The Insulated Comforts of...

©2017 National Energy Foundation

The Insulated Comforts of Home

Point of Wonder

Have you ever wonderedhow we use energy to keep

us comfortable?

ObjectiveThe students will audit their homes to discover if energy is being wasted through insufficient insulation, weather stripping and caulking.

Instructional Information and Connections

Time: 60 minutes

Curriculum Focus:Language Arts Social Studies Science

Skills/Processes:Analyze Discuss Identify Investigate Problem-solve

Key Vocabulary:Caulking Insulation Weather Stripping

Careers in Energy:Construction WorkerInsulation SubcontractorWindow DesignerEnergy Efficiency Expert

Background One important thing we can do to save energy is to make sure our homes and other buildings have adequate insulation. Insulation is any material used to slow the transfer of heat. Proper insulation can save wasted energy by blocking drafts and slowing heat loss.

Are there places in your home or school where insulation, weather stripping or caulking are needed and therefore, where energy and money are being needlessly wasted?

Imagine how much energy we would save if every student found and eliminated the energy leaks in his/her home and at school.

Materials / Preparation• Copy of "Building Envelope Audit" for each student• Piece of ribbon or very thin, lightweight material• Copy of "Draft Dodgers" for each student• Copy of "Watch That Thermostat!" for each student• Copy of "Insulation: It’s a Wrap" for each student

Learning Activity 1. Discuss the "Building Envelope Audit" activity with the students.

If possible, provide samples of weather stripping, insulation and caulking. Help students identify the weather stripping and caulking used on the doors and windows of the school. The students will need the help of their parents or guardian to complete the audit at home.

2. Pass out and review "Draft Dodgers." Check the edges of the windows in the classroom with the ribbon to find leaks. If you do not detect a leak, open a window ever so slightly to demonstrate to the students how the material might move had a leak been detected. Have the students complete the activity at home.


3. Discuss with students ways they can keep comfortable in the summer and winter without wasting energy. Pass out and review "Watch That Thermostat" with your students.

If the rooms in your school have individual thermostat controls, suggest to the students that tomorrow you will be adjusting the thermostat setting two to four degrees higher or lower, depending on the time of year. Ask everyone if they would be willing to wear appropriate clothing so they can remain comfortable during the day.

Have the students take the worksheet home and complete it with their parent’s or guardian’s assistance.

4. Distribute the activity "Insulation: It’s a Wrap." Class time can be provided to complete this activity or students can take it home.

Check for UnderstandingHave the students draw and label a picture showing the effective use of insulation, caulking and weather stripping.

To Know and Do MoreHave the students write a short story for small children about “Draftie, the Cool Gust from the North,” and his adventures to get inside and get warm. You could do this individually or as a group, each adding a few lines to the story.

Search the internet for ways thermal imaging can be used to detect air leaks around windows, doors, etc.

Career Awareness ActivityPretend you are an energy efficiency expert from the electric company or a heating and cooling specialist and write up an energy saving proposal with specific suggestions for your school or your home.

Answers to "Watch That Thermostat"Keep the curtains closed on cold days.Turn the thermostat down at night.Check windows and doors for drafts.

Answer to "Insulation: It’s a Wrap"Home insulation is a continuous barrier which surrounds the living space of a house to stop heat flow.


Think of your home as just a plain cardboard box. Now imagine it sitting out in the middle of a field with a cold wind blowing around it. Someone has firmly secured the box to the ground, put in windows and a door and added a steaming hot water bottle to keep the inside warm. Do you think it will stay warm for long? Only if it also has three things: insulation, weather stripping and caulking.

Having insulation in your walls, ceilings and floors stops the flow of heat from inside to outside during cold weather.

During warm weather it stops the flow of heat from outside to inside.

What if the front door and the floor of your house do not quite meet? Cold air can seep in or hot air can escape! You can use foam, metal or rubber strips, called weather stripping, around windows and doors to prevent drafts. Caulking is a gummy material used to seal spaces where drafts may occur, such as between the window frame and the side of your house.

Building Envelope Audit

Take Action!How well-insulated is your home? Are the cracks sealed and the windows caulked? Is the weather stripping in good condition? Together with your parents or guardians, do an energy audit. The results will show you what work needs to be done to make your home as comfortable as possible, using the least amount of energy.

DOORS• Our house has _______ doors opening to the

outside.• These doors are: single pane glass _____,

double pane glass _____, insulated _____, metal _____, wood _____.

• Our doors are weather stripped. (Yes or No) _____

• The condition of the weather stripping is: good _____, in need of repair _____.

