This lesson for upper elementary asks children to investigate which type of lightbulb is most fuel-efficient: the incandescent bulb or the compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). It can be conducted with a simple thermometer or with a watt meter for highly precise measurements. In the final phase of the experiment, students will calculate the electricity usage in kilowatt hours for each bulb, then find the dollar cost and the greenhouse gas emissions.
This resource is part of the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Project.
3-5: 4E/E2b. When warmer things are put with cooler ones, heat is transferred from the warmer ones to the cooler ones.
8. The Designed World
8C. Energy Sources and Use
3-5: 8C/E4. Some people try to reduce the amount of fuels they use in order to conserve resources, reduce pollution, or save money.
6-8: 8C/M1. Transformations and transfers of energy within a system usually result in some energy escaping into its surrounding environment. Some systems transfer less energy to their environment than others during these transformations and transfers.
9. The Mathematical World
9B. Symbolic Relationships
3-5: 9B/E2. Tables and graphs can show how values of one quantity are related to values of another.
12. Habits of Mind
12B. Computation and Estimation
3-5: 12B/E1. Make calculations when necessary to solve real-world problems and decide whether to make the calculation mentally, on paper, or with the help of a calculator or computer.
3-5: 12B/E9. Use appropriate units when describing quantities.
12D. Communication Skills
3-5: 12D/E3. Use numerical data in describing and comparing objects and events.
12E. Critical-Response Skills
3-5: 12E/E3. Seek reasons for believing something rather than just claiming "Everybody knows that…" or "I just know" and discount such claims when made by others.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Alignments
Standards for Mathematical Practice (K-12)
MP.1 Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
MP.5 Use appropriate tools strategically.
Measurement and Data (K-5)
Represent and interpret data. (1-5)
4.MD.4 Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions by using information presented in line plots.
U.S. Department of Energy. EERE Energy Education: Comparing Light Bulbs. U.S. Department of Energy, 2011. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/pdfs/efficiency_comparinglightbulbs.pdf (accessed 11 February 2016).
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