Activity: Electricity Tour

Quick summary: Students take a walk around their school looking for evidence of electricity in their school and surrounds. Students will look for power lines, transformers, a substation and buildings that consume electricity, and will record their observations using a camera. Students will then create a map of local electricity using these images.

Activity developed in partnership with   

Hydro Tasmania has been at the forefront of clean energy innovation for one hundred years. It is Australia’s largest producer of clean energy – generating hydro and wind power – and the largest water manager. Hydro Tasmania has 55 major dams, operates 30 hydropower stations and has built some of Australia’s largest wind farms.

Hydro Tasmania also sells energy in the National Electricity Market through its retail business Momentum Energy, and sells its expertise internationally through its consulting business Entura. Visit the Hydro Tasmania website to learn how the business is working towards Australia’s clean energy future.

Learning goals:

• Students understand some of the ways that we use electricity and why we need it.
• Students recognise some of the different types of infrastructure required to supply our houses and schools with electricity.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Foundation Geography

• Pose questions about past and present objects, people, places and events (ACHASSI001)
• Collect data and information from observations and identify information and data from sources provided (ACHASSI002)
• Sort and record information and data, including location, in tables and on plans and labelled maps (ACHASSI003)

Year 1 Geography

• Collect data and information from observations and identify information and data from sources provided(ACHASSI019)
• Sort and record information and data, including location, in tables and on plans and labelled maps (ACHASSI020)

Year 2 Geography

• Collect data and information from observations and identify information and data from sources provided (ACHASSI035)
• Sort and record information and data, including location, in tables and on plans and labelled maps (ACHASSI036)

Foundation and Years 1 & 2 Design and Technology

• Visualise, generate, develop and communicate design ideas through describing, drawing and modelling (ACTDEP006)

Syllabus outcomes: GEe-1, GEe-2, GE1-1, GE1-2, GE1-3, GE2-1, GE2-2, GE2-3, GE2-4, ST1-16P, ST2-5WT

Topic: Hydro Tasmania, Energy.

Time required: 60 mins+

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – facilitate discussion, lead students on walk, oversee creation of map/model.

Resources required: Student Worksheet, Camera (optional), materials for making 3D model or map (large piece of cardboard as base, modelling clay, sticks and string, pens etc).

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Homework and extension opportunities: Includes opportunities for extension.

Keywords: Electricity, energy, school, power station, transformer, substation, power line.

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