About This Fastback

This fastback on Ethanol and Its Use as a Motor Vehicle Fuel was developed at the request of the Illinois Advisory Board on Conservation Education in response to needs for instructional materials on forms of alternative energy, especially ethanol, the only renewable, clean burning, alternate liquid energy. The Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board supplied the funds for the development and printing of this fastback.

A renewable energy source made from Illinois corn, ethanol appears to have advantages as a fuel for motor vehicles, especially when used as a blend with gasoline. It is also associated with issues which can serve as excellent opportunities for engaging students in problem-solving and issue-clarification activities. Ethanol is an excellent Science/Technology/ Society (STS) topic, for it illustrates that science and technology provide new products and new uses for products from our abundant production that improve living standards.

Use of this fastback requires little outside preparation on the part of the teacher. It may be taught as a unit or its elements may be integrated into other teaching units. Sections include:

                             (a) Introduction to Ethanol
                             (b) Ethanol Chemistry and Technology
                             (c) Ethanol Facts
                             (d) Projects and Activities
                                           -Ethanol Lab
                                           -Debate on Transportation
                                           -Ethanol Survey
                                           -Field Trips
                             (e) Student Test Questions
                             (f) An Energy Chronology
                             (g) Bibliography and Additional Resources
                             (h) Student Worksheets

Goals and Objectives

This fastback was written to aid those teaching in grades six and up to meet State Goals in Learning in Science and the Social Studies. It should also be useful to vocational agriculture and driver education teachers. As a result of using materials from this fastback, students should develop a better understanding of:

(a) the conversion of corn to ethanol and its use as fuel for motor vehicles
(b) the pros and cons of encouraging increased quantities of ethanol to be used as vehicle fuel
(c) the energy relationships between agriculture, science and technology, and society.
Students should also improve skills in interpretation, analysis, problem solving, and personal decision making. Pages nine and ten were designed specifically for student use with photocopy or spirit master reproduction, but any portion or the entire fastback may also be reproduced.