Grade: 5 Subject: Science
Strand: Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Conservation of Energy and Resources
Summary:
This website is aimed at elementary-level students, and encourages students to find “energy hogs” - inefficiencies and excessive use of energy around their homes, and shows students ways to improve energy efficiency in the home. Kids can play online games set in the floor plan of a house. In each room, the goal is to find a particular energy hog, and play a game that shows how to stop that energy hog. For example, in the family room, the energy hog is a leak around the windows, and the game is to use a caulking gun to seal the windows before the energy hog can get in.
The site also includes a section for adults, so parents can be encouraged to visit the site. As their children study ways to conserve energy and resources, parents and families can be encouraged to use some of these tips at home. There is a teacher section as well, and this includes information on the Energy Hog Challenge, with a teacher and student guide available for download – the teachers’ guide lists ideas for in-class and at-home activities that can be part of a unit on conservation of energy. Activities include keeping a journal of energy use, and completing the Energy Hog Scavenger Hunt and the Energy Vampire Hunt at home. As part of the unit, student could be given these activities to do at home, and then the class can discuss ways to conserve energy. These hunts could also be used in the school, and the class as a project could develop and present a plan for energy conservation and increased efficiency to the Principal.
The games can be played in the computer lab. Students could likely finish the floor plan of the house in one period. The rest of the materials from the website can be used in class or for homework assignments. It presents the material in a fun, child-friendly way, without minimizing the importance of the conservation message.
Curriculum Expectations Covered: Overall Expectations: 1. 1. Analyse the immediate and long-term effects of energy and resource use on society and the environment, and evaluate options for conserving energy and resources Specific Expectations: 1.1 1.1 analyse the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts 1.2 1.2 evaluate the effects of various technologies on energy consumption, and propose ways in which individuals can improve energy conservation
Grade: 5 Subject: Science Strand: Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Conservation of Energy and Resources
Summary: This website is run by Earth Day Canada. Among the sections on this site, there is a Games section which includes energy efficiency quizzes, and waste reduction/recycling challenges in a game format. Along with the games, the site includes a Homework Help section, which is more information-based. The games can be played in a computer lab period, or could be available on a classroom computer. The Homework Help section could be a good resource if students are required to do research for a project or a task. The site also includes a Contest, which changes periodically, and an Eco-Reporters section, in which schools from across Canada share various initiatives they are taking. The class could be encouraged to participate individually in the contest – one contest is a drawing contest which provides the opportunity for cross-curricular ties to Visual Arts and/or Media Literacy. As a group, the class could report on conservation efforts being made at the school on the Eco-Reporters part of the site.
Curriculum Expectations Covered: Overall Expectations: 1. 1.Analyse the immediate and long-term effects of energy and resource use on society and the environment, and evaluate options for conserving energy and resources 3. Demonstrate and understanding of the various forms and sources of energy and the ways in which energy can be transformed and conserved Specific Expectations: 1.1 analyse the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts 1.2 evaluate the effects of various technologies on energy consumption, and propose ways in which individuals can improve energy conservation 3.2 identify renewable and non-renewable sources of energy
App – Drip Detective (for iPhone, iPad) Grade: 5 Subject: Science
Strand: Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Conservation of Energy and Resources
Summary
This app allows the user to calculate the amount of water lost by a faucet dripping, and the associated cost. While this is not specifically aimed at children or students, it could be very useful as a tool when conducting an energy audit such as the energy hog scavenger hunt. It appears to have a fairly simple interface and should be able to be used by a student at the grade 5 level.
The user taps the screen each time a faucet drips, and enters the cost of water (downside – the app is U.S. based, so the calculations are in gallons of water). The app then calculates how much water is lost and how much it will cost over a day/week/month/year. There is also an option for a faster drip or leak, to measure the volume collected in a short period f time, and the app will do the same calculations to find the cost over a longer period.
The app could be used as part of a hunt to find ways to conserve energy and water. It could be done at home, or at school along with some of the website resources listed above
. Curriculum Expectations Covered: Overall Expectations: 1. Analyse the immediate and long-term effects of energy and resource use on society and the environment, and evaluate options for conserving energy and resources Specific Expectations: 1.1 analyse the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts 1.2 evaluate the effects of various technologies on energy consumption, and propose ways in which individuals can improve energy conservation
Main Page: http://www.energyhog.org
Kids Page: http://www.energyhog.org/childrens.htm
Grade: 5
Subject: Science
Strand: Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Conservation of Energy and Resources
Summary:
This website is aimed at elementary-level students, and encourages students to find “energy hogs” - inefficiencies and excessive use of energy around their homes, and shows students ways to improve energy efficiency in the home. Kids can play online games set in the floor plan of a house. In each room, the goal is to find a particular energy hog, and play a game that shows how to stop that energy hog. For example, in the family room, the energy hog is a leak around the windows, and the game is to use a caulking gun to seal the windows before the energy hog can get in.
