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Energy Efficiency Exploration

Grade 5, Science

Description of Unit

Students study renewable and non-renewable energy sources and how people use energy in daily life. After taking an inventory of all of the devices in the home and school environments that consume electricity, and conducting Internet research to determine possible sources for the energy, students identify ways to reduce consumption of non‐renewable energy sources and/or increase energy efficiency. Students’ research alternative energy sources, energy conservation, and/or lifestyle-patterns related to energy use and design experiments to test changes that they hypothesize might lead to more efficient or sustainable systems. Products may include:

  • inventions designed to increase energy efficiency,
  • interventions or product modifications that incorporate alternative, renewable energy sources, or
  • messaging campaign (e.g., public service announcement) designed to encourage people to modify lifestyle choices and behaviors to reduce energy consumption.

This guide links the Energy Efficiency Exploration unit to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for fifth graders. Energy Efficiency Exploration is a science unit that allows students to study renewable and non-renewable energy sources and how humans use energy in daily life. Energy Efficiency Exploration also has interdisciplinary connections to English language arts and reading and social studies disciplines. For example, students will write expository or informational texts, as outlined in the English Language Arts and Reading TEKS, and understand how people adapt to and modify the environment, as described in the Social Studies TEKS. The following document includes the applicable TEKS and the details of the Energy Efficiency Exploration unit. The final section of this document presents the applicable Texas College and Career Readiness Standards adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) on January 24, 2008.

Phase I. Learning Experiences

  1. Introduce students to the energy unit by conducting a web-­‐quest with the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Energy Kids website at http://www.eia.gov/kids/index.cfm. Ask students to complete a KWL chart for three non-­‐renewable and three renewable energy sources found at the site. Another excellent website to introduce students to the unit is Ruth Borchardt Elementary Library’s 5th Grade Alternative Energy Inquiry Activity.
  2. Using an electronics circuitry kit such as littleBits, guide student explorations into the role of a power supply unit in human-­‐made machines and electronics. Ask students to hypothesize what the original sources of energy for these power supply units might be? What happens when the power supply is deprived of energy?
  3. Tour the school campus with notepads or journals and take an inventory of all of the possible devices that require energy to operate. Remember to account for items not easily in view such as hot water heaters and air conditioners. With the help of the librarian or media specialist,facilitate student research with books and Internet sites to determine the energy sources used by items in the inventory. One source for information on energy use and conservation is the Energy Star Kids’ Site. Conduct a Round­‐Robin for reporting findings and lead the class in a large group discussion.
  4. Invite a speaker from an alternative energy company, a local utilities company, or the city electrical services unit. Take a virtual tour of a power‐plant and/or watch the videos on the operation of turbines or gasoline combustion engines.
  5. Repeat the energy-use inventory at home, locating the devices and possible energy sources. Brainstorm a list of alternative sources.
  6. Research ways to conserve energy around the house. One possible website for information is the U.S. Department of Energy’s Kids Saving Energy site. Complete the Easy Energy Action Plan found on the site.
  7. Investigate some of the scientific properties of alternative energy sources through one of the experiments at the Energy Kids site.
  8. Imagine an invention that harnesses a renewable energy source to power something small such as a portable video game player or a cell phone. Sketch out your ideas and explain how it might work.

Phase II. Independent Research

A. Research process

  1. Selecting a topic. Students should select at least one energy-­related area to investigate during an independent, long­‐term experiment. Design an experiment with the goal of reducing the amount of energy used in either the classroom or home. Depending upon student interest, the experiment may involve an investigation into an alternative energy source, an intervention aimed at improving conservation, and/or a campaign to reduce overall use by classmates and/or family members.
  2. Asking guiding questions. Some questions to consider might include:
    • In what ways is this energy source attractive for consumer use?
    • How might the energy source be replenished or conserved through careful planning?
    • How does the energy source generate electricity and convert energy into usable work?
    • In what ways is the energy source wasted or lost during the process?
    • What might be some of the dangers or by-­‐products related to this energy source?
    • How much energy is consumed in this environment (e.g., home or school)? How might you measure consumption? What trends in the measurements exist over a period of several months (e.g., through a review of meter readings or utility statements).
    • What seasonal changes might contribute to increased or decreased energy use?
    • What lifestyle changes might contribute to increased or decreased energy use?
  3. Each student will develop a hypothesis on how to increase energy efficiency in their environment though either: 1) a switch to, or supplement with, an alternative energy source, 2) a modification to the environment, structure, or usage patterns that increase efficiency, or 3) a change in habits or behaviors that results in decreased consumption.


  4. Creating a research proposal. Students should identify their topic, 3-5 guiding questions, and the hypothesis their research will explore. Additionally, students will need to design and plan for how they will conduct their experiments. Questions to consider include:


    • What materials will the experiment require?
    • How will the student record data?
    • What variables will be constant and what variables will change?
    • What are the steps of the experiment’s procedure and how will the student ensure that the steps are followed and accurately described?
    • How might students document the experimental design for other scientists?
    • Why might it be important in science to conduct experiments multiple times?
    The TPSP Assessment Rubric is an excellent example of an experimental design rubric.
  5. Conducting the research. Students will conduct their experiments over the identified time periods. In addition to identified materials and tools, students will need to collect data in scientific notebooks or journals and may need graph paper, chart paper, or index cards for analyzing and organizing their data. You will need to guide students in selecting measurable variables and identifying constraints to the scope of their projects to all the experiments to be doable within the time frame and context of the class.
  6. Developing conclusions and sharing findings. Each student will create a multimedia presentation to share his/her findings with a wider audience.

B. The product

Each student conducts background research into the chosen topic, develops a hypothesis, designs an experiment, collects data, and presents the work to classmates through multiple presentation formats. Elements of the presentation might include the following:

  • PowerPoint or Keynote presentation,
  • Public service announcement video,
  • Aligned brochure or poster set,
  • White paper article summarizing the research,
  • Technical drawings for an energy-saving device, and/or
  • Experimental design and procedure

C. Communication

Each group presents the energy report to classmates using appropriate vocabulary. The group should take questions or comments at the end of the report. The Q&A session should be impromptu and unscripted in order to reflect student learning accurately.

D. A completed project consists of:

  1. Energy Use Inventory (from home or classroom environments)
  2. Notes from background research
  3. Hypothesis and research questions
  4. Scientific notebook/journal with collected raw data
  5. Multimedia presentation (e.g., PowerPoint, brochure/posters, white paper, drawings)
  6. Video or audio of the presentation, including the Q&A session

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