Using energy wisely
I can identify ways to reduce use of fossil fuels and explain why this matters.
Using energy wisely
I can identify ways to reduce use of fossil fuels and explain why this matters.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Energy use (electricity, heat and transport) account for more than 60% of carbon emissions.
- Monitoring electricity usage around the school, i.e. where appliances are left on or on standby, can reduce energy use.
- Generating renewable energy creates far lower emissions than burning fossil fuels.
Keywords
Transport - Transport is a way of travelling between places.
Inequality - Inequality is when something is not shared evenly between everyone.
Renewable - Renewable means that something can be re-used and will not be used up or run out.
Energy - Energy is the power used to make things work.
Common misconception
Some children may think that net zero means zero carbon emissions.
Net zero actually refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by their removal out of the atmosphere.
To help you plan your year 5 geography lesson on: Using energy wisely, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 geography lesson on: Using energy wisely, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 geography lessons from the Sustainable world: does it matter how we live? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
a measure of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
ancient plant and animal remains used to burn for energy
a greenhouse gas
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the power used to make things work
something can be re-used and will not be used up or run out
something that is finite and will eventually run out