The site also includes a section for adults, so parents can be encouraged to visit the site. As their children study ways to conserve energy and resources, parents and families can be encouraged to use some of these tips at home. There is a teacher section as well, and this includes information on the Energy Hog Challenge, with a teacher and student guide available for download – the teachers’ guide lists ideas for in-class and at-home activities that can be part of a unit on conservation of energy. Activities include keeping a journal of energy use, and completing the Energy Hog Scavenger Hunt and the Energy Vampire Hunt at home. As part of the unit, student could be given these activities to do at home, and then the class can discuss ways to conserve energy. These hunts could also be used in the school, and the class as a project could develop and present a plan for energy conservation and increased efficiency to the Principal.
The games can be played in the computer lab. Students could likely finish the floor plan of the house in one period. The rest of the materials from the website can be used in class or for homework assignments. It presents the material in a fun, child-friendly way, without minimizing the importance of the conservation message.
Curriculum Expectations Covered:
Overall Expectations:
1. 1. Analyse the immediate and long-term effects of energy and resource use on society and the environment, and evaluate options for conserving energy and resources
Specific Expectations:
1.1 1.1 analyse the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts
1.2 1.2 evaluate the effects of various technologies on energy consumption, and propose ways in which individuals can improve energy conservation
Website – Ecokids
Main Page: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm (includes options for kids to enter, or for teachers to log in with an e-mail address to the teacher site, which is free)
Kids Page: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/kids_home.cfm
Grade: 5
Subject: Science
Strand: Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Conservation of Energy and Resources
Summary:
This website is run by Earth Day Canada. Among the sections on this site, there is a Games section which includes energy efficiency quizzes, and waste reduction/recycling challenges in a game format. Along with the games, the site includes a Homework Help section, which is more information-based. The games can be played in a computer lab period, or could be available on a classroom computer. The Homework Help section could be a good resource if students are required to do research for a project or a task.
The site also includes a Contest, which changes periodically, and an Eco-Reporters section, in which schools from across Canada share various initiatives they are taking. The class could be encouraged to participate individually in the contest – one contest is a drawing contest which provides the opportunity for cross-curricular ties to Visual Arts and/or Media Literacy. As a group, the class could report on conservation efforts being made at the school on the Eco-Reporters part of the site.
Curriculum Expectations Covered:
Overall Expectations:
1. 1.Analyse the immediate and long-term effects of energy and resource use on society and the environment, and evaluate options for conserving energy and resources
3. Demonstrate and understanding of the various forms and sources of energy and the ways in which energy can be transformed and conserved
Specific Expectations:
1.1 analyse the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts
1.2 evaluate the effects of various technologies on energy consumption, and propose ways in which individuals can improve energy conservation
3.2 identify renewable and non-renewable sources of energy
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App – Drip Detective (for iPhone, iPad)
Grade: 5
Subject: Science
Strand: Understanding Earth and Space Systems – Conservation of Energy and Resources
Summary
This app allows the user to calculate the amount of water lost by a faucet dripping, and the associated cost. While this is not specifically aimed at children or students, it could be very useful as a tool when conducting an energy audit such as the energy hog scavenger hunt. It appears to have a fairly simple interface and should be able to be used by a student at the grade 5 level.
The user taps the screen each time a faucet drips, and enters the cost of water (downside – the app is U.S. based, so the calculations are in gallons of water). The app then calculates how much water is lost and how much it will cost over a day/week/month/year. There is also an option for a faster drip or leak, to measure the volume collected in a short period f time, and the app will do the same calculations to find the cost over a longer period.
The app could be used as part of a hunt to find ways to conserve energy and water. It could be done at home, or at school along with some of the website resources listed above
.
Curriculum Expectations Covered:
Overall Expectations:
1. Analyse the immediate and long-term effects of energy and resource use on society and the environment, and evaluate options for conserving energy and resources
Specific Expectations:
1.1 analyse the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts
1.2 evaluate the effects of various technologies on energy consumption, and propose ways in which individuals can improve energy conservation