Energy Curriculum

North Dakota energy curriculum is available through North Dakota Studies at the State Historical Society of North Dakota. ENERGY: Powered by North Dakota was developed through a partnership between the North Dakota EmPower Commission and the Great Plains Energy Corridor. Visit www.ndstudies.gov and click the “Energy” button to enter Level 1 Curriculum (4th grade social studies and science standards) or Level 2 Curriculum (8th grade social studies and science standards).

Five modules make up the two-week unit of North Dakota-specific energy information which will help teach students about the resources right here in our state, how they’re used to produce energy, and how that affects us as citizens.

• Content includes graphics, photos, maps, videos, and simulations
• A pre-packaged 2-week curriculum is available for download with daily lesson plans, worksheets, rubrics, and more
• Links to access North Dakota energy career resources
• Request activity kits for hands-on projects for wind energy and lignite resources

See the tabs below for more details on the energy curriculum.
The energy curriculum includes some really great graphics, videos, maps, animations, etc. To get a feel for everything that’s included, check out some of the highlights below:

• Watch a brief local news story that shows how a wind farm is built in the state. The video includes an interview with a female engineer who discusses how the base of the turbine is engineered and materials and time needed to construct. http://ndstudies.gov/energy/level2/module-4-wind-hydropower-solar/wind-power
• See a graphic cross-section of the Williston Basin. The graphic is drawn to scale and shows where the Bakken lies in reference to Interstate 94. http://ndstudies.gov/energy/level2/module-2-petroleum-natural-gas/where-petroleum-and-natural-gas-are-found
• See a video taken from the point of view of a dragline operator. There is dragline trivia on the next page here, and the video shows that this massive machine is operated by a couple of joysticks, just like a video game.  http://ndstudies.gov/energy/level2/module-3-coal/history-lignite-use-north-dakota
• Quiz your students – did you realize North Dakota was the first in the nation to utilize the “green” energy of Recovered/Waste Heat Energy? http://ndstudies.gov/energy/level2/module-5-biofuels-geothermal-recovered/recovered-energy
• Watch electrons flow in an animation tool created by Bismarck State College. This tool is embedded throughout the site to reinforce concepts with various industry sectors.
• Have advanced students? Take it further using Bismarck State College animations and simulations located at https://www.bscnecelabs.net/energynd/. Apply advanced mathematical theory on renewable energy using  Bismarck State College solar and wind output from resources on campus. This current and historical information is available to the public at https://www.bscnecelabs.net/gridlab/.

For classes that need in-hand materials for small-group projects, presentations, etc., request a classroom set of Spotlight on North Dakota Energy, which is designed to complement the curriculum by providing additional up-to-date information and resources.