Energy Games and Icebreakers

This guide oers entertaining activities to introduce energy, eciency, and conservation

to students, as well as reinforce the information that has already been presented.

Grade Levels:

Subject Areas:

Science

Language Arts

Social Studies

Creative Arts

Public Speaking

All Levels

Math

K-12

2017-2018

2 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Printed on Recycled Paper

NEED Mission Statement

The mission of The NEED Project is to promote an energy

conscious and educated society by creating eective

networks of students, educators, business, government and

community leaders to design and deliver objective, multi-

sided energy education programs.

Permission to Copy

NEED curriculum is available for reproduction by classroom

teachers only. NEED curriculum may only be reproduced

for use outside the classroom setting when express written

permission is obtained in advance from The NEED Project.

Permission for use can be obtained by contacting

[email protected]g.

Teacher Advisory Board

In support of NEED, the national Teacher Advisory Board

(TAB) is dedicated to developing and promoting standards-

based energy curriculum and training.

Energy Data Used in NEED Materials

NEED believes in providing teachers and students with the

most recently reported, available, and accurate energy data.

Most statistics and data contained within this guide are

derived from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Data is compiled and updated annually where available.

Where annual updates are not available, the most current,

complete data year available at the time of updates is

accessed and printed in NEED materials. To further research

energy data, visit the EIA website at www.eia.gov.

1.800.875.5029

www.NEED.org

Teacher Advisory Board

Constance Beatty

Kankakee, IL

Amy Constant - Schott

Raleigh, NC

James M. Brown

Saratoga Springs, NY

Nina Corley

Galveston, TX

Linda Fonner

New Martinsville, WV

Shannon Donovan

Greene, RI

Samantha Forbes

Vienna, VA

Michelle Garlick

Bob Hodash

DaNel Hogan

Tucson, AZ

Greg Holman

Paradise, CA

Barbara Lazar

Albuquerque, NM

Robert Lazar

Albuquerque, NM

Leslie Lively

Porters Falls, WV

Jennifer Mitchell -

Winterbottom

Pottstown, PA

Mollie Mukhamedov

Port St. Lucie, FL

Don Pruett Jr.

Sumner, WA

Judy Reeves

Lake Charles, LA

Tom Spencer

Chesapeake, VA

Jennifer Trochez

MacLean

Los Angeles, CA

Wayne Yonkelowitz

Fayetteville, WV

Robert Griegoliet

Naperville, IL

Erin Gockel

Farmington, NY

Long Grove, IL

Table of Contents

 Standards Correlation Information 4

 Energy Name Game 5

 Electric Connections 6

 Energy Source Relay Race 9

 Energy Pantomime 10

 Energy Chants 12

 Primary Energy Chants 16

 This Week in Energy Conservation 20

 Conservation for Our Nation 24

 Energy Roundup 25

 America’s Most Wanted Energy Wasters 27

 Energy Bingo 28

 Energy Match Game 31

 Energy Eliminators 33

 Energy Bumper Stumpers 35

 Energy Squares 37

 Energy Source Detective 41

 Energy Source Puzzle 43

 Energy in the Round 46

 Energy Web Games 50

 The NEED Clap 59

 See, Run, Do 60

 Candy Collector 61

 Evaluation Form 63

Energy Games and Icebreakers

4 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Standards Correlation Information

www.NEED.org/curriculumcorrelations

Next Generation Science Standards

 This guide eectively supports many Next Generation Science Standards. This material can satisfy performance expectations,

science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and cross cutting concepts within your required curriculum. For more

details on these correlations, please visit NEED’s curriculum correlations website.

Common Core State Standards

 This guide has been correlated to the Common Core State Standards in both language arts and mathematics. These correlations

are broken down by grade level and guide title, and can be downloaded as a spreadsheet from the NEED curriculum correlations

website.

Individual State Science Standards

 This guide has been correlated to each state’s individual science standards. These correlations are broken down by grade level

and guide title, and can be downloaded as a spreadsheet from the NEED website.

Get Ready

If you have 20 or more students in the group or class, separate them into groups of 10 to 12.

Get Set

Seat the members of the group in a circle facing inward.

Select a group leader for each group, if necessary.

The group leader should instruct the students that they will be choosing new last names. Their

new last names should begin with the same letter as their rst names and be energy-related—a

source of energy, an energy-consuming or -producing device, or energy term. For example: Bob

Biomass, Martha Microwave, Gina Generator, etc. Tell the members of the group that no relatives will

be allowed in the game—there can’t be both Bob and Barbara Biomass.

