Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students observe and collect real world data to explain how energy is consumed in their classroom by looking at how, why and when appliances in their classroom are used. They make recommendations as to how their class could use less electricity.

Learning goals:

  • Students understand the relationship between energy use at school and a healthy environment.
  • Students recognise a range of strategies for saving energy at school.
  • Students understand that replacing halogen downlights with LED downlights will have both environmental and economic benefits.

General capabilities: Numeracy, Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Mathematics Year 5

  • Choose appropriate units of measurement for length, area, volume, capacity and mass (ACMMG108)

Geography Year 5

  • Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary and secondary sources (ACHASSI095)
  • Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects (ACHASSI104)

Science Year 6

  • Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE220)

Geography Year 6

  • Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary and secondary sources (ACHASSI123)
  • Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects (ACHASSI132)

Syllabus Outcomes: GE3-4, ST3-6PW, MA3-10MG, MA3-11MG, MA3-12MG, MA3-9MG, MA3‑1WM, MA3‑2WM, MA3‑3WM.

Topic: Switch to Save, Energy.

Time required: 60 + mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee 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: Includes opportunities for extension and homework.

Keywords: Energy, audit, classroom.

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 will understand the relationship between energy use at school and a healthy environment. They will recognise a range of strategies for saving energy at school and at home, and will 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, potent

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Imagine if we had no electricity - would your life be different?

In this activity you will be conducting an audit of the energy used in your classroom. You should use the table below (or create your own) to record:

  • Which lights and appliances are on or off.
  • How long they are used for.
  • Whether or not they have a standby function.

There are a number of different types of light that you might have in your classroom. Use the pictures below to distinguish between the lights.

Incandescent light

Energy efficient light

Fluorescent light

Halogen downlight

LED downlight

Master Table for Classroom Energy Audit

Appliance/Equipment Number Time on & in use Time on, not used Time on standby Time off
Fluorescent
lights
Incandescent
lights
Energy efficient lights
Halogen downlights
LED downlights
Stereo and sound
equipment
...
 
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