Contextualization

The need for energy has been with humanity since its early days, from using fire to cook and provide heat to the hydroelectric power that generates energy to light up our cities. Within this context, non-renewable energy sources, such as oil, coal, and natural gas, have played an essential role in humanity's technological and industrial development.

To understand how important these energy sources are, we must first define what they are. Non-renewable energy is that which comes from limited natural sources, meaning it can run out over time. This is because the time needed for their formation is much longer than the rate at which we use them. Despite being limited sources, the use of non-renewable energy sources is still dominant in many places around the world due to their high energy efficiency.

Non-renewable energies, despite being highly efficient, have two major drawbacks: the pollution they cause and their depletion. Burning coal and oil, for example, generates pollutants that contribute to the greenhouse effect and cause other environmental problems. Additionally, as mentioned above, these energy sources are finite, and we are using them up faster than nature can replace them.

However, despite these problems, non-renewable energy sources still hold great significance in our society. They serve as the basis of our current energy matrix, powering our homes, industries, and transportation. As such, it is vital to have an in-depth understanding of them, their advantages, drawbacks, and their local and global implications so that we may build a more sustainable society.

Moreover, understanding non-renewable energy sources also paves the way for understanding renewable energy sources, which are the future of energy. Thus, by learning about non-renewable energy sources, we are also preparing for a more conscious and sustainable future.

The following sources are recommended to further your understanding of the topic:

• Book: "Energy: Resources, Utilization, Environmental Impacts, and Sustainable Development" by José Goldemberg and Oswaldo Lucon.
• Documentary: "The Age of Oil," available on Netflix.
• Website: "Mundo Educação" at this link Non-Renewable Energy
• Petrobras website at this link Energy Sources

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Non-Renewable Energy: The Past Building the Future

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to allow students to deepen their knowledge of the main non-renewable energy sources - oil, coal, natural gas, and uranium - by analyzing their uses, economic, social, and environmental implications, extraction and conversion processes, and possible future scenarios for their exploitation.

Students will also analyze the effects of decreasing the use of these energy sources, as well as the possibilities for transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

Detailed Project Description

The project should be carried out in groups of 3-5 students over a period of 4 weeks. Each group must choose one of the non-renewable energy sources mentioned above to explore in-depth and present their research and conclusions in an oral presentation and a written report.

Necessary Materials

Students will need:

• Internet access to research materials and information.
• A computer with Microsoft PowerPoint or a similar program to create the presentation.
• Paper and pens for the written report.

Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for Completing the Activity

1. Brainstorming Session: Get your group together and discuss the directions that this project could take. Decide on a non-renewable energy source to focus on and then start outlining the main questions that you would like to explore regarding this energy source.

2. Research: Conduct thorough research on the chosen energy source. Use a variety of sources to ensure a well-rounded and balanced view. Remember to keep track of the sources used to cite them correctly in the report.

3. Organization and Synthesis: As your research progresses, start organizing your findings in a way that makes sense to your group. Identify the main themes and points of interest that you want to cover in your presentation. Begin to outline the report's content.

4. Writing the Report: Based on the outline created, begin to write the report. Each member of the group can be responsible for different sections of the report to ensure a balanced division of labor. Remember to revise and edit the report to ensure consistency and clarity.

5. Creating the Presentation: With the report finished, begin to prepare your presentation. Ensure the presentation is visually appealing and easy to follow. Rehearse the presentation several times before presenting it to the class.

6. Presentation: Present the project to the class. Be prepared to answer questions or discuss any aspect of your presentation further.

Project Deliverables

Upon completion of the project, each group must deliver:

1. Written Report: The report should have the following structure: Introduction (contextualizing the topic, its relevance and real-world application, as well as the goal of this project); Development (explaining the theory behind the topic, the activity in detail, the methodology used, and then presenting and discussing the results obtained); Conclusion (summarizing the main points, explaining the lessons learned, and the conclusions drawn from the project); and Bibliography (listing the sources used).

2. Oral Presentation: The oral presentation should be clear and engaging, focusing not only on the technical information but also on the social and environmental impacts. The presentation should be accompanied by visual aids such as slides that complement and illustrate the information presented.

The project should be designed to encompass the skills and technical and socio-emotional abilities listed above so that students can develop the ability to solve complex problems, work effectively in a team, manage their time, and communicate their ideas effectively.