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Project Yellow Bus

Elementary School Lesson Plans
Trial version

Project Yellow Bus Contact Information:
info@cubiodiesel.org

Mission

Project Yellow Bus seeks to educate the private and public sector about renewable energy. It aims at educating elementary school students about the basics behind traditional renewable energy resources, and introduces Biodiesel as a renewable and valuable resource for a sustainable future. The project targets the promotion of critical thinking about substituting traditional nonrenewable resources for renewable ones.

Objectives

  • Provide outlined and detailed lesson plans and activities centered around specific renewable energy resources
  • Introduce students to the basic concepts behind traditional renewable energy resources.
  • Introduce the concepts behind Biodiesel, and allow students to accept Biodiesel as a feasible renewable fuel source.
  • Promote University of Colorado at Boulder Education Department and student involvement in the implementation of the program.
  • Invite schools in the Boulder Valley School District and other communities to implement the program.

Structure of the document:

Project Yellow Bus is five-week curriculum plan for grades 1st to 5th, and a two-week plan for Kindergarten where each activity is designed for a one hour a week class session.

The two-week lesson plan for Kindergarten is focused on teaching students about types of renewable energy and energy uses though the implementation of images and art.

The five-week curriculum for grades 1st to 5th are partitioned in the same way. The first week focuses on an introduction to renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. The following three weeks focus on solar, wind/water, and biodiesel respectively, and the last week revolves around critical thinking and a review of the concepts learned throughout the unit. The activities involve scientific investigation, writing and reading and the use creative and critical thinking. These are different for each grade, and the level of complexity among grades increases.

The document is structured by grade level, and the lesson plans are divided by weekly topic. Each weekly lesson plans includes a classroom curriculum, which are the topics that should be addressed by the instructor, and a supporting activity. Each lesson plan also includes the Colorado State Standards that have been considered appropriate to fit the activity.

Project Yellow Bus: Trial Version

The following document is a Trial Version of Project Yellow Bus since revision and further completion of the curriculum is still in progress.

Aside from general revision of the document, the subsequent points refer to the tasks that are being actively worked upon:

  • Include background information relevant to the topic being addressed in each lesson plan.
  • Include vocabulary terms for each lesson plan.
  • Revision of the lesson plans to ensure that the complexity is adequate for each grade level.
  • Further revision of the appropriate reference to the Colorado State Standards.
  • Model the curriculum to fit the U.S. Education Standards.
  • Create assessment and evaluation material.

If you would like to cooperate with the project with comments or evaluating the curriculum in your classroom, please download the curriculum. You can also email the project manager directly.

Download Curriculum

Before you download the PYB curriculum see the overview and objectives page

Contact CU Biodiesel
Operations Director:
Jan Laesecke
Laesecke@cubiodiesel.org

Education Director:
Kallie Barnes
Barnes@cubiodiesel.org

Outreach Director:
Brett Sawchak
Sawchak@cubiodiesel.org

Alumni Research and Development Director:
Alex Blane-Zimberg
AlexBZ@cubiodiesel.org

Alumni Operations Director:
Josh Maynard
Maynard@cubiodiesel.org

Director bios
Office
University Memorial Center 345
UCB 207
Boulder, CO 80309
303.492.5449

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Sustainable Oil Service is a Boulder-based biodiesel supplier. They are the only second-generation biodiesel supplier in CO! They pick up waste oil, convert it to biodiesel, and fuel the Boulder County diesel fleet with B20. It doesn't get more sustainable than Sustainable Oil Service!

CU Biodiesel is a proud supporter of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance. The SBA is devoted to implementation and advocacy of practices that make biodiesel's production and use as sustainable as possible. Please visit their website to learn more about supporting the most environmentally conscious biodiesel business.

       

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