Save Energy! Grade Level K-1

Transcription

1 Save Energy! Grade Level K-1 Green and Healthy Home Topic 7: Energy While there are two types of energy, renewable and nonrenewable, most of the energy we use comes from burning nonrenewable fuels--coal, petroleum or oil, or natural gas. These supply the majority of our energy needs because we have designed ways to transform their energy on a large scale to meet consumer needs. The amount of fossil fuels is limited and we will eventually run out of current supplies. It is important to conserve these resources, while we experiment with the possibility of using renewable resources to meet our energy needs. Use of fossil fuels to make energy changes is complicated by the fact that they are the primary causes of environmental pollution including smog, acid rain, and the Greenhouse effect. At the end of this topic students should: Know that most of the energy we use comes from nonrenewable resources that pollute our environment. Turn off the lights, television, computer and other devices when they leave the room. Lesson Overview Objectives: Students will be able to Recognize some of the main forms energy can take Preparation/Materials: One item to represent each of the following: o Light (flashlight, light bulb, candle etc) o Heat (candle, toaster, etc) o Motion (toy car, spinning top, etc) o Sound (drum, bell, etc) Saving Energy when Heating and Cooling worksheets please print double-sided Home Energy Audit worksheets Procedure (Total Time): Activity 1 (15 minutes): Forms of Energy Activity 2 (15 minutes): Saving Energy! Home Activity: Home Energy Audit Source: pdf

2 Activity 1: Forms of Energy 1. The study of energy is abstract and often difficult for students to understand. To help them grasp the concept, you will provide concrete experiences that allow the students to connect different forms of energy to their everyday lives. 2. It is critical that students understand energy to help grasp the importance of energy conservation. 3. Explain and discuss the following (as it relates to energy conservation): Energy is not something you can touch or hold. Energy is the ability to do work. We use energy when we climb a mountain, play soccer, light a street lamp, move cars, or cool our homes. You can see there are many forms of energy. This topic focuses on motion, heat, light, and sound. The sun is the source of all energy. The sun s energy is stored in many different ways and is transformed by people to use. Food stores energy for people to use as fuel for the body A battery stores energy for a flashlight to use to create light Coal stores energy for people to burn to create electricity Most of the energy we use comes from burning one of the fuels coal, petroleum or oil, or natural gas. These are called fossil fuels and are nonrenewable energy sources because, when used, they are gone. Scientists are now exploring the practicality of other energy sources, which are called renewable energy sources. These include the sun, wind, ocean currents, and biomass. Burning nonrenewable fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that act like a blanket around the earth that traps the sun s heat. This is dangerous for life. Without this blanket of greenhouse gases, more of the sun s heat would escape to space, and not cause global warming. 4. Ask students to think of how energy helps us do things (everything!). Guide the students to understand that it provides light for us, heats our bodies, gives us energy through the food we eat, drives our cars, etc). 5. Shoe students some of the items that represent the four different forms of energy. Have them guess what form of energy it might represent. Do they notice any relationships amongst the energy forms? (Motion can create sound, light can create heat, sound can create motion). 6. Have students stand up and try to experience different energy forms with their bodies.

3 Motion: jump up and down for 20 seconds, spin in a circle, push a chair across the room. (What things are moving in their body even when they are standing still?) Light: Close eyes and open them (repeat), turn off the lights, close the blinds Heat: Rub hands together, do jumping jacks, put one hand in the sun and one in the shade Sound: Put their hands on their throats while they hum to feel vibrations, tap objects with a pencil to notice different sounds. 7. Recap the many forms of energy. Activity 2: Saving Energy! 1. Work with students to complete the Save Energy worksheets. 2. Help students decide how they should dress when the heat is on and when the air conditioner is on. [When the heat is on, where more clothes so you can keep the temperature lower, when the air conditioner is on, wear less clothes so you can set the temperature higher] 3. Let students color in the pictures! Home Activity: Home Energy Audit 1. Encourage students to complete the Home Energy Audit with an adult at home!

4 Activity 2: Save Energy!

5 Activity 2: Save Energy!

6 Home Activity: Home Energy Audit