The Data Centre Debate
Aims
Explore why data centres are growing and how communities weigh their benefits against local costs.
The lesson, stage by stage
- News10 min
In the news: The story
Read a 121-word news story: The Buildings Behind the AI Boom
Data centres are large buildings full of computers that store information and run online services, including AI tools. As more people use these services, demand for computing power is rising, and many new sites are being planned. The buildings need electricity and water for cooling, which can put pressure on the local grid and raise worries about emissions. Some communities are also concerned about noise, water use, and the amount of land the buildings occupy, leading to a backlash against some projects. Supporters say new centres bring investment, tax income, construction work, and help countries develop AI. Critics question whether these gains are worth the local costs, so governments are being asked to balance economic plans with community and environmental needs.
- Vocabulary8 min
Vocabulary: Words in the news
6 items
- Discussion10 min
Discussion: A centre near your town
2 discussion questions
- If a company wanted to build a data centre near your town, what would you want to know before deciding how you feel about it?
- What changes, if any, would make a new building or project feel more acceptable to local people?
- Discussion10 min
Discussion: Our online lives
2 discussion questions
- How much do you rely on online services or AI tools in everyday life? Would you like to use them more, less, or about the same?
- Would you change any of your habits to reduce the environmental impact of the technology you use? Why or why not?
- Discussion10 min
Discussion: Choices for the future
2 discussion questions
- How should governments balance investment in new technology with local concerns about energy, water, and land?
- What do you think would make technology more useful to society without creating too many costs for local communities?
Target vocabulary
In a Tuton account these words become your student's vocabulary deck, so they come back in practice between lessons.
- demand
- The amount of something that people want or need
- cooling
- The process of making something less hot
- grid
- A network that carries electricity to homes and businesses
- emissions
- Gases released into the air, often by machines
- backlash
- A strong negative reaction from many people
- investment
- Money spent to help something grow or improve
This plan comes from the Technology course in the Tuton library. Browse all free lesson plans.