• Our outside door frames are caulked. (Yes or No) _____

• The condition of the caulking is: good _____, in need of repair _____.

WINDOWS• There are _______ windows in our house.• The windows have: single glass _____,

double glass _____, storm windows _____.• There is caulking around each window.

(Yes or No) _____• The condition of the caulking is: good _____,

in need of repair _____.• I found weather stripping at each window

opening. (Yes or No) ____• The condition of the weather stripping is:

good _____, in need of repair _____.

CEILINGS, WALLS, CRAWLSPACES• The attic or ceiling of our house is insulated.

(Yes or No) _____• The outside walls of our house are insulated.

(Yes or No) _____

HEATING/COOLING• Our home is heated by:

________________________________.• Our home is cooled by:

_______________________________.• The ducts are insulated. (Yes or No) _____• Our water heater is insulated.

(Yes or No) _____• The hot water pipes are insulated.

(Yes or No) _____

OTHER THINGS TO CHECK• Our house has caulking to fill the holes where

wire and pipes go through the floors and walls. (Yes or No) _____

• There is caulking where the house joins the foundation. (Yes or No) _____


Look around your house. Each day a crime is being committed. The crime is air escaping from your home. The criminal is leaky windows and doors. Help capture the criminal and stop the escape by investigating your home.

Other ways to stop heat from escaping:

• Use storm windows and doors.• Keep your curtains closed on cold, cloudy days.• Keep your windows tightly closed.• If the base of your door leaks, cover it with a small

rug.• When your fireplace is not in use, keep the damper

closed.

Talk with your family about what you can do to eliminate drafts in your home.

Draft Dodgers

Take Action!Here is what you will need for your home investigation kit:

• Pencil• Ruler• Pad of paper • 6 inch piece of ribbon

Conduct your investigation on a cold day when the heat is on in your home or a hot day when the air conditioner is on.

Begin by making a map of each floor of your home. Be sure you mark all the windows, heating vents and outside doors on the map.

Take the ribbon by one end and hold it up to the edges of your exterior doors and windows. If the ribbon moves, you have found a leak. Mark the leak on the map of your house, then move to the next opening.

After you have investigated all of the exterior doors and windows, show your map to your family. Plugging up the leaks will help stop heat loss and save energy.


Saving energy is one of the best ways to conserve our natural resources and cut down on pollution. The less energy we use, the less coal, oil and natural gas is burned.

North Americans use a significant amount of energy to heat their homes. Much of that heat and energy is wasted. You can help prevent some of that waste by doing just a few simple things.

The furnace in your home is controlled by a thermostat. The thermostat checks the house’s temperature and tells the furnace when to turn on. By taking control of the thermostat, you can stay warm and save energy, too.

In the winter time, ask your parents to set the thermostat at 68 F (20 C) during the day. If it feels too cold, turn the thermostat up one degree at a time over a period of hours until you feel comfortable.

Ask your parents to turn the thermostat down further at night before they go to bed (you can also buy programmable thermostats to do this job). You will not feel the cooler temperatures once you are under the covers. They can also turn the thermostat down when the family leaves the house.

A smart thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature during the day and night, potentially saving even more energy.

Talk with your parents about the suggestions in the following word scramble:

Watch That Thermostat!

Take Action!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. e p e K h t e t r c a i n u s d o e s l c n o l o d c s a y d

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.r T n u t e h s t t t r e h m o a w d o n t a g t h i n

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.c C e h k s w o d n i w d n a o r d o s o f r t s f r a d


Question: What keeps hot air outside in the summer and inside in the winter? A reverse air conditioner or backwards heater? No, the answer is insulation.

One type of home insulation is a layer of fiberglass that is installed behind the surfaces of walls, above ceilings and under floors. You do not see it, but you can feel the difference in your home if you have it. It actually acts as a barrier, or wall, to stop the flow of heat, regardless of which way the heat is flowing. When outdoor temperatures are high, a well-insulated home will help keep the hot outside air from flowing indoors. When outdoor temperatures are low, the same insulation will keep the warm indoor air from escaping.

The more insulation your home has, the better. Homes with insulation in their walls, ceilings and floors use less energy and stay more comfortable than homes with no insulation. Your family also saves money on both heating and cooling costs by insulating their homes.

Insulation: It’s a Wrap

Take Action!Take a look at the secret code below. Can you break it? It contains an important clue about the best way to insulate your home.

