Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Program Title:	Fundamentals of Energy
Program Type:	Orientation/Exploratory
Career Cluster:	Energy

Secondary – Middle School	
Course Number	9790300	
CIP Number	149790300M	
Grade Level	6-8	
Standard Length	Semester	
Teacher Certification	Refer to Course Structure section.	
CTSO	SkillsUSA	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose 

The purpose of this course is to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their future academic and occupational goals and to provide information regarding careers in the Energy career cluster. The content includes but is not limited to careers in the energy industry, various energy sources, and electrical power generation, transmission and distribution. Instruction and learning activities are provided in a laboratory setting using hands-on experiences with the equipment, materials and technology appropriate to the course content and in accordance with current practices. 

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Course Structure

The length of this course is one semester. It may be offered for two semesters when appropriate. When offered for one semester, it is recommended that it be at the exploratory level and more in-depth when offered for two semesters. 

To teach the course listed below, instructors must hold at least one of the teacher certifications indicated for that course.

The following table illustrates the course structure:

Course Number	Course Title	Teacher Certification	Length	
9790300	Fundamentals of Energy	TEC ED 1@2
ENG&TEC ED1@2
ELECTRICAL @7 7G
IND ENGR 7G	Semester	

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Explore careers and entry requirements in the energy industry.
02.0	Locate power plants in Florida.
03.0	Understand conventional electric power generation.
04.0	Discuss the value of alternative and renewable energy sources.
05.0	Understand electric power transmission and distribution.
06.0	Investigate the viability of wind energy.
07.0	Investigate the viability of solar energy.
08.0	Investigate the use of hydroelectricity.
09.0	Investigate the use of nuclear power.
10.0	Investigate the viability of bioenergy (biomass and biofuel).
11.0	Investigate the viability of geothermal energy.
12.0	Investigate energy consumption and identify ways to use energy wisely.
13.0	Discuss greenhouse gas emissions based on local fuel mixture and energy consumption.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Course Title: 	Fundamentals of Energy 
Course Number: 	9790300
Course Length:	Semester

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their future academic and occupational goals and to provide information regarding careers in the Energy career cluster.  The content includes but is not limited to careers in the energy industry, various energy sources and electrical power generation, transmission and distribution.

