This document provides information and activities to teach learners how to save energy. It discusses that electricity is generated from limited resources like coal, and that building new power stations is costly. An immediate solution is to change how electricity is used by practicing energy efficiency without wasting. The activities teach learners about renewable and non-renewable energy resources, how coal is used to generate electricity in South Africa, different appliances' energy usage, and tips to use electricity wisely at home and school.

1. How to save energy
Intermediate Phase (Grade 5)
Learner activity sheet
Natural Science & Technology
www.eskom.co.za
Powering your world
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Intermediate Phase (Grade 5)
Learner activity sheet
Natural Science and Technology
The value of our electricity
2213 Eskom_Grade 5_Learner Activity NScience.indd 1 2018/06/05 3:43 PM

2. 1
2017
Dear Learner,
Electricity is produced from fuel such as coal, water, diesel and uranium which
are limited resources. Building new power stations to increase the supply of
electricity is costly, time consuming and is only one of the possible solutions
towards producing more electricity. Increased use of electricity means we use up
our limited natural resources and means we pollute more.
An immediate solution is to change the way in which we use electricity – that is
using electricity wisely without wasting.
Eskom kindly asks you, the learner, to please put into practice different ways of
using electricity wisely. You are going to learn a lot in energy education. Some of
the things you will learn are:
• the changes in technology (use energy-saving lights instead of the traditional
old lights),
• how to use technology more wisely (using the switch to switch off remote
controlled appliances instead of the remote),
• other energy-wise saving tips,
• and how using energy wisely helps to care for our environment – our earth.
Do not worry, the energy education will be part of your school work. Be
alert and become an example of how to use energy wisely. Share all that you
learn with your friends, family and community. Remember to be energy-wise
wherever you are – at home, at school and in other places.
Thank you for taking care of our earth.
How to save energy
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3. 2
2017
Activity 1: Renewable and non-renewable resources
Read the information below and answer the questions.
Did you know?
Renewable resources are limitless – we can use these resources again e.g.
energy from the sun and wind energy. Solar energy (energy from the sun)
and wind energy can be used to generate (make) electricity.
Non-renewable resources are not limitless – these resources get used
up e.g. coal (fossil fuel) and water. Fossil fuels can take millions of years
to form. Fossil fuels like coal are burnt in a power station to turn huge
machines to generate (make) electricity. In South Africa coal is used to
generate (make) most of the electricity.
The picture below in a very simple way shows how coal is used
to generate (make) electricity.
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4. 3
2017
1.
Is coal a renewable or non-renewable resource? Give a reason.
2.
Which resource is used in the process of generating (making)
most of the electricity in South Africa?
3.
Which two non-renewable resources shown in the diagram
are used to generate (make) electricity?
4.
Why is water a non-renewable resource although there is so
much water in the sea?
5.
Why is it a disadvantage to use coal as a resource in the
process of generating (making) electricity?
6.
Write the following in the correct column: wind/wood/water/coal/
natural gas/oil/solar energy/nuclear energy/steam
Renewable resources Non-renewable resources
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5. 4
2017
Activity 2:
Energy, change and mechanisms -
electrical energy
8W
8W
14W
14W
14W
15W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
60W
100W
100W
100W
100W
Watt
family
Kilowatt
family
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6. 5
2017
Activity 2:
Energy, change and mechanisms -
electrical energy
Study the picture of the Watt and Kilowatt families and answer the
questions below. The two families live in South Africa.
1. What is the main source of energy the families are using?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2.
What is the main sources of energy the Kilowatt family is using?
Give reasons for your answer.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. Give examples from the picture to show the following uses of
electricity?
a. Lighting.
b. Heating.
c. Driving machines.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4.
Do you think the Watt and Kilowatt families are using
electricity wisely (are they wasting or saving energy)?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5. Why should both families save electricity?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. What are some of the ways the families can save electricity?
______________________________________________________
7.
In order to use our coal resources wisely and save electricity what
do you think should be the golden rule for the use of electricity?
______________________________________________________
8.
Give examples from the picture to show how electricity is used in
the following.
8.1 Lighting
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7. 6
2017
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
8.2 Heating
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
8.3 Driving machines
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9.
Do you think the Watt and Kilowatt families are using electricity
wisely, are they wasting or saving energy? Give reasons for your
answer.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9.1
Which appliance do you think uses the most amount of energy in
the house? Explain why you chose that appliance.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9.2
Which appliance uses the second most amount of energy in the
house? Explain why you have chosen that appliance.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9.3
Which appliance uses the third most amount of energy in the
house? Explain why you have chosen that appliance.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10.
Based on what you have learnt about lighting technology (CFLs and
incandescent lights), what advice would you give the Kilowatt family?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11.
Using what you have learnt about electricity write down one
energy-saving behaviour you will put into practice in your home or
school from today.Write down the behaviour on a piece of paper/
cardboard and keep it in a place where it will remind you every day.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Switch it off ...
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8. www.eskom.co.za
Powering your world
How to save energy
Foundation Phase (Grade R,1,2 3)
Educator Guide
English Home Language
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For more information on the schools programme, please visit www.eskom.co.za/idm.
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