Before you get started, ask if anyone in the group is having a problem thinking of an energy

last name. For those who are, ask them to tell the group their rst names. Then have the group

brainstorm several last names for them.

The group leader begins by saying, “Hi, my name is…” and then his/her rst name, followed by his/

her new energy last name. The person to the left of the leader says the rst person’s rst and last

name, and then his/her own new energy name. The third person continues by giving the rst two

names, then his/her own energy name. This continues until the nal person, sitting to the right of

the group leader, gives everyone’s name and then his/her own name.

If, during the game, someone in the group has a problem remembering a person’s rst or last name,

have members of the group give that person a hint. For example: If the person’s name is Tim Toaster,

someone in the group could say, “You put your bread in it in the morning.” If the person’s name is

Pedro Petroleum, a group member could say, “You make gasoline from it.”

Energy Name Game

Energy Name Game is a quick,

easy way to introduce people

to each other in a group. It

requires no preparation and

very little time.

Grade Levels

K-12

2 Preparation

5 minutes

 Time

10 minutes for a group of 12

6 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

Make an appropriate number of copies of the Electric Connections Game Instructions and the U.S.

Electric Power Generation Sources worksheets found on pages 7 and 8.

Get Set

Divide the class into groups of three to ve students.

Give each student a copy of the game instructions. Review the instructions with the students.

Have the students individually rank the ten sources of energy in order of their contribution to U.S.

electricity production. Give them two minutes to complete this task.

As a group, give the students ve to six minutes to rank the ten sources of energy. When they are

nished, give each student a copy of the U.S. Electric Power Generation Sources sheet. Have students

transfer their individual and group rankings to the appropriate columns.

Provide the students with the rankings for column one, or have them research the rankings

independently using NEED’s Energy Infobooks, or an online resource.

(Alphabetical Order) (Numerical Order)

Biomass–6 Coal–1

Coal–1 Natural Gas–2

Geothermal–9 Uranium–3

Hydropower–4 Hydropower–4

Natural Gas–2 Wind–5

Petroleum–8 Biomass–6

Propane–10 Solar–7

Solar–7 Petroleum–8

Uranium–3 Geothermal–9

Wind–5 Propane–10

Electric Connections

Electric Connections teaches

students how dierent

energy sources contribute to

the generation of electricity.

This activity demonstrates

the advantages of working

together in a group and

reinforces the ideas of group

sharing and cooperative

learning.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grade 5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

5-10 minutes

 Time

40 minutes

Extension

Look up the electricity

generation data for your state.

Have students rank the sources

for their state and compare the

ranking to the U.S. rankings

and discuss similarities and

dierences. Download state

data by visiting

www.eia.gov/state.

Almost forty percent of the nation’s energy is

used to make electricity today. Experts predict

that this gure will continue to increase. The U.S.

is becoming more dependent on electricity to

meet its energy needs as we depend on more

technology. To meet the growing demand, many

energy sources are used to generate electricity.

Some energy sources produce a substantial

amount of the electricity we consume, while

others produce less than one percent.

Individual Instructions

Your task is to rank the ten sources of energy in order of their

contribution to U.S. electricity production. Place a number one by

the source that provides the largest amount of electricity, a number

two by the source that provides the second largest, down to a

number ten by the one that provides the least amount of electricity.

Use critical reasoning skills to determine the order.

Group Instructions

Starting at the top of the list, ask members to contribute any

knowledge they have about each energy source. Brainstorm by

asking group members questions such as:

Is this source limited to a certain area of the country?

Are there any problems or limitations associated with this source?

Have you ever seen a power plant that uses this particular source

of energy?

One person in the group should take notes. Once the group has

gone through the list, it should divide the ten energy sources into

three levels of importance: the top three most signicant energy

sources, the middle four moderately signicant energy sources, and

the bottom three least signicant energy sources. The group should

then rank the ten sources of energy in order of their contribution to

U.S. electricity production.

Electric Connections

GAME INSTRUCTIONS

SOURCES USED TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY

SOURCE YOUR RANK GROUP RANK

BIOMASS

COAL

GEOTHERMAL

HYDROPOWER

NATURAL GAS

PETROLEUM

PROPANE

SOLAR

URANIUM

WIND

8 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Electric Connections

U.S. ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SOURCES

SOURCES USED TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY

SOURCE STATISTICS RANK

YOUR

RANK

ERROR

POINTS

GROUP

RANK

ERROR

POINTS

BIOMASS

In 2015, biomass produced 64.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, 1.6

percent of the nation’s total. Biomass electricity is usually the result of

burning wood waste, landll gas, and solid waste.

