Subject taught
- Biology
- Chemistry

Link
https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/00000144-0a29-d3cb-a96c-7b2d99240000

Type of Product
- Videos
- Web Site/Portal

Language Skills Developed
- Interaction
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking

Transferable/Scientific Skills Developed
• To know how heat flows from a warmer object to a colder one. • To know what a geothermal heat pump is. • To know why geothermal energy is a sustainable and ready-to-use resource

Description
General aims
o To realize how science and technology can be at the service of man’s daily energy needs
o To understand that it is possible to use geothermal energy not only for the production of electricity but also to operate domestic air conditioning systems
o To realize how important it is to design sustainable housing
Linguistic aims
o To increase students’ capability to get useful information from short documentaries in a foreign language.
o To learn to describe a scientific phenomenon related to heat transmission with specific technical language
o To practice the impersonal language to speculate about scientific topics.
Subject specific aims
o To know the origin of the convective motions that are at the base of the transmission of heat in a fluid
To learn the reasons why the heat is trapped into the earth at various depths
o To realize that the use of geothermal energy depends on the depth below earth’s crust
Target group age: 15-16
Level of competence in English (CEFR) B1
Time required to use the resource with the students 2 hours
How to use it
o Watching the video after a general explanation about the structure of the earth and the properties of silicon and how it is possible to drug it using its nearby atoms in periodic table.
o Stimulating the discussion between students in order to focus their attention on which aspects of geothermal plants are critic and are to be improved to make them a valid, competitive method to produce energy.
Possible difficulties for the students
o understand why the heat trapped in the earth is also linked to the presence of radiative substances
o understanding the mechanisms of electricity production in industrial geothermal plants

Comments
Strength make students aware that it is possible to build and live into eco-friendly houses, to take care of the environment Weakness In this context, it has been decided to speak more about the domestic use of geothermal energy rather than geothermal power plants, in order to adapt the technical background to the level of knowledge of the students . Pedagogical value (e.g. collaborative learning, self–directed learning, peer assisted learning, etc) After watching the video, the guided discussion between peer is an important phase of the learning process. In this way students develop a critical sense in analysing an urgent problem: how to become autonomous in the production of energy with regard to domestic use and preserve the environment at the same time.

Related Video Lessons

Renewable Energies: Part 1

Renewable Energies: Part 2