2 3 12 6 8 24 25 23 19 1 4 8 3 24

8 25 1 9 3 24 4 8 24 23 3 23 25

16 1 14 14 8 6 14 7 2 8 9 2

25 23 14 14 3 23 24 21 25 4 2 6

19 8 17 8 24 11 25 10 1 9 6 3 20

1 2 3 23 25 6 4 3 25 4 3 10

2 6 1 4 20 19 3 7.

CODE CHART

1 16 9 21 6 20 11 2 8 15 5 19 12

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

24 3 10 18 14 25 4 23 17 7 26 22 13

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Once you have discovered the clue, you should be able to tell which areas in the house, shown below, need insulation to keep it warm. Shade those areas with a crayon or pencil.

Remember: The insulation must be a continuous wall or barrier so that no heat escapes or enters.

Talk with your parents or guardian about what they can do to better insulate your home.


Piense en su casa como si fuera una simple caja de cartón. Ahora imagine que está sentado en el medio del campo con un viento frío que sopla alrededor. Alguien ha asegurado firmemente la caja al suelo y ha puesto ventanas y una puerta y ha añadido una botella de agua caliente que echa vapor para man-tener el interior cálido. ¿Piense usted que quedará cálida por mucho tiempo? Sólo si tiene tres cosas: el aislante, cinta espuma y silicona.

Instalando aislante detrás de sus paredes, techos y suelos detiene el flujo de calor desde dentro hacia fuera durante el tiempo frío. Durante el clima cálido se detiene el flujo de calor del exterior al interior.

¿Qué ocurre si la puerta y el piso de su casa no cumplen adecuadamente? ¡Aire frío puede entrar o aire caliente puede escapar! Puede utilizar silicona, metal, o tiras de goma, llamadas cinta espuma, alrededor de ventanas y puertas para evitar corri-entes de aire. La masilla es un material gomoso que se usa para sellar espacios donde puedan ocurrir pérdidas de aire, como entre el marco de la venta-na y los lados de la casa.

¿Está su casa bien aislada? ¿Son las grietas sella-das y las ventanas selladas con silicona? ¿Están las cintas de espuma en buen a condición? Juntos con sus padres o tutores, hacen una revisión de energía. Los resultados mostrarán que se deben hacer para mejorar su hogar lo más cómodo posible, con la menor cantidad de energía.PUERTAS

• Nuestra casa tiene____ puertas que se abren hacia el exterior.

• Estas puertas son de: un solo panel de vid-rio___, doble panales de vidrio ____, aisla-do___, metal___, madera____.

• Nuestras puertas tienen cintas de espuma (Sí o No)

• La condición de las cintas de espuma es-tán en buen estado___, necesiten repa-ración___.

• Nuestros marcos de puertas exteriores están selladas con silicona. (Sí o No)

• La condición del silicona es buena____, necesita reparación___.

VENTANAS• Hay____ventanas en nuestra casa.• Las ventanas tienen un solo vidrio ____,

doble vidrio___, contraventana____.• ¿Hay silicona alrededor de cada ventana?

(Sí o No)

• La condición del silicona es buena____, necesita reparación____.

• Se encuentra cintas de espuma en la apertu-ra de cada ventana. (Sí o No)

• La condición de las cintas de espuma están buenos___, necesiten reparación___.

TECHOS, PAREDES ESPACIO DE ACCESO• El ático o techo de nuestra casa está aislada

(Sí o No)• Las paredes exteriores están aisladas.

(Sí o No)CALEFACCIÓN Y AIRE CONDICIONADO

• Nuestra casa es calentada por: ______• Nuestra casa es refrigerada por: ______• Los conductos son aislados. (Sí o No)• Nuestro calentador de agua está aislado. (Sí

o No)• Los tubos del agua caliente están aislados.

(Sí o No)OTRAS COSAS PARA COMPROBARNuestra casa tiene silicona para llenar los agujeros donde el alambre y los tubos pasan por los pisos y paredes. (Sí o No)¿Hay silicona donde la casa se une con la fun-dación? (Sí o No)

¡Tome Acción!

Auditoria del Envolvente del Edificio


Mire alrededor de su casa. Cada día se está come-tiendo un crimen. El crimen es el aire que se escapa de su casa. Los criminales son las puertas y ven-tanas con goteras. Ayuda a capturar el criminal y detener el escapar al investigar a su hogar.

Otras maneras de detener el escape de calor.• Utilice las contraventanas y las contrapuer-

tas.• Mantengan las cortinas cerradas en los días

de fríos y nublados.• Mantengan las ventanas bien cerradas.• Si entra aire de la base de la puerta,

cúbralo con una alfombra pequeña.• Cuando la chimenea no esté en uso, manten-

ga la compuerta cerrada.