COAL

Over 90 percent of the nation’s coal is consumed by electric utility companies

to produce electricity. In 2015, coal produced 1,356.1 billion kilowatt-hours of

electricity, which was 33.1 percent of the nation’s electricity.

GEOTHERMAL

In 2015, geothermal power plants produced 16.8 billion kilowatt-hours

of electricity, mostly from facilities in the western U.S. Geothermal energy

produced 0.4 percent of the nation’s electricity.

HYDROPOWER

6.0 percent of U.S. electricity is generated by 2,200 hydro plants nationwide.

Hydro plants produced 246.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2015. It is

the leading renewable energy source used to provide electricity.

NATURAL GAS

Natural gas produced 1,335.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2015,

generating 32.6 percent of the nation’s electricity. Natural gas is used by

turbines to provide electricity during peak hours of demand.

PETROLEUM

Petroleum provided 0.7 percent of U.S. electricity, generating 28.4 billion

kilowatt-hours of electric power in 2015.

PROPANE

There are no statistics available for propane’s contribution to electricity

generation. Very little propane is used to produce electricity.

SOLAR

Solar energy provided just over 0.9 percent of U.S. electricity in 2015,

amounting to 38.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Electricity was

generated by solar thermal systems or photovoltaic arrays.

URANIUM

99 nuclear reactors provided the nation with 19.5 percent of its electrical

energy needs in 2015. Nuclear energy produced 797.2 billion kilowatt-

hours of electricity.

WIND

Wind energy produced 190.9 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in

2015, providing 4.7 percent of the nation’s electricity. Most of the wind-

generated electricity is produced in Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma.

Error points are the absolute dierence between your ranks and

EIA’s (disregard plus or minus signs).

Data: Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Report

SCORING:

0-12 Excellent

13-18 Good

19-24 Average

25-30 Fair

31-36 Poor

37-42 Very Poor

ERROR POINTS TOTALS

25-30 Fair

31-36 Poor

37-42 Very Poor

Get Ready

Gather together six pieces of paper and two pencils for each group of ve students.

Determine ve energy terms to use during the game. For elementary level students you might

choose simpler terms like: light bulb, solar, wind, television, and petroleum. For middle school

students, coal, insulation, natural gas, biomass, and thermostat would be good choices. High

school level terms might include more complex terms like: propane, nuclear ssion, geothermal,

hydropower, and photosynthesis.

Get Set

Assign one student to be the game leader.

Divide the remaining students into groups of about ve. Arrange the groups of students in circles

on the oor or around a table.

On ve of the six pieces of paper, instruct the students to write the name of their group in small print

on the bottom and number the pages one through ve. They should fold and tear the sixth sheet

into eight equal pieces.

Inform the students that there must be no talking at all during the game, and they must walk to the

game leader and back to their groups. If they run, they will be asked to return and walk. If they talk,

they will automatically be disqualied.

One student from each group is chosen as the opening artist. He/she will approach the game leader

and receive the rst energy term as soon as the starting signal is given. All artists are given the rst

term at the same time. The artists return to their groups and draw representations of the term. Tell

the students that writing words or letters, pointing, or using numbers are forbidden.

When someone in the group thinks he/she knows the answer, he/she should take the second pencil

and write his/her guess on one of the eight small pieces of paper. Remind the students that they

are allowed eight guesses for ve terms, so they can only aord three mistakes. The artist nods to

inform whether or not the guesser is correct. If not, guessing continues.

If the person is correct, he/she takes the drawing and slip of paper with the correct term and gives

them to the game leader. The game leader whispers or shows the next term to the student. The

student then returns to the group and the game continues with that person as the new artist. The

person who correctly guesses the term is always the one who draws next. The game leader should

move around the room to avoid being closer to one group than another.

The rst group to correctly guess all ve terms wins. Follow up with a discussion of the energy terms

and display various drawings from the individual groups.

Energy Source Relay Race

tests students’ ability to

recognize important pictorial

representations of energy

sources or energy producing,

consuming, or conserving

devices and materials. It is

based on the game show

“Win, Lose, or Draw.”

