The Clubhouse Kids Make a Big Difference: An Energy-Saving Adventure Teacher s Guide

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2 The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference: An Energy-Saving Adventure Teacher s Guide INTRODUCTION The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference: An Energy-Saving Adventure intrduces students t the imprtance f saving energy. While reading abut children their wn age, the stry builds cmprehensin skills while als teaching students hw they can make a psitive difference fr the planet by being mre energy-efficient. Teaching Objective T build students cmprehensin and inference skills in reading fictinal text while intrducing cncepts f energy efficiency, renewable energy, and glbal warming, and explring ways students can take individual respnsibility fr energy use. This bklet supprts the fllwing Natinal Standards fr the English Language Arts, written by the Natinal Cuncil f Teachers f English and the Internatinal Reading Assciatin: Students read a wide range f print and nn-print texts t build an understanding f texts, f themselves, and f the cultures f the United States and the wrld; t acquire new infrmatin; t respnd t the needs and demands f sciety and the wrkplace; and fr persnal fulfillment. Students apply a wide range f strategies t cmprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw n their prir experience, their interactins with ther readers and writers, their knwledge f wrd meaning and f ther texts, their wrd identificatin strategies, and their understanding f textual features (e.g., sund-letter crrespndence, sentence structure, cntext, graphics). Students adjust their use f spken, written, and visual language (e.g., cnventins, style, vcabulary) t cmmunicate effectively with a variety f audiences and fr different purpses. PART 1: STORY DISCUSSION TOPICS Read the bklet alud t the class. Thrughut the stry discuss the fllwing questins, as well as Did Yu Knw? tpics and Try This! activities. Cver: Ask students, What d yu think all the kids are hlding? What d yu think this stry is ging t be abut? Pages 2-3: Ask students, Hw wuld yu feel if yu were ging t lse yur clubhuse? Wuld yu be willing t make small changes t keep it? Try This! (Answers: Open dr, shrt-sleeved shirts inside n a cld day, standing with the refrigeratr dr pen, pen windw, dripping faucet, cmputer and TV left n but nt being used, lights n in the daytime.) Did Yu Knw? Encurage students t ask their parents t shw them ne f their utility bills. If yu send hme a class newsletter, encurage parents t shw the bills t their children and tgether cme up with ways t save energy. Ask students t share these ideas in class if there is an pprtunity fr fllw-up discussin. The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference, Teacher s Guide #36905 Page Culver Cmpany, Inc.

3 Pages 4-5: Ask students t describe the things n these tw pages that the kids have dne as a way t start saving energy. (Pull curtain acrss windw t keep cld air ut; clse refrigeratr dr; turn ff cmputer; turn ff lights; put n sweatshirt; clse dr.) Try This! Keep a tally n the bard as students list the many items that use energy. Dn t frget battery-perated items. Did Yu Knw? If yu have a pwer strip in yur classrm, shw it t yur students as an example. Be sure t emphasize the imprtance f shutting ff the cmputer prperly befre turning ff the pwer strip. Pages 6-7: Ask students where else they can find infrmatin n hw t save energy. Try This! The water drip activity is easy t d in the classrm. Set it up s yu can measure hw much water escapes during the next recess r lunch break, perhaps in a paint jar. Ask the class t guess hw high the water will fill it. Yur students will be very surprised t see hw much water accumulates by the time they return. Did Yu Knw? Ask students if they have ever felt the heat given ff by a cmputer r TV. Discuss hw these appliances can act as mini-heaters, and are therefre energy wasters if left n unnecessarily. Pages 8-9: Ask students if they have heard f glbal warming. Explain that certain gases trap the heat in the Earth making the temperature rise. When we make and use energy we prduce mre f these gases, s if we use less energy, we can help keep the Earth cler. Remind students hw each individual s actins in cnserving energy can make a difference. Als discuss the renewable frms f energy n page 9. Explain that energy generated by surces that will never run ut, such as the sun, wind, and hydrpwer (generated frm falling water) can be cntinuusly renewed, s we call them renewable surces f energy. See if yur students can cme up with reasns why we wn t run ut f these energy surces. (The sun always shines, the wind will always blw, and water will cntinue t flw due t gravity and the pull f the tides.) By cmparisn, cal and il have a finite supply and are nnrenewable. Did Yu Knw? Ask students t try t make up sentences using the wrd cnserve crrectly. Be sure t read alud the text n the pages f the bk in the picture. Try This! Ask students hw hanging a twel utside t dry saves energy. Challenge them t ask their families t d this as well. Pages 10-11: Have students lk at the Energy Star lg in the picture n page 11. Explain that appliances with this symbl help the Earth by using less energy. Ask if anyne has ever seen this symbl befre. (When yu are dne reading and discussing the stry, be sure t d the Energy Star activity n page 4 f this guide.) Try This! Ask students if they have ever felt the flr r windw pane when the sun was shining n it n a ht day. What did it feel like? (Warm) Use the blinds r curtains in yur classrm t demnstrate the heating pwer f the sun. Discuss hw adjusting the curtains r blinds can save energy by requiring the air cnditining r heater t run less frequently. Ask yur students if they think they culd d smething this simple at hme n ht r cld days t help the Earth. Did Yu Knw? Ask students if they knw wh their lcal utility is. Ask if any f them, r anyne they knw, uses any green energy surces, such as slar r wind pwer, t pwer their huse. Describe examples f renewable energy such as windmills r slar pwer. (Slar pwer is created when the rays f the sun shine n a special slar panel. These panels trap the energy frm the sun s rays and stre this energy in batteries. Then peple can use this stred energy t pwer things they need in their hmes like a TV r refrigeratr. Wind The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference, Teacher s Guide #36905 Page Culver Cmpany, Inc.

4 pwer is made when the wind spins a windmill. The spinning windmill creates energy as it turns. This energy is then transferred t pwer lines and then t peple s hmes fr them t use.) Pages 12-13: Ask students hw many things in the pictures n these pages they can see that shw it s a classrm where saving energy is imprtant. (Class rule #2: Respect the Earth ; Slar Energy Is Renewable pster; Stp Glbal Warming pster; Paper Only recycling bin; vcabulary: Weather stripping and Energy-efficient; Cnserve Water with a Water-Saving Shwerhead pster; Save the Rainfrest pster; All Abut Energy textbk) Ask students if it ever ccurred t them that a leaking faucet wastes energy as well as water even if it s cld. Ask them what wuld be cnserved by installing a water-saving shwerhead in their bathrm at hme? (Bth water and energy.) See if any students already have ne f these in their hme. Page 12 Try This! Ask students hw refrigeratr tea saves energy. (N energy is used t heat the water first.) Page 13 Try This! Ask students t predict hw far up their legs the water will cme during bth a 1-minute and 5-minute shwer. Suggest they try it at hme and reprt back in a fllw-up discussin. Pages 14-15: Ask students, What are sme f the ideas that Elena, Rachel, and Lily are sharing abut mre ways t save energy? (Turn ff the lights when yu leave a rm. Use CFL bulbs. Wash full lads f laundry. Wash clthes in cld water in the washing machine. Wear clthes until they are actually dirty.) Did Yu Knw? CFLs save energy, which helps the Earth. If yu have a CFL available, shw it t the class. Ask students if they think it wuld be easy t change a few light bulbs in their huse t help the Earth and save energy. Ask hw many f them already use CFLs. Ask them t g hme and see hw many fixtures their parents wuld be willing t switch t CFLs. Try This! Ask if anyne currently washes their clthes in cld water. Encurage students t talk t their parents abut the energy savings f using cld water t wash clthes. This is anther great tpic fr a class newsletter r nte t take hme. Pages 16-17: Ask students t name sme gd ways t keep cld air ut and warm air in during the winter, r warm air ut and cl air in during the summer. (Open and clse drs quickly; clse drapes, shades, r blinds t keep the sun ut in the summer and pen them t let warmth in during the winter; use weather stripping t seal leaks at the edges f windws.) Did Yu Knw? Ask students t predict where there might be leaks in yur classrm. Try This! After reading the stry, make a leak detectr f yur wn and ask students t test fr leaks in yur classrm. Pages 18-19: Ask students, D yu think the new clubhuse rules will be easy t fllw? What rules culd we have in ur class t help save energy and save the Earth? Try This! When finished reading the stry, have students clr and cut ut the Energy Tip cards n pages 29 and 30. Discuss each card and hw energy is saved. Did Yu Knw? Discuss with yur students hw easy it is t replace ne light bulb. Pages 20-21: Summary Discussin Questins Ask students t recall the ways in which the Clubhuse Kids saved energy. D they think the Clubhuse Kids did a gd jb f changing small things t save a lt f energy? Was it easy fr the kids t be mre The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference, Teacher s Guide #36905 Page Culver Cmpany, Inc.

5 PART 2: EXTENSION ACTIVITIES Plt Chart As a whle class, make a plt chart fr the stry n the bard r verhead prjectr. Discuss characters, setting, prblem, climax, and slutin fr this stry. Climax Prblem(s) Characters Setting Slutin Summary Writing Have students wrk in pairs t write dwn the main ideas f the stry. Energy-Saving Pster Have yur students create a pster featuring their favrite animal, based n ne f the many energy-saving ideas in this stry. Remind students t be sure t include an energy-saving phrase, a brder, clr, and their name. Cnsider hanging these psters n a bulletin bard r arund the schl t encurage wise energy use. (Sme examples f energy-saving tips: Turn ff the lights when yu leave a rm. Use CFL bulbs. Keep heat at 68 degrees r lwer. Wash full lads f laundry. Wash clthes in cld water in the washing machine. Wear clthes until they are actually dirty. During the summer, hang yur washed clthes ut n a clthesline. Think abut what yu want t get ut f the refrigeratr befre yu pen it. Keep windws clsed in cld weather t keep heat inside. Turn ff the TV r radi when yu are nt watching r listening.) Leak Detectr Activity Make a leak detectr and test fr leaks arund the drs and windws f yur classrm. Take a piece f tissue and glue it t a Ppsicle stick r tngue depressr. Have students hld it arund the edges f the drs and windws when they are clsed t see if air is mving thrugh small penings arund them. If the tissue mves, yu have a leak! Energy Star Activity Discuss with students that sme appliances help the envirnment due t their superir energy efficiency. The gvernment marks these appliances with a special lg called the Energy Star, such as that n page 11. Ask students t find all the appliances in the clubhuse that have the little blue square n them, which is meant t depict that lg. Ask if there are any f these symbls in the classrm, r if anyne can think f an appliance at hme that has it. Challenge students t lk in their hmes fr the Energy Star n appliances. Encurage them t reprt back t schl n what they find. Fr mre infrmatin, visit The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference, Teacher s Guide #36905 Page Culver Cmpany, Inc.

6 PART 3: ACTIVITY PAGES After giving students time t d each exercise n their wn, discuss each page as fllws: Page 22: Savers and Wasters Make sure students understand that ne picture in each bx shws an energy-wasting activity. Objective Students are able t identify where energy is being wasted in cmmn everyday activities. Discussin Discuss each pair f pictures with the students. Identify the activity and whether r nt energy is being wasted. Discuss why the ther ptin in each picture des nt waste energy. Answers In each f the fur bxes, the fllwing pictures that shw energy wasting shuld be circled and clred red: Faucet: Turn ff any dripping faucets in r arund yur hme. Open refrigeratr: Think abut what yu want t get ut f the refrigeratr befre yu pen it. Get what yu need quickly and clse it t keep the cld air inside. This saves electricity. Open windw: Keep windws clsed in cld weather t keep heat inside. This saves electricity since the heater desn t have t run as much. Light n at empty desk: Turn lights ff when yu aren t using them. This saves electricity. Page 23: Wrld Puzzler Objective Students use cunting skills t slve a wrd puzzle with a message. Discussin What des cnserve mean? Hw can peple cnserve energy? Hw can we cnserve energy? Answer We SHOULD CONSERVE ENERGY TO help the Earth. Page 24: Renewable Energy Matching Objective Students identify frms f energy that are renewable. Discussin Which frms f energy are renewable? Which frms are nt renewable? Answers Students shuld draw lines frm Slar Pwer t the slar panels Wind Turbines t the three wind turbines (windmills) Wave Energy t the crashing wave Hydrpwer t the water falling thrugh a dam Gethermal t the geyser Bimass t the pile f debris being dumped by a backhe * Nte that cal (man pushing bucket f cal), il (three brwn barrels), and natural gas (single blue flame) are nt renewable frms f energy. Page 25: Math Decder Objective Practice math skills while identifying frms f green (renewable) energy. Answers 86 cents = W; 18 = S; 218 = I; 11 = N; 24 = R; 99 = O; 12 = D; 90 cents = A Fill in the blank phrase: SOLAR & WIND POWER Page 26: Energy Scramble Objective Reinfrce key cncepts frm the bklet abut energy efficiency. Answers Discuss each answer as the letters are unscrambled. 1. Slar; 2. wind; 3. use less; 4. energy; 5. heat The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference, Teacher s Guide #36905 Page Culver Cmpany, Inc.

7 Pages 27-28: Club Certificate Read thrugh the pledge with students and discuss the meaning. Have students cut it ut. Send page 27 hme t remind parents and students t be energy-efficient at hme. Hang page 28 n a bulletin bard in yur classrm t remind students f their pledge. Pages 29-30: Energy Tip Cards Discuss each card and hw the tip saves energy. Have students clr and cut ut each card. Encurage yur students t talk with their parents abut where they can pst the cards at hme. (On a bulletin bard, the refrigeratr, in the bathrm, next t a light switch r appliance.) Pages 31: Hme Energy Inspectin Read and discuss this page with yur students. Encurage them t take it hme and cmplete it with their parents. Cnsider ffering an incentive (class pints, tickets, stickers, etc.) fr students wh cmplete it and return it t schl. Back Cver: Search and Find Objective Review energy-saving activities demnstrated by the Clubhuse Kids. Discuss Review each energy-saving activity. Call n students t explain hw each activity saves energy. Answers: Kid beneath mnitr Page 5 Girl clsing curtain Page 4 By at windw Page 17 Dinsaur with CFL Page 15 Girl at sink Page 7 Girl adjusting thermstat Page 20 Research Prject Extensin Activity As a class, r in grups, have students find infrmatin n saving energy frm yur lcal utility. They can als use the Internet t find ways t save energy in the classrm r at hme. Make an Energy Savers bulletin bard with the infrmatin that students find. Have a class discussin abut hw small changes can help slw glbal warming by saving energy. This activity meets the fllwing K-12 Natinal Standards fr the English Language Arts written by the Natinal Cuncil f Teachers f English and the Internatinal Reading Assciatin. Students cnduct research n issues and interests by generating ideas and questins, and by psing prblems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data frm a variety f surces (e.g., print and nn-print texts, artifacts, peple) t cmmunicate their discveries in ways that suit their purpse and audience. Students use a variety f technlgical and infrmatin resurces (e.g., libraries, databases, cmputer netwrks, vide) t gather and synthesize infrmatin and t create and cmmunicate knwledge. Fr mre infrmatin n the standards listed abve, cntact: Internatinal Reading Assciatin, Natinal Cuncil f Teachers f English, The Clubhuse Kids Make a Big Difference, Teacher s Guide #36905 Page Culver Cmpany, Inc.