The aim of this activity is to learn about practical ways to reduce energy consumption at home and school. The students work in groups to create Powtoon animations that illustrate energy-saving tips, such as turning off lights, using energy-efficient appliances, and reducing water heating. The students share the animations to promote energy-saving practices.
| Learning Scenario Identity | |
| Title | JYU16: Energy-Saving Tips |
| Length | 90 minutes |
| Main idea/description | The aim of this activity is to learn about practical ways to reduce energy consumption at home and school. The students work in groups to create Powtoon animations that illustrate energy-saving tips, such as turning off lights, using energy-efficient appliances, and reducing water heating. The students share the animations to promote energy-saving practices. |
| Target group | 12-15 year olds |
| Curriculum/learning subjects | Geography; Biology; Social studies |
| Competencies | The students learn about energy consumption in everyday life and how to use animations to convey a message |
| Teachers’ wellness competences | TC4: Social e-competency |
| Learning Scenario Framework | |
| Pedagogical method | PI8. Focusing on Sense of purpose (Have a voice and be active) |
| Software/materials | The main digital tool used is Powtoon (animation creation)Online delivery: This activity can also be delivered online, for example through video conferencing such as Zoom. The worksheets can be provided to students online (e.g., through Google Docs). The activity can also be carried out as an individual activity, if it is difficult to get the students to work together. However, group work can be arranged, e.g., through break-out rooms. The students can share their animations to the class, e.g. through screen/audio sharing. The final discussion can also be organized in small groups or together as a class.The students should be encouraged to try out the different features of the Powtoon app, so that they are more familiar with it. The teacher should also be able to support the students. Other digital tools can also be used in place of Powtoon, as long as they provide similar features. It is suggested that only one new digital tool is introduced to the class at one time, so that the technical aspects of digital content creation do not hinder the lesson itself. |
| Evaluation tools | The resulting animations and the discussion questions can be used to support the evaluation of this lesson. |
| Learning Scenario Implementation | |
| Learning activities (description, duration, worksheets) | Introduction (10 minutes) Activity: Discuss the importance of energy saving and introduce the activity. Materials: Presentation slides or a short video on energy saving. Different ways to save energy (10 minutes) Activity: Students discuss energy-saving tips in groups and choose who will focus on which energy saving tip. Materials: paper + pens; Energy saving info sheet Animation Creation (40 minutes) Activity: Students create Powtoon animations, illustrating the chosen energy-saving tips. They can use a search engine (e.g., Google) to find additional information to enrich their presentation.Materials: Devices, access to Powtoon. Sharing and Feedback (20 minutes) Activity: Students share their animations with the class and receive feedback. Materials: Presentation device Reflection (10 minutes) Activity: Students reflect on the activity and what they learned about energy conservation. Materials: Reflection questions (provided below). Worksheet 1: Energy saving in everyday life Why Save Energy? Saving energy helps protect our planet and saves money. When we use less energy, we reduce pollution and conserve resources like water and fossil fuels. Daily Tips to Save Energy 1. Turn Off Lights: Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. It saves electricity and helps the environment. 2. Unplug Devices: Unplug chargers and electronics when they’re not in use. Even when they’re off, they can still use energy! 3. Take Shorter Showers: Try to keep your showers under 5 minutes. It saves water and the energy needed to heat it. 4. Use Natural Light: Open the curtains and use sunlight instead of turning on lights during the day. 5. Recycle: Recycling paper, plastic, and glass saves energy because it takes less energy to recycle materials than to make new ones. 6. Walk or Bike to School: If it’s safe, walk or ride your bike to school instead of getting a ride. It’s good exercise and saves fuel. 7. Close Doors and Windows: Keep doors and windows closed when the heater or air conditioner is on to keep the warm or cool air inside. 8. Wear Layers: Instead of turning up the heat, wear a sweater or use a blanket to stay warm. 9. Use Reusable Items: Use a reusable water bottle and lunch containers. It reduces waste and saves the energy used to make disposable items. 10. Help with Household Chores: Help your family by doing chores that save energy, like hanging clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. Fun Fact: Did you know that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours? Worksheet 2: Discussion and reflection Reflect on the activity What did you like about the animations? What did you learn about energy saving? What was the most challenging part of creating your animation? What did you enjoy the most about this activity? How can you apply what you learned about energy conservation in your daily life? |