Grade Levels

Elementary, grades 3-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

5-10 minutes

 Time

20 minutes

10 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

Duplicate the sheet of ten pantomimes on page 11, according to the number of people you want to

have in each group. Feel free to use this sheet, or to make up your own. You will need enough slips

to hand out to everyone. If you have a small group, you may want to use less than ten pantomimes.

Get Set

Cut the pantomime sheets into separate pantomime slips.

If you want your groups to contain a random mixture of people, hand out the slips randomly. If

you want to divide the groups by age level, or by students’ strengths and personalities, fold the

pantomime slips in half, write a student’s name on each slip, and distribute the slips.

Explain to the students that they are going to be broken into smaller groups using this activity.

Explain that each of them will be handed a slip of paper with an energy source or user on it. They

must not say the name of their source or energy-producing or energy-consuming device aloud—

just read it and put it in their pockets.

Hand out the pantomimes. Once all the slips have been handed out, tell the students to begin to

pantomime their energy source or user. They may make sound eects and hand motions, but no

talking, whispering, or reading lips.

The students should walk around the room searching for others pantomiming the same source

or object. Once all the members of the groups have found each other, the students will be neatly

divided into groups that can be used for other activities.

Energy Pantomime

Energy Pantomime is a

quick and easy way to

break a group into several

smaller groups. It gets

the participants moving,

looking, thinking, and

acting. Energy Pantomime

will produce a random mix

of groups or a mix of groups

by age depending on how

the slips are handed out.

It is short, easy to prepare,

and fun for your audience.

It requires only one adult

to run, although many can

be involved. This activity is

suited for most ages.

Grade Levels

Primary, grade 2

Elementary, grades 3-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

5-10 minutes

 Time

5 minutes

TRAIN

AIRPLANE

TELEVISION

TREE

SUN

CAR

WIND TURBINE

LIGHT BULB

TELEPHONE

BICYCLE

12 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

For each student playing the game, make one copy of the Energy Chants sheet found on page 14.

Then, depending on the number of small groups you need and the number of students in each

group, make the appropriate number of copies of the energy symbols, found on page 15. Cut out the

energy symbols and have masking tape ready.

Get Set

Hand out one Energy Chants sheet to each student and tape an energy source symbol to his/her

back. Inform the students that they are not to look at their backs or ask friends what energy sources

they are.

Introduce the energy sources to the students. Go through each source and reinforce one or two

of the facts found on the chant sheet. Tell whether the source is renewable or nonrenewable, and

add some of your own information about each source. Usually, three or four facts are enough—the

students can read the others on their own.

OPTIONAL: You may wish to add visual aids to your presentation. Make posters or project visuals that

relate to each energy source.

After you introduce a source, demonstrate its chant. The words are on the top of the chant sheet.

Hand motions are printed on page 13 to go with each chant.

Tell the students they have an energy source symbol taped onto their backs. Their job is to discover

what source it is. Using their energy chant sheets, they should go around to other students asking

yes or no questions, asking each person no more than one question. Naturally, the rst question

should be, “Am I (non)renewable?”

Once the student has discovered his or her source, he or she should start to do the energy chant for

that source, to nd others who are the same source.

After about two minutes of questions and searching, have everyone stop. To help the students who

have not yet found their group, give three clues about one group’s source and tell that group to do

their chant once.

Go through this process with each group, and the large group will be successfully divided into

smaller groups by energy source.

Energy Chants

Energy Chants introduces the

ten leading energy sources

in an entertaining manner.

This activity also divides

a large group into ten or

fewer small groups. This

activity is most eective with

elementary students but can

be enjoyable for all.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grades 3-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

10 minutes

 Time

30 minutes

Technology

Integration

Check out the video of our

NEED Energy Chants by visiting

our website, www.NEED.org.

The link to the chants can be

found directly below the title

for this guide.

PETROLEUM: Blup, blup, petroleum!

Begin with your hands below your waist in a cup shape facing down. As you say “Blup” move your hands upward like oil coming from the

ground. When you reach “petroleum!” throw your hands up in the air like an old-fashioned oil well that just struck oil.

COAL: Working in a coal mine (grunt)—hard hat!

While chanting, “Working in a coal mine,” pretend that you are shoveling coal. At “grunt—hard hat!” throw the coal over your shoulder.

NATURAL GAS: Natural gas, gas (snap, snap)...a real gas!

After chanting, “Natural gas, gas,” snap once with your right hand, once with your left, and follow with “a real gas!”

