Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students gather real world data to find out the number of different appliances in their classroom. Initially, student estimate the number of different appliances, then they count and calculate recording their data. They make recommendations as to how their classroom could use less electricity.

Learning goals:

  • Students understand that we can better understand how to use energy by collecting data about the appliances being used.
  • Students understand that replacing halogen downlights with LED downlights will have both environmental and economic benefits.
  • Students take action to reduce their personal energy footprints at school and at home.

General capabilities: Numeracy, Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Year 3 Mathematics:

  • Collect data, organise into categories and create displays using lists, tables, picture graphs and simple column graphs, with and without the use of digital technologies (ACMSP069)
  • Interpret and compare data displays (ACMSP070)

Year 3 Science:

  • Use a range of methods including tables and simple column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends (ACSIS057)

Year 4 Mathematics:

  • Construct suitable data displays, with and without the use of digital technologies, from given or collected data. Include tables, column graphs and picture graphs where one picture can represent many data values (ACMSP096)
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of different displays in illustrating data features including variability (ACMSP097)

Year 4 Science:

  • Use a range of methods including tables and simple column graphs to represent data and to identify patterns and trends(ACSIS068)

Syllabus Outcomes: ST2-4WS, MA2-18SP, MA2_1WM, MA2_2WM, MA2_3WM.

Topic: Switch to Save, Energy.

Time required: 60 + mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – Lead students in class discussion around activity.

Resources required: Student Worksheet – one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet. Take It Home – Lighting Audit. 

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

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

Keywords: Energy, audit, electrical appliances, saving.

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

Overarching learning goal: By participating in this lesson students better understand how to use energy by collecting real world data about the appliances being used in their classroom. Students will also understand that replacing halogen downlights with LED downlights will have both environmental and economic benefits.

Teacher content information: Electrical energy is part of our everyday lives at home, at work and at school. Most of our energy is produced by burning fossil fuels and this has a range of environmental, social and economic impacts. One of the most significant impacts is the release of greenhouse gases. A solution is a transition to clean energy sources. Another solution is to think about our personal energy footprint and reduce the amount of energy we use.

In technical terms, energy is the ability to make changes or the capacity to do work. Energy appears in many different forms including kinetic, potential, gravitational, light, heat, chemical, e

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: How many things in your classroom use energy?

Before you begin your audit of lights and appliances in your classroom it's important to know that there are lots of different types of light to look for. Which light is which?

Incandescent light

Energy efficient light

Fluorescent light

Halogen downlight

LED downlight

Guess how many of these your classroom has. Then count them!

Television

 Stereo Printer Photocopies

Guess:

Count:

Guess:

Count:

Guess:

Count:

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Count:

Fluro strip light

 Incandescent light Energy efficient light LED downlight

Guess:

Count:

Guess:

Count:

Guess:

Count:

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Count:

Halogen light

 Fan Printer Computer

Guess:

Count:

Guess:

Count:

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Count:

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Count:
Phone

Microwave

 Ceiling fan Air conditioner

Guess:

Count:

Guess:

Count:

Guess:

Coun

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