Petrol prices
Focus Questions
1. What issues were raised in the Petrol prices story?
2. What do some experts predict will happen to the price of petrol over the next few weeks?
3. Why are petrol prices going up?
4. Where are most of the world’s oil reserves?
5. How are petrol prices linked to supply and demand?
6. Apart from drivers, who else is affected by increased petrol prices?
7. In the past, what action have people taken in response to paying more for petrol?
8. How could your family reduce the amount of petrol they use each week?
9. Apart from saving money, what would be the other benefits?
10. What is a fuel cycle and which is the cheapest day to buy fuel in most places?
Petrol prices
Word warm-up
Working in pairs, students record key words from the Petrol prices story (they can either watch the story again or look at the transcript).
· Record what they think each word means
· Write two or three sentences about how each word was used in the story.
· Are there any antonyms or synonyms for the key words?
With petrol prices rising, alternative energy sources for cars are being explored.
Students will create a brochure or poster advertising the car of the future. The advertisement will need to include what the issues are with petrol/diesel powered cars, what the best alternative energy source is for powering cars and why. They need to include both words and pictures in their ad.
Students begin with a partner/small group discussion about what they know about alternative energy sources for cars. Ask them to report back to the class with what they know. They can then generate key questions to research in order to determine what alternative fuel source is best to power the car of the future. Some possible questions include:
§ What are the issues with continuing fossil fuel use?
§ What types of alternative energy sources are being developed for future cars? (consider solar, hydrogen, biofuels)
§ What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
§ Which energy sources seem most likely to be commonly used in cars of the future? Why?
Students will need access to the internet to research the topic. They may find the following website a useful starting point http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/index.html
When students have a clear understanding of what the alternatives are and the advantages and disadvantages of each, they can make a decision about what the car of the future could be. Discuss the different ways they could publish their final product.
Reflection
What worked well with your `car of the future’ advertisement?
What would you change about your advertisement? Why?
8 Related Research Links
ABC News – Petrol prices at 29-month high
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/07/3157301.htm
ABC News – Consumers told to brace for petrol price spike
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/27/3150062.htm
ABC News – Libyan unrest fuels price gouging: NRMA
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/08/3158410.htm
ABC News – Fuel costs force Qantas to lift fares again
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/09/3159463.htm
Energy quest – A student’s guide to alternative fuel vehicles
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/index.html
© ABC 2011