URANIUM: Uranium, uranium, split goes the atom!

Begin by clenching your hands in sts and begin hitting your sts together. As you say “split” take your hands and pull them apart with your

ngers spread like atoms splitting.

PROPANE: Compress, compress, compress...pro-pane!

During the “Compress” sequence, start with your hands apart facing each other and move them closer together. When you clasp your hands

together, say “pro-pane” and begin a wave motion (like a liquid).

HYDROPOWER: Falling water, hydropower, hydropower!

With your nger tips touching, hold your hands under your chin and glide your hands down like a waterfall during “Falling water.” For

“hydropower, hydropower” spin your hands like a turbine.

BIOMASS: Garbage, wood, landll gas...it’s all biomass!

Hold your nose while chanting, “Garbage, wood, landll gas.” During “it’s all biomass!” shake your hands near your shoulders.

GEOTHERMAL: Shhhhh...ge-o-ther-mal!

Place your hands together at (without interlocking ngers) below your waist. As you say “Shhhhh” slowly move your hands upward and on

“geothermal,” separate your hands to act like a geyser.

WIND: Wind is moving air; energy is there!

Throughout the chant, spin one arm like a wind turbine.

SOLAR: Sun shine bright, give us light!

Make a circle with your arms over your head as you say “Sun shine bright,” then throw your hands out like rays of the sun as you say “give us

light!”

Hand Motions for the Energy Chants

14 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Petroleum: Blup, blup, petroleum!

Coal: Working in a coal mine (grunt)—hard hat!

Natural Gas: Natural gas, gas, (snap, snap) . . . a real gas!

Uranium: Uranium, uranium, split goes the atom!

Propane: Compress, compress, compress . . . pro–pane!

Hydropower: Falling water, hydropower, hydropower!

Biomass: Garbage, wood, landll gas...it’s all biomass!

Geothermal: Shhhhhhhh, ge-o-ther-mal!

Wind: Wind is moving air; energy is there!

Solar: Sun shine bright, give us light!

Nonrenewable Energy Sources

PETROLEUM

1. My major use is for transportation.

2. Forty-eight percent of me is imported from other countries.

3. Most of me is rened into gasoline.

4. I’m number one in the U.S., providing 35.6 percent of America’s

total energy consumption.

5. Texas, North Dakota, and California are the leading states that

produce me.

6. The United States is the world’s top producer of me.

COAL

1. I generate 33.1 percent of the nation’s electricity.

2. I’m transported mostly by trains.

3. Eorts are made to remove sulfur from me.

4. I’m America’s most abundant fossil fuel.

5. About 8.3 percent of me that is produced in the U.S. is exported

to other countries.

6. Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky are states that produce

me.

NATURAL GAS

1. I heat roughly half of the nation’s homes.

2. I’m colorless and odorless.

3. My chemical name is methane.

4. Electricity generation and industry are my largest consumers in

the U.S.

5. I’m a cleaner burning fossil fuel.

6. I’m transported mostly by pipeline.

URANIUM

1. I’m the nation’s third leading source for generating electricity.

2. I’m presently being used in 99 reactors in the U.S.

3. I was rst used in 1957 to make electricity.

4. I supply a little more than 19 percent of U.S. electricity.

5. The U.S. leads the world in production of electricity from me.

6. My power plants store my spent fuel waste products on site.

PROPANE

1. I’m colorless and odorless.

2. My supply comes from processing natural gas and petroleum.

3. I’m often used in rural areas and on farms.

4. I supply less than 2 percent of the nation’s energy.

5. I’m a portable source of heat energy.

6. I’m normally stored under pressure.

Renewable Energy Sources

HYDROPOWER

1. I supply 5-10 percent of U.S. electricity, depending on the

amount of rainfall.

2. I’m limited to certain geographic areas.

3. I provide 17.0 percent of the world’s electricity.

4. I’m being used in over 2,200 locations in the U.S.

5. My facilities can disrupt wildlife and sh populations.

6. I require the Earth’s gravity to work.

BIOMASS

1. Methane gas can be made from me.

2. Photosynthesis stores radiant energy in me.

3. I get my energy from wood, garbage, and agricultural waste.

4. I can be used to generate electricity.

5. Ethanol can be made from me and used as a transportation fuel.

6. Burning me can produce air pollution.

GEOTHERMAL

1. I produce less than one percent of U.S. energy.

2. I’m used mainly in western states.

3. I can be used for home heating and cooling.

4. My energy comes from the Earth’s core.

5. My major use is the production of electricity.

6. I get my energy as a result of radioactive decay.

WIND

1. Most of my electricity is from Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma.

2. I convert my motion energy directly into electrical energy with

no cost for the fuel.

