In this activity, your class will discover why saving energy is important, explore how the school uses energy, and identify ways to become energy-saving heroes together.
Grades: K-6
Learning Objective:
– Recognize that energy conservation is important
– Formulate suggestions on how to conserve energy in real-world situations
During this activity, students will:
- Identify ways energy is wasted
- Identify ways to save energy
- Educate others about what can be done to reduce energy waste
Materials
- Power Detective Checklist (on reused paper)
- Clipboards and pencils
- Energy-Saving and Energy-Wasting cards
- Tape or sticky tack
Set it up
Instructions
- Start by discussing why we need to be careful about how much energy we use, the following questions can be used as a guide:
- Why do you think it’s important to be careful about how much energy we use? (to make sure there is enough for everyone, to reduce pollution, to conserve resources, to make sure future generations have a healthy environment, etc.)
- How does using too much energy affect the environment? (pollution impacts the air we breath, pollution can harm animal habitats, we can use up natural resources that take millions of years to form, etc.)
- Continue by discussing how we waste energy and how we can save it:
- What are some ways we waste energy at home or at school? (leaving lights on when we aren’t in a room, using too much heat or AC, using too much hot water, leaving electronics on or plugged in when we aren’t using them)
- What are some simple things we can do every day to save energy? (use natural light when possible, take shorter showers, close doors and windows so the hot or cool air doesn’t escape)
- Explain that you are going do some detective work to find ways the school is saving energy and wasting energy. Explain where the students are allowed to go and when they have to come back.
- Hand out the Power Detective Checklist and go through the lists together then have the students explore the school.
Reflect & Share
Once you have finished, discuss the results. Prepare some Energy-Saving and Energy-Wasting cards. Have club members decide which messages to share on the cards. Stick the cards up around the school to show other students where energy is being saved and wasted.