Overview
Students begin to develop an understanding of energy efficiency and the importance of energy conservation by comparing different light bulbs. By comparing the amount of energy, heat, bulb life, and light output each bulb delivers, students learn that some bulbs provide the same light output using less electrical energy. The lesson culminates with a discussion about the broader impact of using energy wisely.
Key Ideas
- Not all of the energy that a device uses gets used in the way people intend. As energy moves from place to place, it always produces heat which is often an undesired effect.
- Things that are energy-efficient use less energy to do the same task. Energy-efficient devices minimize or redirect unintended energy effects.
- Using energy responsibly is something everyone can and should do.
Lesson Goals
Students will:
- develop an understanding of energy-efficiency and the importance of energy conservation.
- discover that some devices do the same job but use less energy to do so.
- recognize that there are many factors to consider when deciding how to use energy responsibly.
Lesson Resources
Download lesson plans (14 pages, 448 KB)
Download Student Handout 8.1: Comparing Light Bulbs (184 KB)
Online Extensions
Heat Produced from Light Bulbs
Discover how changing the wattage of a light bulb can change the temperature by trying this science project.
Edutopia article; "Truth and Consequences: Teaching Global Warming Doesn't Have to Spell 'Doom'"
Review the recommendations for safe handling of CFL's.
Use Energy Star's "Choose a Light" interactive guide to learn more about how to make the right lighting decisions for the task at hand.
Connection to Maine Agencies
MEEP (Maine Energy Education Program) has several activities related to this lesson and will come to interested schools free of charge:
- Energy Patrol (4th-8th Grade): Are lights left on when they are not being used? The Energy Patrol tours the school and rewards the classroom that does the best job saving electricity with a week's care of a toy armadillo, an emerging symbol for climate change.
- Light Meter / Lighting Survey: Students learn how to use a light levels in their school to see if any areas are over-lit.
- Kill A Watt: Students learn how to use a Kill A Watt meter and use it to find phantom loads and inefficient appliances at school and/or home.
- Home Lighting Inventory: Students take an inventory of the lighting in their homes - number of fixtures, types of bulbs, and how long the lights are used per day - to see what impact lighting has on their electricity consumption.
For schools in Aroostook County, a Maine Public Service (MPS) representative will come to interested schools, free of charge, to guide and support concepts developed in this lesson.