Hable con su familia acerca de lo que usted puede hacer para eliminar las pérdidas de aire de la casa.

Evite Pérdidas de Aire

Aquí está lo que necesitará para su equipo de inves-tigación de casa:

• Lápiz• Regla• Papel• Cinta de 6 pulgadas

Realice la investigación en su casa en un día frío con la calefacción encendida o en un día de calor cuan-do el aire acondicionado esté activado.Empiece por hacer un mapa de cada piso de su casa. Asegúrese de que usted marque todas las ven-tanas, salidas de aire de calefacción y las puertas exteriores en el mapa.Tome la cinta por un extremo y manténgalo hasta los bordes de las puertas exteriores y las ventanas. Si la cinta se mueve, ha encontrado una fuga de aire. Marca la fuga en el mapa de la casa, y después pasar a la próxima apertura.Después de que ha investigado todas las puertas exteriores y ventanas, muestre su mapa a su familia. Tapando la fuga ayudará a detener la pérdida de calor y ahorrar energía.

¡Tome Acción!


El ahorro de la energía es una de las mejores maneras de conservar nuestros recursos naturales y reducir la contaminación. Entre menos energía que utilizamos, menos carbón, petróleo y gas natural se quema.

Norteamericanos utilizan una cantidad significativa de la energía que es necesaria para calentar sus hogares. La mayor parte de ese calor y energía se gasta. Puede evitar algunos de esos desperdicios haciendo unas cosas simples.

El calefacción en su casa está controlado por un termostato. El termostato controla la temperatura de la casa y le dice al calefactor cuando enciende. Controlando el termostato, usted puede mantenerse caliente y también ahorrar la energía.

¡Observe El Termostato!

En el invierno, pida a sus padres que ajusten el termostato a 68 F (20 C) durante el día. Si siente un poco frio, sube el termostato un grado a la vez sobre unas horas hasta que se siente cómodo.

Pídeles a sus padres a bajar el termostato más por la noche antes de irse a la cama (también se puede comprar termostatos programables para hacer este tarea). Usted no sentirá las temperaturas frías una vez que esté bajo las cubiertas. También puede activar el termostato cuando la familia sale de la casa.

Si usted compra un termostato inteligente, se ajustará automáticamente la temperatura durante el día y la noche, lo que podría ahorrar aún más dinero.

Hable con sus padres acerca de las sugerencias en el revuelto de palabras siguientes:

¡Tome Acción!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .t a e n n a g M a l s t n a i s c r o c r a s d a e r n e s o l í s d a o f í r s .

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .j e B a l e m s t t o a r e o t r p o a l c e o h n .

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .v R i e s e a s l t a a s n n e v y e u t a r s p r a a p o c r r e i t e n s .


Pregunta: ¿Qué es lo que mantiene aire caliente por afuera en el verano y por adentro en el invierno? ¿Un acondicionador de aire inverso o calentador en revés? No, la respuesta es el aislante.

Un tipo de aislante del hogar es una capa de fibra de vidrio que se instala detrás de las superficies de las paredes, por encima de techos y pisos. No puede verlo pero se puede sentir la diferencia en su hogar si lo tiene. En realidad actúa como una barrera o muro, para detener el flujo de calor, a pesar de cómo fluya el calor.

Cuando las temperaturas del exterior son altas, una casa bien aislada ayudará a mantener el aire caliente afuera para que no fluya en el interior. Cuando las temperaturas exteriores son bajas, el mismo aislante mantendrá el aire caliente adentro.

Entre más aislante en la casa, el mejor. Las casas con el aislante en los paredes, techos y pisos usan menos energía y se mantengan más cómodas que casas sin aislante. Su familia también ahorra dinero tanto en gastos de calefacción y aire acondicionados por aislar sus hogares.

El Aislante

¡Tome Acción!Mire el código secreto abajo. ¿Lo puede resolver? Contiene una pista importante sobre lamejor manera de aislar su hogar.

26 12 7 2 26 16 12 1 22 10 13

11 1 2 8 13 5 26 23 1 7 18 22 26

25 26 23 23 1 2326 17 13 22 10 12 22 18 26

14 18 1 23 13 11 1 26 1 2 1 7 9 26 17 12 13

11 1 21 12 11 26 11 1 18 22 26 17 26 7 26

9 26 23 26 11 1 10 1 22 1 23 1 2 24 218 20 13

11 1 17 26 2 13 23.

EL CÓDIGO

26 25 17 11 1 24 5 8 12 20 4 2 16

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

22 13 9 14 23 7 10 18 21 15 19 3 6

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Una vez que haya descubierto la pista, usted debe ser capaz de decir qué áreas de la casa necesita aislante para mantenerla caliente, (se muestra a continuación). Colorear en aquellas áreas con un lápiz o un crayón.

