Watt's Your Appliance Energy Usage?
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Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education|Published on: February 22, 2024
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
4-810-12
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this lesson plan, students explore the difference between electrical power and energy as they relate to common household appliances.
- Students learn the average wattages of appliances, the definition of kilowatt hour, and how to reduce the energy consumption in their homes and schools.
- This activity is part of KEEP's Building Energy Detectives lessons where students explore the phenomenon, "What energy actions can I take at school, at home, and in my community to create a more sustainable future."
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: The Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program
Region: Global, Wisconsin
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Preparation:
- It will be helpful, but not required, for teachers to have access to a color printer, a laminator, and a watt meter.
- Since many discussion questions are multiple-choice, teachers must print them separately or provide another visual aid with possible answers displayed.
Prerequisites:
- It may benefit students to understand where our energy comes from and how it impacts the environment.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
- English Language Arts:
- Have students answer the extension question regarding ways to conserve energy as an academic paragraph or a personal narrative.
- Math:
- Have students answer the extension question regarding calculating energy usage for one appliance in one week, month, and year. Students participate in a small-group activity with different groups calculating for various appliances.
Extensions:
- After completing the lesson, students create infographics to inform people how to reduce their energy consumption.
In this activity, students will learn about power and electricity, how to measure it, and how to reduce their energy consumption. Students will also explore which appliances or products use the most electricity and how the time of use is also impactful. These topics will help them better understand how to reduce energy use. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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