Surveying Canada’s Wind Energy Sites

							THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE                 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – GRADES 9 TO 12
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas

             Surveying Canada’s Wind Energy Sites
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will look at three sites in Canada that use wind energy to
produce electricity. Students will first have to use map skills to identify each location
on a map of the country and then they will look at a number of elements – location,
size of operation, number of generators or windmills, cost, and number of kilowatts
produced. Students will then record all this information in a worksheet. There is an
extension activity also available for this exercise.

Grade Level
Grade 10-12 – Secondary

Time Required
Students should be able to complete this activity during two 1-hour classes.

Curriculum Connection
Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation Curriculum for Social Studies: Prince Edward
Island
Science -- SCI1421A and SCI1421B
Geography of Canada – Geo421A
World Geography – GEO531A

Link to Canadian Atlas online
Module on wind energy at:
www.canadiangeographic.ca/wind
Under “Energy Systems” on the left side of the screen, choose “Extremes of
Weather”. Then go to “Generating Power” on the top bar and choose “Wind power”
from the drop-down menu. Students should read this prior to begin searching for
wind farms in Canada. This will provide the appropriate background information
needed to complete the tasks at hand.
Students should also use this website to assist them in locating their three wind
energy sites on maps of Canada and then locate them on a map provided. When
students begin searching for their wind farms, they should use this site to help them
locate the individual sites. Go to “Explore the maps” after the language selection on
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas. From here, students select the highlighted link
that says, “Click here to use the maps.” Where it says, “Feature”, students can type
in the location of their sites and maps will come up after they hit the search button.
Using this information, students can get a relative location of their site that can be
put on a map of Canada, provided at the end of this lesson.

Additional Resources
Computer and Internet access (lab setting preferable).
(It is possible to have students work in pairs.)
Copies of “Student Organizer” (attached)
Map of Canada
Blank maps of Canada – available at:
http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxcanada.htm
Website searches: <Canadian wind farms> < Canadian wind energy sites> at:
www.google.ca
www.canwea.ca
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE               PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – GRADES 9 TO 12
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas

** The Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs has an episode about the maintenance of
wind farms. Available from The Discovery Channel Store **
Diagram of parts of wind turbines.

Main Objective
The main objective is to introduce students to wind farms across Canada. This is not
a new way of creating energy globally but is relatively new in Canada. Students will
look at various sites across Canada, three or more depending on the teachers‟
preference, and compare them using a given set of variables: size or footprint,
kilo/mega watt production, number of turbines, etc.

By looking at these variables, students will see how something as simple as a wi nd
turbine can have a significant effect on the electrical grid and is a safe way of
producing electricity without emitting harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.


Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
       - define the terms kilowatt, megawatt, turbine and wind farm
       - locate three wind farms in Canada with the aid of a map
       - describe the production output, size and number of turbines located at
          each farm
       - Properly identify the parts of a modern day windmill using the diagram
          provided.
       - Discuss the benefits of using this renewable resource.
       - Identify problems associated with wind farming in Canada.

The Lesson
                       Teacher Activity                  Student Activity
Introduction           1. Provide basic definitions of   1. Copy definitions on
                       the subject, including the        worksheet.
                       terms: kilowatt, megawatt,
                       turbine and wind farm.

                       2. Inquire:                       2. Discuss where they
                        “Where in Canada do you think    think wind farms might be
                       we will find wind farms?”         located.

                       3. Instruct students that they    3. Listen for instructions.
                       will be using computers to find   Work in small groups to
                       at least 3 wind farms in Canada   search out information
                       and answer the questions on       required on the provided
                       worksheet (master 1) provided.    worksheet on wind energy
                                                         in Canada.

Lesson                 4. Instruct the students of the   4. Using websites
Development            associated websites found on      provided, find 3 wind farm
                       their activity sheet:             sites across Canada,
                       www.canadiangeographic.ca         complete the worksheet
                       www.canwea.ca                     questions. After
                       www.google.ca                     completion, identify wind
                       and to research wind farm sites   farms on map of Canada.
                       in Canada.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE               PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – GRADES 9 TO 12
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas

Conclusion              5. Return to whole class and       5. Each group reports on
                        collate/discuss what each group    its findings
                        found.

                        6.Ask if the class findings        6. Map/label each wind
                        matched their initial discussion   farm on a master map
                        as to location.                    provided by the teacher.
                        Speculate why or why not they
                        were correct.
                        Hypothesize where and why
                        future sites might be located.

Lesson Extension
After looking at wind farming in Canada, look at some other locations around the
world. Some areas of interest might include the mega projects in Denmark, Germany
and Spain. To find these sites, simply use a search engine online. Students can use
the same handouts for the previous activity and look at the same variables and then
compare and contrast Canadian wind farms to European Wind Farms.
** Naming/labeling the parts of a wind turbine (diagram attached) can be used for
students who may not be on the regular program.

Assessment of Student Learning
The teacher will provide a large map of Canada and the students will come up and
present what they found in the activity by:
       1. Identifying where in Canada their site it and mark it somehow, a sticker or
          map pin may work fine
       2. Informing the class of the number of turbines located at that site.
       3. How big the actual site is.
       4. How many watts are produced there?
          And any other questions the teacher may want answered.

This activity is meant to expose students to wind energy in Canada. In terms of
evaluation, teachers may choose to have students self evaluate by ensuring that the
outcomes were met OR the teacher could evaluate the students on whether the
outcomes were met by posing questions to each group. Other forms of evaluation
are whether the worksheets were completed correctly and whether students used
time wisely and effectively while performing the tasks required.

Another form of assessment is an essay that students write. This would be an
individual assignment that each student would be required to complete and would be
graded by the teacher. Questions could include:

1. Is wind farming a „green‟ form of alternate energy in Canada?
OR
2. Write a letter to the Minister of the Environment and explain why (or why not) we
should have more wind farms in Canada.

Further Reading
For further information, students should go to www.westernwindenergy.com. Once
here, students should go to the wind energy section and read the information under
benefits, sustainability and environment. These will give some insight into wind
farming in Canada and help with answering questions in the assessment of this
lesson.
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE             PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – GRADES 9 TO 12
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas

Link to Canadian National Standards for Geography

Essential Element#3:            Physical Systems
           Components of the Earth‟s‟ physical system
           Global ocean and atmospheric systems

Essential Element #5:            Environment and Society
           Environmental issues
           Effects of human modification of the physical environment

Geographic Skills #2:         Acquiring Geographic Information
         Locate and gather geographic information from a variety of sources.


                           Diagram of a Wind Turbine
THE CANADIAN ATLAS ONLINE               PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – GRADES 9 TO 12
www.canadiangeographic.ca/atlas


                                Student Organizer

NAME: ________________________

Relevant definitions:
Kilowatt: __________________________________________________________
Megawatt: ________________________________________________________ __
Turbine: ________________________________________________________ __
Wind farm: __________________________________________________________

Websites:
www.canadiangeographic.ca/wind
www.canwea.ca
www.google.ca

Instructions: Fill in the names of 3 wind farms at the top of each column:

WIND FARM              1.                  2.                     3.


Province


Farm size km2


Number of
turbines

Energy
production in
mw/kw
No.   of   homes
served

Initial cost of site


Environmental
impact

Other interesting
information