Recuerda: El aislante debe ser continua con barrera para que no escapa o entre el calor.Hable con sus padres o tutores sobre lo que puedan hacer para aislar mejor su casa.


Let’s Convert Energy

Point of Wonder

Have you ever wonderedwhat forms of energy

surround us each day?

ObjectiveThe students will be introduced to the different forms of energy and how energy can change from one form to another.


Time: 60 minutes

Curriculum Focus:Language ArtsScience

Skills/Processes:ConcludeDiscussDraw ExperimentObserve

Key Vocabulary:chemical energy, conversion, electrical energy, gravitational energy, kinetic energy, mechanical energy, nuclear energy, potential energy, radiant energy, thermal energy, wind energy

Careers in Energy:Nuclear EngineerMechanical EngineerChemical Engineer

Background Energy is all around us all of the time. It may, however, be known by different names depending on its source. Light, whether it comes from the sun or a light bulb, is radiant energy. Gravitational energy is the energy an object has due to its position above the ground. Food and fuel contain chemical energy, while hot objects contain thermal energy. A machine with moving parts or a moving fluid has mechanical energy. Charged objects are filled with electrical energy and radioactive elements such as uranium contain nuclear energy.

Another important concept of energy is that it may change forms, or transform. An electric toothbrush has chemical energy in the battery, which produces electrical energy, which in turn causes that tooth-scrubbing motion, mechanical energy for pearly whites.

There are two general types of energy that encompass most of its forms: potential and kinetic. Potential energy is stored energy waiting to be released (gravitational, chemical and nuclear forms are potential); kinetic is energy in motion (thermal, electrical and mechanical forms are kinetic). That toothbrush sitting on the counter has the potential energy to clean your teeth. Once the switch is turned on, that energy is in motion, or kinetic energy.

Materials / Preparation• Match and candle• Electric kettle or hot plate and pan• Flashlight and batteries• Shallow box (like a shoe box lid) lined with black plastic and covered

with plastic wrap that has a hole punched in each end• Adhesive tape to hold plastic wrap in place• Plastic bag and twist ties, or zip lock bags, baking soda and vinegar• Yard (meter) stick or board, balls or other objects that roll• Rock collection and Geiger counter (if available)• “Draw, Describe, Decide Worksheet” for each student


Learning Activity 1. Set up each experiment to show the different forms of energy either as a teacher demonstration or a

hands-on experiment, depending on the safety of the materials.

2. Discuss and list the different forms of energy and give examples (as in the Background information).

3. Do the experiments below and have the students fill out their “Draw, Describe, Decide Worksheet.”

A. Light the match. The mechanical energy of striking produces thermal energy from friction, which results in the release of chemical energy producing heat and light. Now light the candle, transferring thermal energy from the burning match to the wick and wax, releasing their chemical energy as heat (thermal energy) and light (radiant energy).

B. Using the kettle, heat a small amount of water to boiling. Have the students observe and document the energy path from the hot plate’s electrical energy which produces thermal energy, which then transfers to the water and produces mechanical energy, or the motion of the boiling water.

C. Demonstrate the flashlight without the batteries and again with the batteries. Help the students understand the energy conversions from the chemical energy of the batteries to the electrical energy that heats (thermal energy) the bulb filament and produces light (radiant energy).

D. Place the prepared shallow box in a sunny windowsill with one hole up. Have the students place their hand over the top hole. What happens? The sunlight (radiant energy) is absorbed by the black lining and turns to heat (thermal energy) which is trapped by the plastic wrap. As the air heats up and expands, it is pushed out the top by cooler, denser air entering at the bottom. (Explain to the students that this is a good illustration of how wind is produced by heating of the earth’s surface.)

E. In one corner of a plastic bag, place a spoonful of baking soda and seal off the corner with a twist tie. Then pour in about 50 mL (about 1/4 cup) vinegar, squeeze the air out and seal the bag (use another twist tie or a zip lock bag). Take off the first tie and let the two chemicals mix. Note the signs of a chemical reaction: production of gas bubbles which inflate the bag and a change in temperature drop inside the bag. This reaction takes in heat and releases chemical energy.

F. Elevate one end of a board or meter stick. Roll a ball down the board to demonstrate gravitational energy. Let the students experiment with the mechanical energy applied at the top, the weight of rolling objects, and the ability to knock over objects at the bottom. The concept would be fun to illustrate using a playground slide or teeter-totter.

