Reason of Fuel Hiking

JUST THINK OVER

• What is the environment? Why is the global environment so important?
• Can you name 10 different ways we use fuel or electricity every day?
• What are ways that we could save fuel or electricity?
• What does it mean to say that the U.S. is currently dependent on other nations for our petroleum?
• How has transportation changed over the centuries?
• What kind of fuel do most cars use today?
• Are there different ways to power cars? Can you name any alternative sources of fuel?
• Why don't more cars run on alternative fuel sources?
• What do you think would be the best way to power a car?
• How would the engine work?
• Do you think cars will be the same when you're old enough to drive? How will they be different?

Earth Day Discussion

• Can one person make a difference when it comes to helping the environment?
• Can you name any well-known heroes who work to make a difference? (Answers might include Rachel Carson, Mardy Murie, or Gaylord Nelson.)
• Can you name environmental heroes you know personally?
• What is Earth Day? Is it something that is celebrated only in the United States?
• What do people do on this day?
• What can you do to make a difference? How about your school? Your family?
• How can every day be like Earth Day?
• Is there a way you can help spread the message about helping the environment?
• What is an alternative fuel source? Can you name three?
• Why are many alternative fuel sources better options for the planet?

Write important numbers on the blackboard to provide students with this background information:

• According to a study at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, there are about 3 to 4.5 million traffic signals operating in the United States. Each one uses around 990 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year. Together, they consume almost 3 billion kilowatt-hours.
• About 1.4 million tons of coal is needed to generate that much electricity.
• A 100-watt light bulb uses 0.1 kilowatt-hours an hour.

Ask:

• How many days could you light a 100-watt bulb using the same amount of energy a traffic signal uses in a year?
• How long could you light the same bulb with the amount of energy used by all the traffic lights?
• If your math book weighs a pound, how many math books would it take to equal the same weight as 1.4 million tons of coal?
• Do you think we need traffic signals? Is there a different way of controlling traffic?
• Can you think of an alternative source of energy for the traffic signals?
• How can you let your community leaders know about your ideas?

Wrap up:

• Explain that some communities have switched from using incandescent traffic lights to LEDs (light-emitting diodes). LEDs can cut energy consumption by up to 90 percent.

Extension:

• Sacramento County in California has a plan to replace lights at more than 100 intersections with LEDs. This could save the county $67,000 in just one year.
• Ask students to research traffic lights in their communities. Do the signals use incandescent lights or LEDs?

Bill Gates' 11 Rules of Life...

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world. Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Loser!!!

College Canteen...