Then have students find the dictionary definitions of the following terms: generator, turbine, AC current, AC voltage, kilowatt, and kilowatt hour. If grade appropriate, use the download sheet Method of Generating Alternating Current to review induction and mechanical energy.

Direct students to the topic Hydroelectricity: The Power of Water on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Working alone or in pairs, they will explore Clips #1, 2, 3, 5, and 8, including the Did You Know sections, and note on a map of Canada the names, locations, and power capacities of the country’s hydroelectric power plants. Make sure they also label nearby lakes, rivers, and major population centres. Students will choose one plant and create a fact sheet to describe it, including the amount of power it produces and where the electricity is likely being used.

Display students’ fact sheets and maps in the classroom. Invite each student or pair to share the information they learned. Challenge the students to identify similarities and differences among the plants.

Students can write a one-page essay to answer the following: Why does Canada have so many hydro plants? Do we have enough hydroelectric power plants to meet current needs? Where else could a power plant be built, and why is that a good choice?