CTE Standards and Benchmarks	
01.0	 Explore careers and entry requirements in the energy industry--The student will be able to:	
01.01	Describe careers in the energy industry.	
01.02	Explain educational pathways available to gain training to begin a career in the energy industry.	
01.03	Classify careers from entry-level to professional level.	
01.04	Explain the importance of employability skills related to the energy industry.	
01.05	Explain how destructive decisions can affect future employment. 	
01.06	Research and present information on an energy career including roles and responsibilities, opportunities for employment and the requirements for education and training.	
02.0	Locate power plants in Florida--The student will be able to:	
02.01	Describe the energy source(s) the power plants use. 	
02.02	Map the areas that are served by particular utility companies. 	
02.03	Describe different types of utility businesses (electric cooperatives, municipal, investor owned).	
03.0	Understand conventional electric power generation--The student will be able to:	
03.01	Explain the conventional electric power generation systems and process (coal, petroleum, hydroelectric and nuclear).	
03.02	Identify various conventional electric power generation fuel sources and the cost/ efficiency/ environmental advantages and disadvantages of each.  	
03.03	Diagram conventional electrical power generation systems. 	
04.0	Discuss the value of alternative and renewable energy sources--The student will be able to:	
04.01	Identify reasons for seeking alternatives to fossil fuels to include economic, environmental and social impacts. 	
04.02	Understand the difference between alternative energy and renewable energy.  	
04.03	Understand the economic, environmental and social impact of alternative / renewable energy.	
04.04	Compare and contrast alternative / renewable sources of energy with conventional sources of energy. 	
05.0	Understand electric power transmission and distribution--The student will be able to:	
05.01	Understand the differences between AC and DC power.	
05.02	Explain the electric power transmission process.	
05.03	Explain the electric power distribution process.	
05.04	Discuss the need for electric distribution systems and how they are designed to operate.	
05.05	Discuss the emerging technologies in electric power transmission and distribution.	
06.0	Investigate the viability of wind energy--The student will be able to:	
06.01	Describe the process to harness wind energy.	
06.02	Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages to wind technology. 	
06.03	Diagram a wind turbine. 	
06.04	Explain what makes a location appropriate for wind energy and identify on a map. 	
07.0	Investigate the viability of solar energy--The student will be able to:	
07.01	Describe solar energy and how it is harnessed. 	
07.02	Explain the difference between passive solar and active solar. 	
07.03	Diagram a solar cell. 	
07.04	Describe a central receiver system.	
07.05	Diagram a solar thermal plant.	
07.06	Explain what makes a location appropriate for solar energy and identify on a map.	
08.0	Investigate the use of hydroelectricity--The student will be able to:	
08.01	Describe hydroelectric energy production. 	
08.02	Diagram a hydroelectric plant.	
08.03	Explain what makes a location appropriate for hydroelectricity and identify on a map.	
09.0	Investigate the use of nuclear power--The student will be able to:	
09.01	Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power. 	
09.02	Diagram a Light-Water Reactor (LWR) (e.g. control rods, coolant, containment vessel, dry casks, turbine, etc.).	
09.03	Describe nuclear energy and how it is harnessed.	
09.04	Discuss types of locations where building nuclear power plants would not be feasible.	
10.0	Investigate the viability of bioenergy (biomass and biofuel)--The student will be able to:	
10.01	Discuss the major sources of biomass. 	
10.02	Define biofuels (e.g. ethanol, biodiesel and methanol). 	
10.03	Describe the major sources, scale and impacts of biomass energy. 	
10.04	Diagram an electric energy producing biomass plant.	
10.05	List the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass for energy (e.g. CO2 emissions, photosynthetic efficiency, cost, etc.).	
11.0	Investigate the viability of geothermal energy--The student will be able to:	
11.01	Describe geothermal energy and the way it is harnessed.	
11.02	Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using geothermal energy. 	
11.03	Diagram a geothermal power plant. 	
11.04	Explain what makes a location appropriate for geothermal energy power plant and identify on a map.	
12.0	Investigate energy consumption and identify ways to use energy wisely--The student will be able to:	
12.01	Describe energy efficiency and conservation.	
12.02	Read and interpret a residential utility bill.	
12.03	Learn how to measure energy use of various equipment.	
12.04	Identify ways to conserve energy at home and at school.	
13.0	Discuss greenhouse gas emissions based on local fuel mixture and energy consumption—The student will be able to:	
13.01	Discuss sources of energy used by local utility.	
13.02	Discuss local fuel mixture. 	
13.03	Compare greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) for various types of fuel (e.g. coal, petroleum, natural gas).	
13.04	Explain the importance of fuel mix diversity. 	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students. 

Florida Standards for English Language Development (ELD)
English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting. ELD.K12.ELL.SI.1 

English Language Development (ELD) Standards Special Notes:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.   For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link: http://www.cpalms.org/uploads/docs/standards/eld/SI.pdf.
For additional information on the development and implementation of the ELD standards, please contact the Bureau of Student Achievement through Language Acquisition at sala@fldoe.org.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

SkillsUSA is the intercurricular career and technical student organization for providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered.  

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities as identified on the secondary student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan or postsecondary student’s accommodations’ plan to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

In addition to accommodations, some secondary students with disabilities (students with an IEP served in Exceptional Student Education (ESE)) will need modifications to meet their needs. Modifications change the outcomes or what the student is expected to learn, e.g., modifying the curriculum of a secondary career and technical education course. Note: postsecondary curriculum and regulated secondary programs cannot be modified.

Additional Resources

For additional information regarding articulation agreements, Bright Futures Scholarships, Fine Arts/Practical Arts Credit and Equivalent Mathematics and Equally Rigorous Science Courses please refer to:
http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml