Grades K-2
Younger students can easily participate in the Junior Energy program, and there are many ways that teachers can extend the experience into the curriculum. We’ve provided background information for teachers, developed original hands-on activities that will help students better understand the campaign, and have collected other resources you can use to create activities for the campaign.
Activity One: Energy Matching -
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In this activity, your students will build their understanding of energy and how it works in the world around us by matching different common items to the types of energy they use. If you prefer, you can also conduct a scavenger hunt that will help them identify different sources of energy for common items. Through a discussion, you can focus on light bulbs and electricity.
Activity Two: Energy Down the Drain -
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Using a simple demonstration, you and your students can explore the differences between how standard light bulbs and CFLs use energy. You’ll also discuss what it means to waste energy, and ways we can save energy.
More Activity Ideas
A quick web search will lead you to many resources for teaching about energy conservation. A few that might be helpful for this age group include the following:
US Department of Energy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/default.aspx
The US Department of Energy provides a variety of resources for teaching about energy conservation, including background information and activities for K-4 students. The “Energy Basics” and “Energy Efficiency and Conservation” activities and information are especially relevant to the Junior Energy campaign. Consider especially a simple demonstration activity that illustrates the difference between standard bulbs and CFLs (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/plans.aspx?id=227).
KEEP Elementary Supplement
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee/keep/Resources/ElementaryTeachers/
Elementary.html
The KEEP program is an energy education program of the University of Wisconson. They’ve developed an elementary supplement that includes a variety of energy-related activities for younger students. Some of the activities, such as Electric Charades (http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee/
keep/resources/Publications/ElementarySupplement/Whole_document.pdf), focus specifically on electricity.
Alliance to Save Energy
http://www.ase.org/section/_audience/educators/lessons/elem/
The Alliance to Save Energy has collected a variety of activities for teaching about energy issues. Spend time looking around this site for other helpful resources, including information about the Green Schools program.