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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse
Energy Conservation in the Home
Lesson Description:
In this unit, students will learn about ways to conserve energy in the home through building materials, such as insulation, windows and shading techniques, and by using efficient appliances in the home. Emphasis is given to the significant causes of heat loss in a home. Students will realize the importance of using proper insulation with a high r-value to reduce heat transfer. Students will conduct a simple experiment to test the differences in heat conduction among several materials.
In this unit, students will learn about ways to conserve energy in the home through building materials, such as insulation, windows and shading techniques, and by using efficient appliances in the home. Emphasis is given to the significant causes of heat loss in a home. Students will realize the importance of using proper insulation with a high r-value to reduce heat transfer. Students will conduct a simple experiment to test the differences in heat conduction among several materials.
Lesson Type:
- Experiment
Sustainability Topic:
- Energy
GEF Program Category:
- Green Energy Challenge
Time Needed:
30 minutes 30 minutes activity 4 – pre-lab activity 5 – lab science 30 minutes activity 6 – post-lab science 30 minutes activity 7 – assessment science
30 minutes 30 minutes activity 4 – pre-lab activity 5 – lab science 30 minutes activity 6 – post-lab science 30 minutes activity 7 – assessment science
Materials Needed:
- copy of the Reading Passage and Student Data Sheets (includes reading comprehension questions, covabulary and Lab Activity) for each student
- copy of the Assessment Questions for each student
- graph paper
- an equipment kit for each group containing the following:
- 2 spoons (one plastic, one metal)
- 1 popsicle stick
- 1 glass stirring rod (about same height as spoons)
- 500 ml beaker
- 500 ml hot water >85C
- timer or stop watch
- 1 plastic knife
- 4 thumbtacks
- 1 ea. 1/4 inch square slice of saturated margarine or butter (in stick form), very cold or frozen (size of butter slice can vary depending on size of thumbtacks used)
- goggles
- 1 small piece of wax paper
Submitted By:
Green Education Foundation (GEF) on Behalf of Infinitepower.org
Green Education Foundation (GEF) on Behalf of Infinitepower.org
School or Group:
Infinitepower.org
Infinitepower.org
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Located in: Green Energy Challenge Middle School
