This activity helps students explore how electricity powers our daily lives, where it comes from in Ontario and Canada, and how we can make it cleaner. Through hands-on learning, students will learn how to make smart, balanced energy choices for the future.
Grade level: 4-6
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the reliance of our society on electricity
- Identify sources of electricity in Ontario (and in Canada)
- Explain the benefits of transitioning to a cleaner energy grid, identify cleaner energy sources
During this activity, students will:
- Learn about why we need electricity and the main sources of electricity in Canada.
- Be introduced to the concept of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
- Learn about the benefits of a cleaner energy, such as protection of air, water, climate and wildlife.
- Work in teams to design and power their own community by choosing different energy sources and solving real-world challenges that affect how electricity is produced and used.
Materials
- Energy Source Cards (one set per group of 2-5 students)
- Energy Constraint Cards (one set)
- One large surface, such as a white board or a large piece of paper per group
- Markers or pencils
Instructions
- Activate students’ prior knowledge about electricity and clean energy.
- “What things in our classroom use electricity?”
- “What would happen if the power went out for a whole day?”
The following points can help support the discussion:
- What is electricity? Electricity is a type of energy that flows and powers things like lights, heating and cooling, appliances, equipment, communication technology, and emergency systems.
- How is electricity made? Heating liquids or gases makes them expand and take up more room. This causes movement that can be used to turn turbines. Movement can also be produced from moving air and water. In power stations, turbines are connected to generators. When the generator turns, magnets wrapped inside spin round and electricity starts to flow through the wires.
- Some ways of making electricity release greenhouse gases, which are gases that trap heat in the air and contribute to climate change.
- Cleaner electricity helps keep air clean, protect water, reduce climate change, and protect animals and ecosystems.
- Remind students that not all energy is useful in the same way, and different sources have different strengths and limits, for example in a process called active electrolocation, some fish use electricity to “see” their environment. This energy source is self-sufficient and produces no pollution, but it’s very weak energy and it only works for the fish, not for powering homes.
- As a class, review the Energy Source Cards and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each source.
- Tell the students that they are going to be energy planners, making decisions about how to power a community. But there’s a twist – each group must solve a real-world challenge that affects their energy choices!
- Divide students into small groups (3–5 students).
- Give each group:
- A large surface, such as a whiteboard or large piece of paper, where they can draw a simple town map (ie. hospital, school, river, power plant, etc.)
- A set of energy source cards
- ONE constraint card
- Explain that each groups’ job is to power their community using 3–4 energy sources, and they must follow the rule on their constraint card. They must decide:
- Which energy sources to use
- Which are cleaner vs less clean
- How to meet their community’s needs
Extension Activity
Make a 3D replica of your town and energy sources using scrap paper, blocks, or other reusable materials. Add in measurement and area calculations for an additional challenge. You could even bring real power into your town by adding simple electrical circuits (you might need alligator clips, mini motors, mini lightbulbs, batteries, and battery holders)!
Results & Discussion
After they have designed their town, each group presents:
- Their energy choices
- How they solved their challenge
- What trade-offs they had to make
Continue the conservation with a discussion about transitioning to cleaner energy, using the following questions as a guide:
- Do you think every place in Canada should use the same energy sources? Why or why not?
No, different places in Canada use different energy sources because their environments are not the same. For example, places with lots of rivers, like British Columbia and Quebec, use more hydro power.
- “Why do you think we can’t switch to 100% clean energy right away?”
Transitioning to clean energy across Canada, while staying reliable, affordable, and protecting natural spaces, takes a lot of time and planning.
- “How can cleaner energy help protect ecosystems?”
Cleaner energy helps protect ecosystems by reducing pollution in the air and water. When there is less pollution, animals have healthier habitats and cleaner places to live.
- Now that we understand how electricity is made and the choices involved, what actions can we take to use energy wisely and support cleaner energy?
We can be careful about how we use energy (like turning things off when not needed), talk with others about where electricity comes from, and think about cleaner ways to power our homes, schools, and communities.
Next Step
As a class, reflect on what you’ve learned about electricity, energy sources, and trade-offs and discuss what you can do to apply this knowledge to make smart, balanced energy choices in your school and community. This could be by sharing information about energy sources with the other classes in your school and becoming a Power Detective (URL: https://homeroom.earthrangers.com/k-3-classroom-activities/power-detectives/). Explore how schools use energy, identify ways to become energy-saving heroes together, or by taking on the Earth Rangers Mega Watt?! (URL: missions.earthrangers.com/mega-watt) mission.
Resources
Earth Rangers
Power Detectives (URL: https://homeroom.earthrangers.com/k-3-classroom-activities/power-detectives/
Mega Watt?! Mission (URL: missions.earthrangers.com/mega-watt
Websites
WattNext Teacher Resources (URL: https://wattnext.ca/teacher-resources/)
Energy Source Characteristics (URL: https://wattnext.ca/energy-source-characteristics/ (WattNext)
The Main Electricity Sources in Canada By Province (URL: https://energyrates.ca/the-main-electricity-sources-in-canada-by-province/ (EnergyRates.ca)
The Great Canadian Electricity Map (URL: https://cangeoeducation.ca/en/maps/the-great-canadian-electricity-map/ (Canadian Geographic Education)
With the support of
