Last updated: July 27, 2020

Math Skill: Interpreting line graphs (Using subtraction of 4-digit numbers)

Science Subject: Our Energy Resources

Grade level: 4th – 5th grades

Area level: State-scale

Environmental Area: Energy

Purpose: Understand wind power capacity in Indiana and raise awareness of renewable energy

BACKGROUND FOR THE TEACHER

Wind power in the Unites States has developed quickly over the last decade and has led the world in power generation capacity along with China. Wind power generation in Indiana started in 2008 with construction of Indiana’s first utility-scale wind power facility called Goodland. Capacity increased eightfold in 2009, with the construction of three more wind farms, Fowler Ridge, Meadow Lake, and Hoosier. Fowler Ridge is the largest wind farm in the Midwest and one of the largest farms in the world. The wind industry supports 6,000-7,000jobs in Indiana (Inside Indiana Business, 2020).

Indiana has 2,317 megawatts of wind power capacity and ranked 13th in the United States in wind power generation in the first quarter of 2020. The amount is large enough to power about 500,000 households in the state. Most of the suitable sites to develop wind power arelocated in the northern part of Indiana.

1) Energy in Indiana 2) Our energy sources 3) Who supplies energy to Evansville?

 

TEACHER GUIDE

The purpose of this activity is to enhance students’ skills in reading line graphs with 4-digit numbers (PROBLEMS A & B). This activity uses the actual amount of wind power capacity in Indiana since 2007. The data was obtained from theU.S. Department of Energy.

 

PROBLEM & ANSWER KEY

Math Skill: Interpreting line graphs (Using subtraction of 4-digit numbers)

Using a line graph that shows the total wind power capacity in Indiana between 2007 and 2019, students are asked to find out what the graph is trying to show.Questions include, “Between 2008 and 2009, how much did wind power capacity increased?”

 

 

 

RELATED PROBLEM

Math Skill: Interpreting line graphs (Using subtraction of 4-digit numbers)

Using a line graph that shows total wind power capacity in Indiana between 2007 and 2019, students are asked to find out what the graph is trying to show.Questions include, “For how many years does this graph contain data?”