G. If you have access to a Geiger counter, test a rock collection, wrist watches (some contain radium), and a few other materials to demonstrate nuclear energy radiating from these materials.

4. Discuss the observations and the results of the “Draw, Describe, Decide Worksheet.”


Check for UnderstandingHave the students draw an energy conversion including three forms of energy (e.g., electrical energy used to produce thermal energy, which toasts a piece of bread, giving chemical energy to the consumer — the person who eats the toast).

Have students record two or three examples of each form of energy they have seen or used during their experiments today.

To Know and Do MoreMake a list of examples of potential (stored energy waiting to be released) and kinetic (energy in motion) energy. Potential Kinetic

• a truck at a stoplight

• water behind a dam

• a skier standing still

• a piece of wood

• a truck moving down the road

• a running river

• a skier racing down the hill

• a piece of wood burning

Have a 3 minute challenge to see who can come up with the most examples.

Have students research the terms chemical reaction, exothermic and endothermic. Which experiments contained chemical reactions? (burning the match, using the battery, and the baking soda and vinegar) Which were endothermic? (baking soda and vinegar) Exothermic? (burning, reaction inside the battery)

Career Awareness ActivityHave students research the career of a physicist. What education is required? What is their general area of interest? What is the pay scale? Can a physicist specialize in a particular field or area?


Draw, Describe, Decide Worksheet

Fill in each column as the experiments or demonstrations are completed.

Sketch the experiment. Describe what happened. Decide the energy forms involved.

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A. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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B. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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C. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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D. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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E. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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F. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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G. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Hoja de Cálculo: Dibujar, Describir, Decidir

Rellene cada columna como se hayan completado los experimentos o demostraciones.

Dibuje el experimento. Describa lo que sucedió.

________________________________________________________________________

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A. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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B. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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C. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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D. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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E. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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F. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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G. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Decida las formas de energía implicadas.


Water — Inside and Out!

Point of Wonder

Have you ever wonderedif you use too much water to

wash dishes or to keepyour yard green and

healthy?

ObjectiveThe students will determine various ways they can use less water on their yard and in the kitchen.


Time: Two 15-minute periods

Curriculum Focus:Language Arts Science Math Social Studies

Skills/Processes:Calculate Decide DiscussMeasure

Key Vocabulary:Efficiency Evaporation Hydrologic Cycle ReservoirsSteward

Careers in Energy:HydrologistLandscaperOceanographerIrrigator

Background Water moves continuously between the sky and earth. Rain falls, evaporates, rises, condenses and the rain falls again. The water cycle, or hydrologic cycle as scientists call it, is a marvelous phenomenon of nature. You are drinking, bathing in, swimming in and making snowballs from the same water Columbus sailed to America on and the cavemen used.

Water is one of our most valuable resources. We need it to stay alive, to produce our food, to keep us clean and for many other uses. We want to be wise stewards of such a vital resource by keeping our water supply clean and using it wisely. There are many easy things we can do to use water more efficiently at home.

Materials / Preparation• Copy of “The Green Patrol” for each student• Copy of “Get a Load of This” for each student

Learning Activity 1. Discuss with students the ways they keep their yards beautiful. Do they

use insect spray and fertilizers? Do they prune their bushes and trees? Do they plant flowers? All of these things are important, but keeping landscaping and lawns beautiful also requires water.

2. Pass out “The Green Patrol.” Have students take the activity home and complete it with their family. Discuss their findings in class.

3. Who is in charge of the school’s landscaping? Ask the maintenance person to take a few minutes out of their schedule to talk to your class about watering practices and procedures at the school. What guidelines or directions are they given by the administration? Is water conservation important to them?


4. Another area where water may be wasted is in the kitchen. Water is used to prepare meals, wash fresh food, wash the dishes, keep the kitchen clean, etc.

5. Pass out “Get a Load of This.” Have students complete the activity and then discuss their findings in class.

Check for UnderstandingList the changes or adjustments that the students have made concerning their water use.

To Know and Do MoreAs a class, come up with a jingle, slogan or short poem that will encourage wise water use. One such slogan the state of Utah has adopted is:

Slow the flow — save H2O.

Display reminders in appropriate places.

Career Awareness ActivityHave the students research careers involving water. Select a specific career or a related field. Find out what they do, where they work and how water is involved with their job.