3. I produce no air pollution.

4. My turbines operate both on land and oshore.

5. I produce 4.7 percent of U.S. electricity.

6. I’m caused by uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.

SOLAR

1. I’m not available at all hours of the day.

2. I can be converted directly into electricity using photovoltaic

cells.

3. I’m great for water and home heating.

4. I work better in some parts of the country.

5. I supply just under 1 percent of the nation’s electricity.

6. I’m free to use, but you have to purchase and maintain my

equipment.

Energy Chants

PETROLEUM HYDROPOWER

COAL BIOMASS

NATURAL GAS GEOTHERMAL

URANIUM WIND

PROPANE SOLAR

16 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

For each student playing the game, make one two-sided copy of the energy chants sheets found

on pages 18 and 19. Make enough copies of the energy symbols found on page 15 so that you will

have one renewable energy symbol and one nonrenewable energy symbol for each student. Cut

out energy symbols and divide into renewable and nonrenewable sources. You will need a roll of

masking tape, ten large sheets of drawing paper, and crayons or markers.

Get Set

Hand out one energy chant sheet to each student and tape a renewable symbol to his/her back. Tell

students not to look at their symbols or ask their friends for help.

Ask students to look at the renewable energy side of their chant sheets. Explain what renewable

means. Read over the chant sheets with the students, emphasizing the essential facts about each

energy source. For the youngest students, you may only want to use the rst two or three facts

listed. As you introduce each source, demonstrate the energy chant for that source. You can create

your own hand motions, or use the sample hand motions listed on page 17.

After you have practiced each chant with the students, review by reading the rst fact on each

source and having the students act out the chant once they identify the source. For older students,

begin at the bottom of the list to see how many facts it takes before the students gure out which

energy source you are describing.

When you are sure that all students know the chants, explain that each student has an energy

symbol on his/her back and their mission is to discover which energy source they represent. Using

the chant sheets, they must ask fellow students questions that require a yes or no answer. Give

examples of acceptable questions. They may not ask, “Am I Biomass?” Explain to them that once

they gure out which energy source they represent, they should begin performing the chant and

seek out their fellow source members. Once all students are in groups, have them design and draw

a poster about their energy source.

Repeat the activity for nonrenewable energy sources.

Primary Energy Chants

introduces the ten leading

sources of energy to primary

students.

Grade Levels

Primary, grades K-2

2 Preparation

10 minutes

 Time

Two 30 minute periods

Renewable Chants and Hand Motions

BIOMASS: Garbage, wood, landll gas...it’s all BIOMASS!

Hold your nose while chanting, “Garbage, wood, landll gas.” During “it’s all BIOMASS,” shake your hands near your shoulders.

GEOTHERMAL: Geo-Earth, Thermal-heat—GEOTHERMAL—Earth-heat!

Hold arms in a circle in front of you during “Geo-Earth.” Cross arms and hug yourself for “Thermal-heat.” Shout “GEOTHERMAL,” then repeat

the motions quickly for “Earth-heat.”

HYDROPOWER: Falling water, HYDROPOWER, HYDROPOWER!

With your nger tips touching, hold your hands under your chin and glide your hands down like a waterfall during “Falling water.” For

“HYDROPOWER, HYDROPOWER” spin your hands like a turbine.

SOLAR: SOLAR ENERGY—sun shine bright, SOLAR ENERGY—give me light!

Begin with arms over head in a big circle, swaying from side to side during “SOLAR ENERGY.” Spread arms out wide during “sun shine bright.”

Repeat motions for second part of the chant.

WIND: Energy is owin’ in the WIND!

Make big arm circles, mimicking a wind turbine, as you say this chant.

Nonrenewable Chants and Hand Motions

COAL: COAL in the hole—makes light in the night!

During “COAL in the hole,” point down with thumbs, hands in sts. During “makes light in the night,” point thumbs upward in rhythm with

the cadence of the chant.

NATURAL GAS: Burn clean, burn fast—NATURAL GAS!

During “Burn clean,” bring one hand up in front of you, palm facing inward. During “burn fast,” bring the other hand up to the rst hand.

During “NATURAL GAS,” move hands upward together to make the shape of a ame.

