C. Matter and Energy · Energy in Our Lives

Using Energy Wisely in Every Season

C1.1 C2.5 C2.6 A1.3 A2.1About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can explain that we get energy resources from the world around us, and some will run out.
I can describe how we use energy differently in winter and summer.
I can name ways to use energy responsibly at home and at school.
I can write simple step-by-step code for an energy-saving robot.

Words to know

resource
Something from nature that people use, like water, wood, oil or natural gas.

limited
There is only so much. If we keep using it, it can run out.

renewable
An energy source that will not run out, like the sun and the wind.

season
One of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, fall and winter.

code
Clear, step-by-step instructions that a computer or robot follows in order.

Who left the lights on?

You come home after school. The bedroom light has been on all day, but nobody was there! The TV is on in an empty room too.

That is wasted energy. Today you'll learn how to be an energy saver.

Energy comes from the Earth

We get our energy resources from the world around us:

Wood comes from trees.
Gasoline comes from oil deep underground.
Natural gas, used to heat many Canadian homes, comes from underground too.
Sun, wind and moving water come from nature.

Some of these resources are limited. Oil and natural gas took millions of years to form. If we keep using them, they will run out one day. Trees can grow back, but it takes many years.

The sun and wind will not run out. They are renewable.

Energy resource	Will it run out?
☀️ sun	No, it is renewable.
💨 wind	No, it is renewable.
🌊 moving water in rivers	No, rain and snow keep filling the rivers.
🪵 wood	It can grow back, but slowly. We must plant new trees.
🛢️ oil (gasoline) and natural gas	Yes, it is limited. It can run out.

The sun, wind and moving water will not run out. Oil and natural gas took millions of years to form, so they can run out. (Wood can grow back, but slowly.)

Energy and the seasons

In Canada, our seasons are very different. So we use energy differently in each season.

Season	How we use more energy	Kind of energy
❄️ winter	Furnaces heat our homes. Days are short, so lights are on longer. Cars warm up. Snow blowers clear driveways.	heat, light
☀️ summer	Fans and air conditioners cool our homes. Days are long, so we need fewer lights.	movement (fans), cooling
🍂 spring and fall	Often we need less heating and cooling. We can open windows.	less energy

We use energy differently in different seasons

Using energy responsibly

Using energy responsibly means not wasting it. When we use less energy, our limited resources last longer, and there is less pollution in the air.

Energy-saver ideas:

💡 Turn off lights when you leave a room.
📺 Turn off the TV, computer and games when you're done.
🚪 Close the door quickly in winter to keep the heat in.
🧥 Put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat.
🪟 Open the curtains on sunny winter days to let the sun warm the room. In summer, close them during the hot afternoon to keep it cool.
👕 Hang clothes outside to dry in the sun and wind.
🚶 Walk or bike for short trips.

T-shirts, socks and towels hanging on a clothesline in a sunny backyard. — These clothes are drying in the sun and wind instead of in an electric dryer. That is one way to save energy! AI-generated image

Worked example

Let's compare winter and summer

How does the Patel family use energy differently in January and July?

January: It is cold, so the furnace runs a lot to heat the house. It gets dark by 5 o'clock, so the lights are on for a long time in the evening.
July: It is hot, so they use a fan to cool the bedroom. It stays light until about 9 o'clock, so they need fewer lights.
Saving energy: In January, they wear warm sweaters and close doors quickly. In July, they close the curtains during the hot afternoon and use the fan only in the room they're in.

In winter they use more energy for heat and light. In summer they use energy for cooling. In both seasons, they can save energy.

Worked example

Let's code an energy-saving robot

Robo the robot is in the living room. Write clear code to make Robo save energy before the family goes to bed.

Code must be in the right order and very clear, because a robot only does exactly what it is told.
First we list the jobs: turn off the TV, turn off the lamp, close the door.
Then we write one step per line, in order:

See the code below. If we wrote "Switch the lamp off" before "Move forward 3 steps to the lamp", Robo would try to reach the switch from too far away! Order matters.

1. Move forward 2 steps to the TV.

2. Press the TV power button.

3. Turn right.

4. Move forward 3 steps to the lamp.

5. Switch the lamp off.

6. Turn around.

7. Move forward 5 steps to the door.

8. Close the door.

9. Stop.

Robo's energy-saving code. Each step is one clear instruction, done in order.

Robo's path: forward 2 to the TV, turn right, forward 3 to the lamp, turn around, then forward 5 to the door. Each arrow is one line of code, in order.

Just for fun

What if lights could talk? The bedroom light would say: "Hello? Is anybody here? I've been shining all day for NOBODY!"

Be kind to your lights. Let them rest when you leave the room.

Hands-on activity

Energy saver challenge and design

Part 1: Be the robot (coding). A grown-up is the "robot". Write or say code, one step at a time, to get the robot from the couch to a light switch to turn it off. Use only: move forward __ steps, turn left, turn right, switch off. If the robot goes the wrong way, debug (fix) your code and try again!

Part 2: Design a draft stopper (engineering). Cold air can sneak under a door in winter. You need: an old sock or a rolled towel, and something to fill it (old socks, rice in a bag, or scrap fabric).

Plan: Draw your draft stopper.
Build: Fill the sock and tie the end.
Test: On a cold day, put your hand near the bottom of a door. Feel the cold air. Put your stopper there. Can you still feel the draft?
Improve: Make it longer or fatter if air still gets through.

Part 3: Energy saver week. Make a chart for one week. Each time you turn off a light or close a door quickly, add a check mark ✔️.

Your turn

Name 2 energy sources that will not run out.

Name one energy resource that is limited.

Why do we use more lights in winter?

Name 2 ways to save energy at home.

In which season do we use the most energy for heating?

Why does the order of steps matter in code?

More practice: warm-up

Should you leave the light on when you leave a room?

Is the sun renewable?

What do we use to heat our homes in winter?

What can you use to cool off in summer?

What is code?

More practice: on your own

How does wearing a sweater save energy?

Why should you close the door quickly in winter?

Why is it important to save limited resources like oil and natural gas?

Fix the bug: "1. Switch off the lamp. 2. Move forward 3 steps to the lamp."

How can the sun help heat your home on a winter day, for free?

Challenge

Make an energy-saving plan for your classroom. Name 3 jobs and who could do them.

Compare how a family uses energy in winter and in summer. Give one difference and one way to save in each season.

Write code with 4 steps for a robot to walk to a fan and turn it off, then come back.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which energy source will not run out?

In which season do Canadian homes use the most energy for heat?

Why do we use lights for longer in winter?

Which is a way to save energy?

What does limited mean?

A robot's code says: "Close the door. Walk to the door." What is wrong?

How can you stay warm in winter while using less energy?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: We get energy resources from the world around us, and many (like oil and natural gas) are limited. We use energy differently in different seasons, and everyone can use energy responsibly (C1.1, C2.5, C2.6).

About coding (A2.1): Grade 1 coding is about writing clear, step-by-step instructions in the right order and fixing ("debugging") them. No screen is needed. Playing "robot" is a real coding activity.

Common difficulties:

Thinking all energy can run out, or none can. Use the table: sun and wind keep coming; oil and gas do not.
Vague code ("go over there"). Ask for exact steps: how many steps, which way to turn.
Feeling guilty or worried. Keep the message positive: small actions add up.

How to help: Make your child the family "energy monitor" for a week. Notice seasonal changes together: when do we turn on the furnace, the fan, the porch light? The draft stopper is an engineering design task (A1.3): plan, build, test, improve.