Efficiency

Academic Standards

4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.5 Quality of Writing

Lesson Objectives

At the end of activity students will be able to:

1. Identify ways to save electricity, energy and water
2. Apply efficiency concepts at home

Lesson Activities

1. Put students into "efficiency teams" of two to three.
2. Have students go through the classroom, the lunch room or any other designated areas.
3. Have them keep a record of ways energy could be used more efficiently. Students can use the cube to remind themselves of things to look for (lights off, save water, adjust thermostats, etc.).
4. Extend the project to their homes. Have students go through their own homes to evaluate the same items.
5. Have them write recommendations on how their families can use energy more efficiently.

Academic Standards

4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.8 Research, 2.5 Mathematical Problem Solving and Communication

Lesson Objectives

At the end of activity students will be able to:

1. Learn how to use the internet to gather information
2. Learn how much water individuals consume
3. Learn ways to reduce water consumption
4. Use math to calculate consumption and savings

Lesson Activities

1. Using charts calculators available on the internet have the class calculate the amount of water used by one person each day.
2. Expand process to include calculations for a week, a month, a year, and a decade.
3. Brainstorm ways individuals can reduce water consumption.
4. Using internet sites identify water savings based on implementing one or two ideas and complete the calculation again for a day, week, month, year, and decade.
5. Optional Calculation exercise could be expanded to look at consumption of the classroom, school, town and state.

Academic Standards

4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.8 Research, 2.5 Mathematical Problem Solving and Communication

Learning Objectives

At the end of activity students will be able to:

1. Learn how to use the internet to gather information
2. Learn how much energy light bulbs use
3. Learn ways to reduce electrical consumption
4. Use math to calculate electrical consumption and savings

Lesson Activities

1. Research the different types of light bulbs to identify the types of bulbs that use the least amount of energy.
2. Have the students do an inventory of the bulbs they use in their homes.
3. Based on the light bulb inventories of their homes determine if they could reduce energy by using different bulbs at home.

Academic Standards

4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.8 Research

Learning Objectives

At the end of activity students will be able to:

1. Gather information
2. Learn energy saving tips and facts
3. Learn ways individuals can to reduce energy consumption
4. Learn how to use the internet to gather information

Lesson Activities

1. Have students search the internet to find home energy saving tips and facts.
2. Have students also generate a list of web links that provide calculators, and educational activities.
3. Have them record the links they find and also generate a list of web links that provide calculators, and educational activities.

Academic Standards

4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.8 Research, 2.6 Statistics and Data Analysis, 1.6 Speaking and Listening

Learning Objectives

At the end of activity students will be able to:

1. Learn how to use the internet and other sources to gather information
2. Identify ways to save electricity, energy and water
3. Apply efficiency concepts at home
4. Participate is small and large group discussions
5. Organize and present main ideas

Lesson Activities

1. Break the class into project teams.
2. Teams are assigned one of the threes resources: water, electricity, or energy (for heating and cooling homes)
3. Teams need to need to expand on the tasks provided on the efficiency side of the cube by gathering information and developing a 10 minute class presentation with appropriate displays on ways individuals and homes can be more efficiently use their assigned resource.

Academic Standards

4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.5 Quality of Writing

Lesson Objectives

1. Learn transportation alternatives
2. Write a plan
3. Organize thoughts
4. Learn how to set goals

Lesson Activities

1. Brainstorm options to increase walking, biking or shared transportation at home
2. Develop a list of transportation alternative to use as a family
3. Create a chart to family transportation goals for the week
4. Chart transportation activities for one week
5. Write about the progress made using greener transportation alternatives for one week.
6. Share one goal and achievement with classmates

Academic Standards

4.8 Humans and the Environment, 1.8 Research, 1.5 Quality of Writing

Learning Objectives

At the end of activity students will be able to:

1. Gather information
2. Learn green transportation tips and facts
3. Learn ways individuals can to improve the earth's health by using greener transportation options
4. Learn how to use the internet to gather information

Lesson Activities

1. Have students search the internet to find green transportation tips and facts.
2. Have students also generate a list of web links that provide calculators, and educational activities.
3. Students write a theme on three green transportation alternatives.