Module 2: Generate
Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū to whenua – While people come and go, the land remains
We rely on electricity to connect our hapori. But where does it come from?
In this module you’ll learn all about the many sources of electricity, and how it’s generated across Aotearoa. Then, you’ll get to work on designing your very own electricity generator!
The great journey of electricity
Electricity goes on an incredible journey to reach your whare. This journey can be broken down into three simple steps:
Poster: Journey of electricity
Poster: Te ara haere o te hiko
Generate
In this module, you’ll focus on the first step in electricity’s journey, generate – where electricity is generated from an energy source.
Energy sources
Energy sources can either be renewable, or non-renewable.
Renewable energy sources are much better for the environment. This is because they don’t emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are harmful to our planet.
The future of energy in Aotearoa
Let’s check in with Gene to discover why Aotearoa is a world leader in the use of renewable energy:
Video transcript: The future is bright
Activity 2.1: Energy sources relay
Head outside and test your knowledge on New Zealand’s incredible range of energy sources!
Ngohe 2.1: Tauwhaiwhai Puna Pūngao
E puta ki waho whakamātau ai i ō mōhiotanga ki te whānui o ngā puna pūngao o Aotearoa!
Turbine time
It’s time to spark your imagination and discover how to generate electricity through the power of wind!
Engineering design process
To find a solution you’re going to follow the engineering design process. It’s a series of simple steps that engineers use to solve problems and make ideas work:
Poster: Engineering design process
Poster: Te tukanga hoahoa pūkaha
Ask
Engineers start their projects by asking lots of pātai. This helps them understand the problem they’re trying to solve.
Do some discovery of your own with the help of our resident renewable energy experts, Lewis and Cha Cha.
Video transcript: Ask
I wonder how a turbine works?
Wind turbines are made up of these parts:
Each element is carefully designed to make sure the turbine is aerodynamic and generates as much electricity as possible.
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around an object. The better the aerodynamic design of your turbine, the more effective it will be at generating electricity.
To achieve the most aerodynamic turbine, you’ll be focusing on your turbine blades, and how different blade design variables will affect your turbine’s performance.
Some of the turbine blade design variables you could think about are:
Activity 2.2: Ask
Work with your rōpū to answer pātai on how a turbine works to understand the problem you’re trying to solve.
Ngohe 2.2: Pātai
Mahi tahi ki tō rōpū ki te whakautu i ngā pātai mō te āhua o te mahi a te kapohau kia mārama ai koutou ki te raru e whakatikaina ana e koutou.
Imagine and plan
So, we know we need to create a wind turbine to light up a town. But how can we make sure we generate enough renewable electricity to light up every building?
That’s where the next stage in the engineering design process comes in, where engineers imagine and plan some possible solutions to the problem.
Turbine design
Rōpū, you can now imagine and plan some wind turbine blade designs to light up your entire town!
Activity 2.3: Blade design
Imagine some innovative, creative designs for your turbine blades. Then, choose the best design and plan the materials you’ll need to create it.
Ngohe 2.3: Te hoahoa rapa
Whakaarotia ake ētahi hoahoa auaha mō ngā rapa o tō kapohau. Kōwhiria te hoahoa pai katoa, ā, whakamaheretia ngā rawa e hiahiatia ana e koe hei hanga i ngā rapa.
Reminder!
Continue to collect recyclable materials to make your turbines. You might also need to bring in a desk fan, and desk lamp if your school doesn’t have one.
Tools down!
Mīharo. Today you:
- Discovered how electricity is generated in Aotearoa
- Learned about renewable and non-renewable energy
- Learned the engineering design process
- Discovered how a turbine works
- Imagined and planned your turbine blade design