Energy saving devices - Cool Australia

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students become familiar with and investigate symbols that communicate the energy use of different products.

Key lessons and understandings of activity:

Symbols and ratings are used to communicate information to consumers.

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 3 English

Understand that languages have different written and visual communication systems, different oral traditions and different ways of constructing meaning (ACELA1475)

Syllabus Outcomes: EN2-6B.

Topic: Energy

Year levels: 3 and 4

Indoor or outdoor activity: Indoor

Time required: 20 mins

Learning areas addressed: English, Mathematics

Resources required: Art materials, computer with internet access.

Homework and extension opportunities: This activity includes opportunities for extension.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Search

Use a search feature such as Google and select 'Images'.

Ask students to type ‘energy saving’ into the search engine or do it on an electronic smartboard.

Go though the images and identify which images students think are symbols. What do symbols represent? Can the symbol explain what it is trying to say?

Discuss what is meant by a symbol. A simple explanation is to have a simple drawing that communicates a message without any writing.

Now type ‘energy rating’ into the search engine.

How has the change of the word from 'saving' to 'rating' changed the images?
Which images can students identify?
Where would they find them?

Allow students to investigate to find out what they mean. After a few minutes allow students to share their findings.

Design

Ask student to think of an energy efficient product. They can get help by typing ‘energy efficient product’ into an image search engine.

Ask students to design a simple symbol or rating for the pro

...

View Download / Print

Student Worksheet

1. Type ‘energy saving’ into the image part of a search engine. Go though the images and identify which images you think are symbols. Describe why you think they are symbols.

2. What do symbols represent?

Now type ‘energy rating’ into the search engine.

4. How has the change of the word from 'saving' to 'rating' changed the images?

5. Think about an energy efficient product. You can get help by typing ‘energy efficient product’ into an image search engine.

Your job is to design a simple symbol or rating for the product.

...

View Download / Print

Activity: Energy saving devices