Learning activities Saving Energy

Key Learning Objectives: 1. Citizenship To take part in a simple debate about topical issues (2b) To realise that people and other living things have needs, and that they have responsibilities to meet them. (2e) To know what improves and harms their local, natural and built environments, and about some of the ways people look after them (2g) 2. Other subjects To find out about the uses of a variety of materials, and how these are used on the basis of their simple properties. (Sc 3d) To know how a switch can be used to break a circuit (Sc 4c). Key Vocabulary: convenient Source Habitat thermostat Insulation

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Activity 1 An experiment to find out which materials are the best insulators. 1. Decide on some materials you want to test for their insulating properties. Many materials found around school could be used for this experiment. For example, you could use: Cotton wool Torn up newspaper soil Leaves 2. You will need the following equipment: An unbreakable thermometer A small paper or plastic cup with sealable lid A box with a lid (just large enough to hold your cup and at least an inch or two of insulation material, e.g. a shoe box. A clock or watch Paper and pencil for recording time and temperatures. 3. Poke a hole in the center of the box lid and the center of the cup lid. The size of the hole will depend on your thermometer. You will need to be able to insert the thermometer through both the box and cup lids and down inside the cup to measure the temperature of some water you will put in later. 4. Put some test insulation material into the bottom of your box. Then put the cup in the middle of the box, and surround it with more of the same material, as evenly as possible. 5. Fill the cup (to almost the top) with hot tap water. Put the lid on the cup, and then fill the rest of your box (covering the cup lid) with more of the insulating material.

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Insert the thermometer through the lid for a box. Then cover the box with its lid so that the thermometer is inserted into the lid of the cup and down into the water. 6. Read the temperature on the thermometer every 10 minutes. Note down the temperature and the time. 7. Repeat with different materials. Which is the best insulator?

Activity 2 An experiment to test how long it takes to boil a kettle. Use a stopwatch to time how long an electric kettle takes to boil when filled to the maximum, two thirds and a third.

Activity 3 (Slide 25) On/Off switch Make a circuit using wire, a bulb and a battery. Create a simple switch using a paper clip and drawing pins. Experiment with other objects/materials to make the switch. Can you attach the circuit to a board to make an interactive poster reminding people to switch off?

Activity 4 Carry out an energy survey of the school. Can the children identify areas where energy savings can be made?
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Give them opportunities to interview the caretaker, LA energy consultant etc. Does the school have energy targets. Could the children help set these targets, and propose a plan to meet them? Ask the children to present their findings/plan to the headteacher, caretaker and children as appropriate.

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Area

Energy Saving Suggestions

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