A search of the internet revealed the following water related fields as well as specific career levels:

Studying oceans, seas and lakes - Oceanographer Swimming pools - Pool Designer and Engineer Bottled water industry Soft water and water filtration industry Agricultural water - Irrigation Development Specialist Water Quality Information Manager Water Resources Engineer Water Quality Modeler Water Quality Specialist Watershed Planner Soil Scientist Surface Water Hydrologist


In the summer, how is most household water used?

a. Washing clothes b. Watering the lawn c. Washing the dishes

If you guessed “b,” you are right! During the summer, most household water is used to keep the grass green and our plants growing.

The trouble is, we often use more water than necessary. Why is this a problem? Because we do not always have enough water to go around, even in the rainiest parts of the country. When water supplies run low, the city issues rules saying how much water we can use and when we can use it. People with lawns can help the city maintain a sufficient water supply by giving the grass only the amount of water it needs.

Water-saving Tips:

• Water your lawn early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid loss of water due to evaporation.

• Have your parents set the mower blades at a height of 2 - 3 inches (5 - 8 cm). The ground beneath taller grass does not dry out as fast as the ground beneath shorter grass.

• Plant native trees and shrubs that do not require a lot of water and need a minimal amount of care.

• Spread fine mulch over your flower beds to a depth of 3 - 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) to help keep the ground moist.

Here is an interesting way to determine the length of time you need to water your lawn:

You will need:

• a hose• 3 tuna, or similar,

cans• a ruler • a sprinkler• a watch

1. Set the hose and sprinkler in the yard then set the cans around the sprinkler. Set one close to it, one far away and the third at a medium distance.

2. Now, turn the sprinkler on and note the time. Every few minutes, use the ruler to measure how much water is in each can. When a can fills with an inch (2.5 cm) of water, note the time. Write down how long it takes for each can to fill with an inch (2.5 cm) of water.

3. Add the measured times together and divide by three to get an average. That average time is how long you need to water your lawn each week.

4. Discuss your findings with your parents. What do your results mean for your home?

5. What other factors could affect the amount of water the grass needs?

The Green Patrol

Take Action!


There are many ways to use water more efficiently in the kitchen.

Wash vegetables in a bowl rather than under running water. Heat water in a pan with a lid rather than letting the water run at the faucet until it is hot and then filling the pan.

Some people wash their dishes by hand. Others use automatic dishwashers, but everyone must use energy and water to keep dishes clean. You can save these resources while washing your dishes by doing a few simple things.

Automatic dishwashers are not very smart. They use the same amount of energy and water no matter how full they are. If you use an automatic dishwasher, try to wash full loads of dishes and you will save both energy and water.

Get a load of these other tips to save energy and water while using your automatic dishwasher:

• Choose shorter cycles and save on energy.

If you wash dishes by hand, you can also save energy and water. Energy is used to make the water hot. Water is used to clean and rinse the dishes. If you are hand-washing dishes, fill one sink with soapy water and the other with rinse water rather than letting the faucet run to rinse the dishes. If you only have one sink, fill it with soapy water, wash the dishes, drain the sink and then rinse. You will still save water.

Get a Load of This

Take Action!On a “typical” day at home, watch the way dishes are cleaned at your house and the way water is used in the kitchen. Then answer these questions to find out where you can save water and energy.

If the question does not apply, do not mark it.

Section A: Automatic Dish Washing

1. Was the dishwasher full before it was used? Y N

2. Does your dishwasher have an air-dry setting? Y N

3. Was the air-dry setting used? Y N

4. Were the dishes rinsed in cold water rather than hot before they were placed in the dishwasher? Y N

Section B: Washing Dishes by Hand

5. Are two sinks of water used, one for washing and one for rinsing? Y N

6. Are full sink-loads of dishes washed rather than small loads done throughout the day? Y N

7. Is the faucet shut off while the dishes are washed? Y N

8. Is the sink stopper in place before the water is turned on? Y N

Section C: Other Uses of Water

9. Do you use water efficiently whenpreparing foods? Y N

TOTAL POINTS ________

(Score six points for each “Yes,” three for each “No”)

Score card: 40 and above — Dishwasher Dynamo! 25 – 39 — You have room to save. 24 and below — Keep trying!


En el verano, ¿cómo se usa la mayor parte del agua potable?

a. Lavando la ropab. Regando el céspedc. Lavando los platos

Si escogió el “b”, ¡está correcto! En el verano la mayor parte del agua domestico se usa para mantener el césped verde y crecer las plantas.El problema es que a menudo utilizamos más agua de lo que es necesario. ¿Cuál es el problema? No siempre tenemos suficiente agua para todos, aun en las partes más lluviosas del país. Cuando se baja el suministro de agua, la ciudad hace reglas diciéndonos cuanta agua podemos usar y cuando la podemos usar. Las personas con césped pueden ayudar el suministro de agua adecuado, dando al césped únicamente la cantidad de agua que requiere.

