Grades 6 Lesson (45–60 min)

Power the City: Energy Mix Simulation + Mini‑Debate

Big idea: Real‑world energy planning balances reliability, cost, and emissions.

Objectives

• Use a simple simulation to explore trade‑offs in a city’s energy mix.

• Argue from evidence about a portfolio that meets goals.

Materials

• Computer + projector (whole‑class) or student devices (pairs)

• The PowerQuest mini‑sim (web page or iframe)

• Debate scorecard handouts

Procedure

1. Intro (5 min): Show three goals on board: reliability ≥ 85%, emissions ≤ target, stay within budget.

2. Explore (15–20 min): In pairs, run the sim twice with different strategies (e.g., “efficiency first” vs “build wind + batteries”).

3. Document (10 min): Record final reliability, total CO₂, remaining budget, and key choices.

4. Mini‑Debate (10–15 min): Groups present their portfolio; class votes on best balance of goals.

5. Reflect (5 min): What trade‑offs surprised you? How do events (heat waves, low wind) change plans?

Assessment
Scorecard + a short reflection citing 2–3 data points from their runs.

what you will learn:

• Real energy planning balances reliability, emissions, and budget.

• Data from a simulation can guide better decisions.

• Practice arguing from evidence and weighing trade-offs.