PETROLEUM: Pump, pump—PETROLEUM!

Place hands together in sts in front of you. During “Pump, pump,” partially extend ngers twice and return them to a st. During “PETROLEUM,”

fully extend hands and move them upward, representing oil shooting from a well.

PROPANE: Put a little pressure on me—PROPANE!

Begin with hands wide apart and bring palms closer together at each word of the chant.

URANIUM: URANIUM, URANIUM—split goes the atom!

Clap twice during “URANIUM, URANIUM.” During “split goes the atom,” clap and bring hands out and up, representing the splitting atom.

Hand Motions for the Primary Energy Chants

18 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Garbage, wood, landll gas...it’s all BIOMASS!

1. Bio means life. I am the energy in things that used to be alive.

2. My energy is stored in trees, plants, and garbage.

3. My energy comes from the sun.

4. You can burn me to make heat and electricity.

5. I can pollute the air when I am burned.

Geo-Earth, Thermal-heat—GEOTHERMAL—Earth-heat!

1. Geo means Earth. Therme means heat. I am heat energy from inside the Earth.

2. I heat underground rocks and water.

3. My hot water can heat houses.

4. My power can make electricity.

5. I am clean energy.

Falling water, HYDROPOWER, HYDROPOWER!

1. Hydro means water. I am the energy in moving water.

2. Dams can harness my energy.

3. I am only available in certain parts of the United States.

4. My power can make electricity.

5. I am clean, cheap energy.

SOLAR ENERGY—sun shine bright, SOLAR ENERGY—give me light!

1. Sol means sun. I am energy from the sun.

2. I make plants grow and I give you light.

3. When my energy reaches the Earth, it can heat homes and water.

4. Photovoltaic cells can turn my energy into electricity.

5. I am clean, free energy, but my equipment can be expensive.

Energy is owin’ in the WIND!

1. I am the energy in moving air.

2. The sun makes the air move.

3. Some places have a lot of me, others only a little.

4. I can’t make electricity 24 hours a day.

5. I don’t pollute the air, except with sound.

Renewable Energy Chants

COAL in the hole—makes light in the night!

1. I look like shiny, black rock.

2. I am a fossil fuel that is buried underground.

3. There is a lot of me in the United States.

4. I am burned to make electricity.

5. I can pollute the air when I am burned.

Burn clean, burn fast—NATURAL GAS!

1. I am a gas with no color, no taste, and no smell.

2. I am a clean burning fossil fuel.

3. Companies drill wells to pump me from the ground.

4. I am moved by pipeline.

5. I am burned to heat buildings and to make electricity.

Pump, pump—PETROLEUM!

1. I am buried underground and under the ocean.

2. I am a fossil fuel that makes more energy than any other energy source.

3. I am made into lots of things—like gasoline and plastics.

4. The U.S. must buy some of my supply from other countries.

5. I can pollute the air when I am burned.

Put a little pressure on me—PROPANE!

1. I am a gas with no color, no taste, and no smell.

2. I am a clean burning fossil fuel.

3. I am buried underground with other fossil fuels.

4. I turn into a liquid under pressure.

5. I am used on farms and in backyard grills.

URANIUM, URANIUM—split goes the atom!

1. I am buried underground in rocks.

2. There is plenty of me; I am cheap.

3. My energy is used to make electricity.

4. Using me doesn’t pollute the air.

5. My waste is radioactive; it can be dangerous.

Nonrenewable Energy Chants

20 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

Prior to class, make copies of the six lead stories on pages 21-23 that you will be distributing among

the student groups. You may also want to gather the supplies students may use in constructing props

to accompany their energy stories.

Get Set

Review with the students the structure of an actual news program. Explain the role of an anchor

in providing the background information or “lead” to a news story. Ask the students to recall the

various ways they have seen news stories covered in the past (in a studio, on-site, through interviews,

or video recordings). This will help them understand what they will be asked to do during the This

Week in Energy Conservation show.

Divide the class into six groups, and distribute a news lead to each group.

Explain to the students that each group is now a team of energy reporters. They should read the

introduction to their segment of This Week in Energy Conservation, making note of the energy

conservation tips listed below each lead. Their job will be to develop a story that follows the

guidelines of the anchor’s introduction and includes six of the energy tips listed on their sheet of

paper. Each story should be limited to two or three minutes and the groups will be allowed 20

minutes to develop and rehearse their stories.

