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INTRODUCTION

Electrical and Natural Gas Safety World uses articles, experiments, and activities to explain electric and natural gas science concepts, and how to use these fuels safely in daily life. The content addresses many state and national science and health education standards for grades 4-6.

This presentation guide provides the objective for each page spread, background and ideas for classroom discussion, activity and puzzle answers, suggestions for experiment setup and completion, and follow-up activities.

Activities can be done with materials listed in the booklet; electrical components are available from electronics retailers.

Page 2: Introduction to Energy Use

Objective: To make students aware of how they use energy (i.e., for light, heat, etc.) and the sources of energy they use (i.e., electricity, natural gas, etc.).

Background/Discussion: Energy is the ability to change or move matter. Without energy there would be no motion, no light, and no heat, and life would not exist. Ask students where they get their energy. (Food.) Ask them where the appliances in their homes get energy. (Sources like electricity or natural gas.)

Energy Use Chart: Help students complete the energy use chart. Ask them to consider whether they did any of the following things today: took a bath or shower, cooked food, watched a TV show or video, listened to music, were driven to school, enjoyed a warm (or cool) home, or played a computer game. Ask students what appliance or equipment they used to do each thing. Have them record their answers in the first and second columns. If students are not aware of the energy sources that run the appliances and equipment they used, ask them to check with their families and fill out the third column at home. (Tips for recognizing energy sources: Electrical appliances plug into a wall outlet and portable electric devices run on batteries. Appliances and equipment that use natural gas or other fuels have a flame inside when they are on.)

What Do You Think? Students’ answers will vary. Depending on your climate and season, keeping warm or cool without using energy may require a lot of ingenuity. Students may find it interesting to speculate about—or do some research on—how people native to your area kept warm or cool before the invention of modern heating and air conditioning systems.

Follow-up: Have students complete a day’s energy diary showing all the sources of energy they use from the time they get up until they go to sleep.