Resources: Clipboards, pencils, calculators and computers/tablets for research.
Core Handout (2): Contains information on energy consumption of appliances in school and a table for the children to complete.
Stretch Handout (3): A table for the children to complete with energy consumption for one day and the whole year.
Enquiry Approach - Pattern-seeking
Identifying patterns and looking for relationships to make links between scientific concepts.
Enquiry Skill - Recording data, results and findings
Using tables, a variety of graphs, labelled diagrams and models to record observations, measurements, results and findings.
Ask the children to answer questions related to the previous lesson: What happens when you recycle something? What is a landfill site? Give 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of landfill sites.
Using the presentation slides, explore where the energy that we use in the UK comes from. Discuss the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources and explore some advantages and disadvantages of both. Non-renewable energy sources are coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear; renewable energy sources are wind, solar and hydropower. Explain that the UK is hoping to become net zero by 2050 and explore possible energy saving ideas.
Career Film: This is Christian Sellars. Christian works as a Research Technologist for National Nuclear Laboratory.
Expert Film: This is Christian Sellars. Christian works as a Research Technologist for National Nuclear Laboratory. Christian talks about where the energy you use comes from.
Ask the children to conduct an audit throughout the school to see how much energy their school is consuming. Using the information on the handout, ask them to calculate a total estimate of one school day. Then, ask them to write a letter to the headteacher with ideas about how they can reduce the amount of energy the school is using.
Challenge Task: Challenge the children to calculate the energy consumption for the whole school year (39 weeks). Research solar panels and wind turbines for the school. How many emissions could be avoided by switching to renewable energy?
What can we do to reduce the amount of energy that we use?
Remember to record the temperature everyday and the rainfall once a week.
The UK has set a target to reduce carbon emissions by 68% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Reducing energy consumption is an important part of achieving these targets. Here are some ways to reduce energy consumption in the UK:
Improve home insulation: Many homes in the UK are poorly insulated, which can result in significant heat loss and energy waste. Adding insulation to walls, roofs, and floors can help to reduce heat loss and save energy. The UK government offers grants and financial incentives to help homeowners improve their home insulation.
Upgrade heating systems: Replacing old and inefficient heating systems with modern, energy-efficient systems can help to reduce energy consumption. The UK government offers financial incentives for the installation of energy-efficient heating systems, such as heat pumps and solar thermal systems.
Use energy-efficient appliances: Using energy-efficient appliances can help to reduce energy consumption. Look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR label or the EU energy label, which indicate that the appliance meets energy efficiency guidelines.
Install solar panels: Installing solar panels on rooftops can generate clean energy and help to reduce energy consumption. The UK government offers financial incentives for the installation of solar panels, such as the Feed-in Tariff and the Smart Export Guarantee.
Promote energy efficiency in transportation: Using public transportation, cycling, or walking instead of driving can help to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The UK government is promoting the use of electric vehicles through financial incentives and the installation of charging infrastructure.
Encourage energy-efficient practices in businesses: Encouraging businesses to adopt energy-efficient practices, such as using LED lighting, turning off lights and electronics when not in use, and implementing energy management systems, can help to reduce energy consumption in the commercial sector. The UK government offers financial incentives and support for businesses to improve their energy efficiency.