GRADE: ESAM: 3-5

CONTENT STANDARD: Environmental Science

CONTENT TOPIC: Environmental Education

CONCEPT: Energy is often wasted in the home and community.

CONTENT OBJECTIVE: H2.00 To understand how energy is wasted and how it can be conserved

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: The learner will:

2.01 define conservation.
2.02 identify examples of wasteful use of energy.
2.03 describe the concept of insulation for saving energy.

I. Natural Resources
II. Conservation is the careful use of resources so that they will be available later.
III. Waste is the unnecessary use of or the concept of not saving.
IV. Insulation is the process of keeping heat or cold from moving from one place to another.
V. There are ways to conserve energy.

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE:

Science In Society

To enable students to demonstrate attitudes toward science in solving problems and making personal decisions about issues affecting the individual, society, and the environment.

4.1 ATTITUDES - The progress of science and the attitudes of society influence one another.

4.1a Scientists can bring information, insights, and analytical skills to bear on matters of public concern.

BENCHMARK: Science provides a basis for addressing issues that affect our lives..

TIME REQUIRED:

One or two instructional periods

Flashlight, fan, examples of insulation, candle, construction paper (Light and dark), ice cubes, cloth, tinfoil, styrofoam, tin, cardboard, paper bags

(Turn on lights, turn on a flashlight, light a candle, open shades, open a window, turn on a heater, turn on a fan.) Something is happening here, boys and girls. This is what? It is W____. Can you fill in the missing letters? (Waste) Today we will learn how energy is wasted and ways it can be conserved.

Natural resources are useful materials from the earth. Water is an example of a natural resource. Who can tell me some others? (responses: air, soil, forests)

It is our responsibility to use our natural resources wisely. Why is that important? (some cannot be replenished)

Conserve means to save. Conserving energy will determine our future supply of coal, gas, oil, etc. (Brainstorm ways you can conserve energy - Turn off unnecessary appliances, etc.)

Let's think about four points related to conservation. They are:

1. Conservation is the careful use of resources to maintain their quality and to avoid waste.

2. Some examples of wasted energy would be: unnecessary use of cars, televisions, motor bikes, excessive use of hot water, thermostats turned to extremes in summer and winter, leaving lights on in unused rooms, etc.

3. There are ways to conserve energy. Insulation is one of these. The concept of insulation is that by adding layers, items or places can be kept cool or warm. Proper insulation helps to keep heat in and cold out, or insulation can keep the cool in and the hot out. Examples of the concept are thermos bottles, styrofoam cups or glasses, hot pads, etc. These materials are used to keep heat or cold from moving from one place to another. The material blocks the flow of heat. This same concept is used to insulate attics and walls in buildings. Among the materials that could be insulators are asbestos, cork, gypsum, paper, foam, etc.

Today we are going to design a package to keep an ice cube from melting so we can demonstrate the concept of insulation. Divide students into groups. Each group will need an ice cube and a bag. Place the ice cube inside the bag and use the available materials to insulate the bag. Some articles available are light and dark paper, cloth, foil, newspaper, foam, styrofoam, tape, paper bags, glass, tin. Label the bags after insulating and set aside. On one-hour intervals, we will check to see whose bag has melted the least. That will show the best insulation.

Make a chart that shows which materials used did the best job insulating. Compare and discuss.

Draw a picture of a wasteful use of energy and explain your picture. (Allow time for children to draw) Draw a contrasting second picture showing a wise use of energy and explain. (Allow time for children to draw) (Display drawings or bulletin boards under appropriate headings.)

1. (Game - "What do you know about energy?" Go Fish and Find Out. Use 20-30 fish shapes cut out of construction paper. On these fish, paste pictures of things that use energy. Attach a paper clip to each fish and put them in a large box. Tie a string to a yardstick and attach a magnet to the string. Go Fish and describe ways that energy could be wasted with your "catch.")

2. (Make a survey of your school/home and list all energy users. Make charts to show which energy users use the most energy and ways to cut down on the energy wasted.)

3. (Invite a resource person from a local utility system to discuss ways of conserving energy at home and at school.)

This is the time this file has been accessed since 04/15/2004.

The University of Tennessee at Martin is not responsible for the information or views expressed here.

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