Thinking about Electricity Learning Objectives To know that we can make electricity in different ways. To begin to understand how the way we get electricity can affect our environment

Where does our electricity come from? Electricity is made or generated in different ways. Can you think of some? Most of our electricity is made using fossil fuels. What do you think these are? gasoil coal

Why do you think these are called fossil fuels? Can you act out this story? Millions of years ago, before the dinosaurs roamed the earth, lots of plants grew strong from the energy of the sun. Then they died and became buried in thick layers beneath lots of mud and soil. The remains of animals became buried as well. Over the millions of years, the mud and soil changed to rock and the layers above the rotting plants and animal remains grew heavier and heavier and thicker and thicker. All these organic remains (dead plants and animals) got squashed and a mixture of pressure and heat turned some organic material into coal, some into oil and some into natural gas. People found out that if they dug down deep enough and got these fossil fuels out, they could burn them to get energy.

So how do we get electricity from fossil fuels? Most electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels in power stations. Coal, oil and natural gas are burned in furnaces to heat up water. The boiling water makes steam which pushes the gigantic blades of a turbine to produce electricity. Power stations give off lots of steam which you can see. Power stations give off pollution, which you can’t see. When we burn fossil fuels we put lots of carbon dioxide into the air. This is a cause of Global Warming.

It takes millions of years to make fossil fuels What will happen when they run out? Because fossil fuels won’t last for ever we call them non – renewable. This means they can’t be renewed. Look at a piece of coal – think how long it took it to be formed. What is it like?

Some countries use nuclear power Nuclear power plant Nuclear power plants use a material called uranium to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants make electricity by splitting tiny atoms of the uranium to release energy. Nuclear plants also have waste materials that are very dangerous and have to be looked after safely for thousands of years.

How else can we produce electricity? Wind turbines PV panels Water wheels These are some of the ways we can get ‘renewable’ energy. This means that the source of the energy will not run out. How is the electricity being generated?

Now watch the film of Cassop Primary School and see how they get their electricity How does your school get its electricity? Do you use any renewables?

RenewablesNon-renewables Were you right?

How Much Can I Save? If you use space heaters instead of central heating, you can save nearly $1200/year! If you use fans instead of air conditioning, you can save about $600/year. If you dry your clothes on a line instead of in a dryer, you can save $150/year. If you wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, you can save $150/year. If you replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents, you can save nearly $100/year. If you get rid of your television, you can save $75/year. If you put your computer in sleep mode when you’re not using it, you can save $60/year.

ASSIGNMENT How many changes do you plan to make? How long will you make the changes? 1 week? 2 months? 6 months? 1 year? 5 years?... Calculate how much money you will save making the changes you chose for the length of time you chose. Finally, decide what you would buy with the money you saved. Provide advertisements and add this to the brochure you made in Ms. Mazzotta’s class.