Web Resource for Science: Energy Conservation

Hello Everyone!

I found a great website called Getwise.org that can be used with students in order to learn about energy conservation. This website contains a house tour, games, and kit items all having to do with conserving energy. This fits into the Saskatchewan Curriculum under Grade 4 and Grade 5 Science. For Grade 4 it fits under the Optional Unit of Electricity and Magnetism. It meets the following objectives:

Students will be able to:
1. Recognize that electricity is a form of energy.
3. Identify ways in which electricity is used.
5. Suggest ways in which energy can be conserved.

For Grade 5 it fits under the core unit of Heat. It meets the following objectives:

Students will be able to:
2. Describe the transfer of heat energy.
2. Identify methods of heat conservation in buildings.

I would use this website as part of a computer centre during "Science Centres". This way only a small group of students will need computers at a time and most classrooms have a few computers right in the room. I would start off by creating a case study about a family that wastes energy or does not use energy wisely. I would then have the students read this case study and then go onto the Getwise.org website and take the house tour and search around the website for needed information. With the information that the students find, I would have them create an action plan for the family in the case study to help them use energy more wisely.

I believe that using this web resource would enhance the students learning because it makes the lesson more student centred. The students are deciding what information is important and they using that information to construct their own knowledge. It also teaches the students computer navigation skills. They must find their own way through the website in order to pick out appropriate information. I believe that this activity will give the students a sense of ownership since they are the ones doing the "teaching" and learning. The teacher is there only as a guide for this activity.

I hope that you find this web resource helpful!
Jade