1
Activity Sheet 5
Renewable Energy and Electricity Saving Recap
Key words and definitions for you to know
Biodiesel- Fuel produced from plant material. This can be used to fuel
vehicles.
Geothermal electricity - The heat electricity that is stored below the earth's surface.
Hydroelectricity - Electric electricity made by the conversion of electricity produced from
running water.
Nuclear power - The electricity produced by splitting atoms in a nuclear reactor.
Renewable energy- Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such
as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally
replenished).
Solar electricity - Electricity produced by the action of the sun's light or heat.
Tidal power- also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of
tides into useful forms of power - mainly electricity.
Wind turbine - A machine that captures the electricity of the wind and transfers the motion
to an electric generator.
Like to surf? Learn more about this topic at…….
Renewable Energy South Africa http://www.renewableenergy.co.za
Renewable energy in Africa - eNotes.com Reference
http://www.enotes.com/topic/Renewable_energy_in_Africa
EIA Energy Kids - Renewable
http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=renewable_home-basics
Renewable Energy Ecokids
www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/.../renewable_energy/index.cfm
Activity Sheet
2
ACTIVITY 5A: RENEWABLE ENERGY WORD SEARCH
Activity Instructions:
1. Listen to the ‘Electricity Facts’ introduction from your educator.
Exercise
Look through the Word Search and find the words shown on the other side of
this page. Words have been placed both horizontally (across) and vertically
(down) in this puzzle. Color in the blocks with a pencil once you have found
the word. Only find and color in the words that have been required of you.
These are all words that have been mentioned by your educator in the ‘Electricity
Facts 5A’ introduction. ‘CHANGE’ has already been found for you. Go ahead!
W
I
N
D
T
U
R
B
I
N
E
A
B
I
O
D
I
E
S
E
L
C
S
R
S
I
C
E
C
A
P
S
A
G
E
O
T
H
E
R
M
A
L
D
S
R
L
D
D
R
O
U
G
H
T
E
T
A
S
W
E
A
T
H
E
R
A
G
R
E
E
N
H
O
U
S
E
L
L
P
O
L
L
U
T
I
O
N
E
W
A
R
M
W
A
V
E
W
C
V
O
N
C
H
A
N
G
E
A
W
E
M
E
F
D
T
G
A
S
E
S
L
N
L
E
S
E
D
S
D
S
S
S
T
H
Y
D
R
O
G
E
N
A
T
E
M
P
E
R
A
T
U
R
E
These are the words that the learner is required to find in the Word Search. They have been
colored in on the word search for you in this Teacher’s Guide.
Windturbine
Sea level
Biodiesel
Warm
Activity Sheet
Hydrogen
Pollution
Gases
Icecaps
Weather
Wave
Temperature
Drought
Geothermal
Greenhouse
Solar panel
water
3
Group Work:
As a class discuss the following questions:
•
•
•
Do you think renewable energy could replace fossil fuel electricity (coal and
oil)?
Do you think our dependence on coal is a good or bad thing?
What do you think is stopping renewable energy becoming our main
electricity source?
Take it Home:
•
•
Tell your parents, relatives and community about what you have learnt about
climate change and renewable energy in this Activity.
Does your city give you the option of buying renewable energy from places
such as wind farms? Try and find out and report back to the class.
Did you know?
Enough sunlight falls on the earth's surface every hour to meet world electricity demand for
an entire year. Water is the most commonly used renewable energy resource throughout
the world. It provides enough power to meet the needs of 28.3 million people.
In 2006, about 18% of global final electricity consumption came from renewable sources.
http://www.alliantelectricitykids.com/electricityandtheenvironment/renewableelectricity
Did you know?
A solar water heater uses the sun to heat up your water, saving 25%
or more on your electricity bill. With rising electricity tariffs and
subsidies from Eskom, the payback period is no more than 3.5 to 5
years after which your hot water is basically free!
Activity Sheet
4
ACTIVITY 5B: RENEWABLE ENERGY PICTURE SEARCH & INFORMATION PIECE
Activity Instructions:
1. Using magazines or the internet, find pictures and information on a
renewable energy source such as wind, hydro, biofuel, solar or any other
relevant technology and cut them out/ print them and bring them into
school.
Exercise:
Arrange the pictures on an A4 page and compile an informative advert/
piece about the technology, highlighting how it works and the benefits
thereof. Once complete present your piece briefly to the class.
Group Work:
As a class discuss the following questions:
• Do you think the South African environment is suited to considering renewable
energy generation technologies?
• What do you think the benefits of using renewable energy are for people, the
environment and the economy?
Take it Home:
•
• Tell your parents, relatives and community about what you have
learnt about renewable energy in this Activity.
Take note when travelling around your City of renewable energy generation
technologies and highlight these to your friends, family and peers.
Did you know?
Renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar energy, are constantly replenished and never
run out. Key benefits of renewable energy are:
Environmental: Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much
lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies
Energy for the future: Renewable energy never runs out. Other sources of energy are finite and will
someday be depleted.
Jobs and the economy: Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and
workmanship to build and maintain the facilities, rather than on costly energy imports. This means
your money is spent locally to create jobs and to fuel local economies, rather than going overseas.
Energy security: conventional energy sources are vulnerable to: political instabilities; trade disputes;
embargoes, war and other disruptions- whereas renewable energy technologies are hosted locally
and genrally are not vulnerable to outside influences.
Activity Sheet
5
ACTIVITY 5C: ELECTRICITY SAVING MIND MAP
Activity Instructions:
Listen to the ‘Electricity Mind Map’ introduction from your educator and
look at the example of the mind map below
Electricity Mind Map
Mind maps are a useful way for you to review and summarize what you have learnt. Mind
maps make use of both hemispheres of the brain because they use pictures, colors and
words. Mind maps assist with the studying process because the brain naturally thinks in the
form of mind maps like the one that you are about to draw. This is a useful skill to have for
other subjects as well.
Activity Sheet
6
Exercise:
Construct your own mind map!!!!
1. Begin with a central circle. Write the main theme of your mind map in this circle. This
will be the main heading of your mind map.
2. Come up with 6 sub – headings or categories for example:
• Heating and Cooling
• Lighting
• Washing and Cleaning
As shown in the example, extend lines from the central circle outwards. Along these
lines write the headings that you have created.
3. At the end of each of these sub-heading lines you can extend several more lines
shooting outwards like the branches of a tree. Here you can write all the keywords of
the electricity saving facts and tips that you have learnt.
Remember:
• Only one tip or fact per line
• Do not write upside down
• Use key words, not whole sentences
E.g.
Electricity
Saving
Cooling
Use colors and pictures to help you remember what is in your mind map as well as to
attract people to your creation. Using colors, words AND pictures helps you to use both
hemispheres of your brain and will help you to remember what is written on your mind map.
Group Work:
• As a class group discuss your mind maps with each other. Each of you
will have done something slightly differently. Are there things in your mind map
that aren’t in your class mates’ creations? How have they used pictures and
colors differently?
Use your mind map to help you study for future exams and assessments.
Take it Home:
• Stick up your mind map at home and tell your parents, relatives and
community about what you have learnt about the environment, people and
saving money through electricity saving Activity Sheet