Consejos De Ahorro de Agua• Riegue el césped temprano en la mañana o

por la tarde para evitar la pérdida de agua por evaporación.

• Pida que sus padres coloquen las navajas del cortacésped a una altura de 2” - 3” (5 a 8 cm). El suelo debajo de la hierba más alta no se seque tan rápido como el suelo deba-jo de la hierba más corta.

• Plante árboles y arbustos nativos que no requiere mucha agua y require atención mínimo.

• Extienda la composta sobre el jardín de flores a una profundidad de 3” - 4” (8 a 10 cm), esto ayuda a mantener la tierra húmeda.

Aquí está una manera interesante de determinar el tiempo que necesita para regar su césped:Necesitará:

• una manguera• 3 latas de atún,

o algo similar• una regla• un rociador • un reloj

1. Ponga la manguera y el rociador en el césped con las latas alrededor del rociador. Establezca una lata cerca del rociador, una mas lejos y la tercera a una distancia media.

2. Ahora, abre el agua y anote el tiempo. Cada rato, use la regla para medir la cantidad de agua que está en cada lata. Cuando una lata se llena de agua a una pulgada (2.5 cm), anote el tiempo. Escriba cuanto tiempo toma para llenar cada lata a una pulgada (2.5 cm).

3. Agregue los tiempos medidos y dividir entre tres para obtener el promedio. El tiempo promedio es el tiempo de lo que debe regar el césped cada semana.

4. Hable de sus conclusiones con sus padres. ¿Qué significan sus resultados para su hogar?

5. ¿Qué otros factores podrían afectar la cantidad de agua que necesita el césped?

La Patrulla Verde

¡Tome Acción!


Hay muchas maneras de usar el agua más eficiente en la cocina.Lave las verduras en un tazón en lugar de debajo del agua corriente. Caliente el agua en una sar-tén con una tapa en lugar de dejar correr el agua hasta que esté caliente el agua y luego llenar la olla.Algunas personas lavan los platos a mano. Otros usan lavaplatos automáticos, pero todos usan la energía y agua para mantener los platos limpios. Lavando los platos usted puede guardar estos recursos haciendo unas cuantas cosas sencillas.Lavaplatos automáticos no siempre son sabios. Usan la misma cantidad de energía y agua no importa si estén llenos o vacíos. Si usa un lavaplatos trate de usarlo solo cuando este lleno, así ahorrará energía y agua.

Fijase en estos consejos para ahorrar la energía y el agua durante el uso de lavaplatos automáticos:

• Use ciclos más cortos y ahorre la energía.Si lava los platos a mano, también se puede ahorrar la energía y el agua. Se usa energía para calentar el agua. Se usa agua para lavar y enjuagar los platos. Si usted está lavando los platos a mano, llene un fregadero con agua de jabón y el otro con agua de enjuague envés de dejar correr el agua para enjuagar. Si tiene uno solo fregadero, llénelo con agua jabonosa, lave los platos, vacíe el fregadero y luego enjuague. Ahorrará agua todavía.

¡Tome Acción!Durante un día típico en su hogar, mire el modo como se lavan los platos y el modo en que se usa el agua en la cocina. Luego, conteste a estas preguntas y usted aprenderá como ahorrar el agua y la energía.Si la pregunta no se aplica, no la marque.Sección A: Lavaplatos Automático

1. ¿Estaba lleno el lavaplatos antes de que lo encendiera? Sí No

2. ¿Tiene su lavaplatos un ajuste de secar al aire? Sí No

3. ¿Usó el ajuste de secar al aire? Sí No

4. ¿Fueron los platos enjuagados en agua fría o en agua caliente antes de que fueron puestos en el lavaplatos? Sí No

Sección B: Lavando a mano5 ¿Está utilizando dos lavabos, uno para lavar

y uno para enjuagar? Sí No

6. ¿Está lavando una carga completa en lugar de cargas pequeñas durante todo el día? Sí No

7 ¿Se cierra el grifo mientras los platos se están lavando? Sí No

8 ¿Esta colocado el tapón en el lavabo antes de que abra el agua? Sí No

Sección C: Los Usos Del Agua9 ¿Usa usted el agua eficazmente cuando

prepara la comida? Sí NoPuntos Total________(total points)(Marque seis puntos para cada “Sí,” tres puntos para cada “No”)Tarjeta de Puntuación:40 y más alto – ¡Lavador Mejor!25-39 – Hay Margen para Ahorrar24 y más bajo – Siga Intentando

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