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Activity Sheet 4
Electricity Knowledge and Comprehension
Key words and definitions for you to know
Behavior change- can refer to any transformation or modification of human
behavior.
Energy efficiency- is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide
products and services.
Load shedding- cutting off the electric current on certain lines when the demand becomes
greater than the supply.
Like to surf? Learn more about this topic at…….
Engineering News
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Electricity saving tips - how to save electricity in South Africa
http://www.electricitysavingtips.co.za
News 24.com
http://www.news24.com
Saving electricity, using electricity and everything ...
http://www.electricity.co.za
Activity Sheet
Did you know?
Space heating in winter , by using heaters, is a big
power ‘guzzler’, and the same goes for summer cooling
when airconditioners are used more often. Use oil
heaters with thermostats and avoid under-floor heating.
Wear warmer clothing. In summer use a fan rather than
air-conditioning.
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ACTIVITY 4A: ELECTRICTY SAVING ARTICLE COMPREHENSION
Activity Instructions:
Read the article below
Use less or it's lights out – City
March 10 2011, By Babalo Ndenze (condensed)
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape
Capetonians have been warned to cut their power consumption or face rolling blackouts as there
were in 2008. The warning has been issued by the City of Cape Town, which has launched a
campaign this week calling on consumers to cut electricity consumption across the City by 10
percent to keep the lights on. Middle- to high-income groups, the biggest electricity guzzlers, have
been called on to slash their power consumption by a whopping 25-40 percent. The city and Eskom
will be running electricity-saving campaigns to ensure consumers are not too badly affected by
load-shedding. The City’s campaign uses the slogan “Electricity is expensive, saving is simple” and
calls on residents to set their geyser thermostats for a lower temperature, to shower instead of taking
a bath, to fit a water-saving showerhead, and to install a geyser blanket to save up to 15 percent
on electricity bills.
Asked about the campaign, the City’s head of electricity and climate change, Sarah Ward, said
there were several reasons why the City was calling on residents to cut electricity consumption.
“One of them is that electricity tariffs are going up,” Ward said. “We’ve had cheap electricity in
South Africa in the past and so people are not used to being electricity efficient. “And there’s
definitely a threat of load-shedding. It’s very likely this year.” Cutting consumption by 10 percent
overall would make Capetonians less vulnerable to blackouts. A 25-40 percent reduction by middle
to high-income households would be ideal, Ward said. Cape Town residents can expect an
increase4B:
of ELECTRICTY
about 20 percent
in the
price ofCOMPREHENSION
electricity later in 2011.
ACTIVITY
SAVING
PICTURE
Activity Instructions:
1. Listen to the ‘Electricity Facts’ introduction from your educator.
2. Look at the ‘BE SMART’ picture over the page.
Activity Sheet
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Exercise:
Use the picture you have just studied to answer these comprehension
questions. Remember to answer in full sentences were necessary. Answer
these questions on your own.
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Comprehension Questions and Answers:
1. What is the main topic of the picture?
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Does the picture encourage positive or negative behavior?
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Which statement is false? (you can circle the statement below)
b) Have a deep bath instead of having a shower (TRUE/ FALSE)
4. Why do you think having a shower would use less electricity?
______________________________________________________________________________
5. What appliances can be used differently in the kitchen to save electricity? (
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Should you switch off your computer after you are finished using it?(
______________________________________________________________________________
7. What could you do instead of using an airconditioner?
______________________________________________________________________________
8. What electricity saving tips could you add to this picture?
______________________________________________________________________________
Group Work:
While seated at your desks swop your worksheet with the person sitting next to
you and discuss your findings or observations, including ideas on things you can do at
home!
Activity Sheet
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ACTIVITY 4C: ‘BE SMART’ COLLAGE
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Activity Instructions:
Look at the ‘BE SMART’ picture below.
Exercise:
Now work in groups of 4.
1.
Activity Sheet
Take a large piece of cardboard. Separate the cardboard into two
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columns using a ruler and pen/marker. At the top of the left hand column write: BAD
ELECTRICITY USE BEHAVIOUR. At the top of the right hand column write: GOOD
ELECTRICITY SAVING BEHAVIOUR.
For example:
2. Page through yor magazines and newspapers and find pictures of both good and bad
electricity use behavior (for example a person standing with the fridge door open (bad)
or a person using an electricity efficient washing machine (good)).
3. Then cut out and paste these pictures in the correct columns on the cardboard
(surrounding the central picture that you have cut out and pasted in the middle). This
will form what is called a ‘collage’.
4. Each group must to present their creation to the class explaining each picture, why it
was chosen and why a certain column was chosen (either left or right). Stick the
collages up in the classroom or around the school to educate other learners.
Take it Home:
• Encourage your siblings to make a collage at home. You, your sisters
and/or brothers can all find pictures together. Hang your collage up in your
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house.
Make it your mission to share the information you have gathered during this Activity. Activity Sheet