After each story is presented, the other groups will have one minute to try to list six energy

tips from the presentation they just heard. Next, the presenting group reveals their tips.

Each group grades themselves using the honor system, getting one point for every tip they

remembered correctly. Tally the scores of all the groups watching the presentation, and

award this amount to the presenting group. This gives the presenters an incentive to do a

thorough job conveying their facts and information to the audience. The team with the highest

score after all the presentations is the winner. Either you or a student from each group can

serve as the anchor, providing the show’s introduction and the lead-in to each news story.

OPTIONAL: This activity can be expanded to include props and costumes for actual public service

announcements on school TV stations for Energy Awareness Month, NEED Week, or Earth Day.

OFF

This Week in Energy Conservation

This Week in Energy

Conservation is designed

as a television show with

student-correspondents

reporting on a variety of

energy conservation topics.

This activity will introduce

students to ways of saving

energy both in the home and

on the road.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grade 5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

5 minutes

 Time

45 minutes

Hot Water Heating Energy News Team Introduction

Now for tonight’s micro-cam report. We have once again miniaturized a member of our Energy News Team sta to give

you an inside look at what actually goes on inside your hot water heater. Heating water is the second largest energy job in

the home, so it’s important to know what these drops of water are thinking while they’re still inside the tank. We nd their

biggest fear is that their lives may be wasted by carelessness. Here’s _______________, who always seems to be getting

into hot water, with this in-depth report.

Home Heating Energy News Team Introduction

The theft of home heating energy is a normal occurrence. So why the next story? Because our undercover reporter has

been able to inltrate a gang of home heating energy criminals. For the rst time ever, we can bring you the story from

the point of view of the criminals. Seeing how they operate might help you, our Energy News Team viewer, prevent them

from stealing your energy dollars.

This Week in Energy Conservation

NEWS STORY STARTERS

Do not let hot water run needlessly. About 18 percent of all

the energy we consume in our homes is used to heat water.

Use cold water instead of hot water when running the

garbage disposal and when rinsing dishes before they go

in the dishwasher. Using cold water saves energy.

Repair leaky faucets promptly. A leaky faucet can waste

gallons of water in a short period of time. A leak of one

drip per second can cost $1 per month.

Wash and rinse clothes in cold water. Operating a washing

machine takes very little energy. Most of the energy used

by clothes washing machines goes to heating the water.

Use low-ow shower heads. These easy-to-install devices

save energy and still provide more than adequate shower

pressure.

Lower the water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees. Most

hot water heaters are set for 140 degrees or higher. You

can save on your energy bill by lowering the temperature.

Insulate hot water storage tanks and water pipes

connected to the water heater.

 Keep heating equipment well maintained. To get the

most from your heating fuel, keep furnace lters clean

and equipment well tuned.

Add insulation in the attic and walls where needed.

Adding insulation can pay for itself within a few years.

Plant trees to act as a windbreak. Trees act as a natural

barrier to cold air in the winter and hot sun in the summer.

During the winter, set the thermostat to 68 degrees

during the day, and lower at night or when no one is

home. Use a programmable thermostat to easily adjust

the temperature for dierent times of the day. Lowering

the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours can save

approximately 10 percent of your energy costs a year.

Close o unoccupied rooms, and shut o their heating

vents. Shutting heat vents in rooms that are not used

every day saves fuel.

Caulk and weatherstrip doors, windows, and other areas

in the home where drafts might occur. Caulking and

weatherstripping is one of the quickest energy- and

money-saving tasks you can do.

Keep draperies and shades open in sunny windows, and

closed at night. Energy from the sun provides natural

warmth. Close drapes in summer when you want the

house cooler.

OFF

22 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Cooking Energy News Team Introduction

Do you hate to cook? If slaving over a hot stove isn’t your idea of a good time, tonight’s Energy Gourmet segment is for

you. Imagine telling your family, “We’re having microwaved pizza for dinner tonight because I’m trying to save energy.”

The Energy Gourmet has a few simple tips that will save you energy and money. Who knows, you may even save enough

money to eat out more often.

Lighting Energy News Team Introduction

And now for the segment of the show that enables you, the viewer, to help put a dangerous energy criminal behind bars.

It’s time for America’s Most Wanted Energy Criminals. The FBI has just put Killer Kilowatt-hour on its most wanted list. He

has been terrorizing homes throughout the nation by forcing families to waste energy in lighting their homes. Recently,

he forced a family to leave ten 100-watt light bulbs on for an hour. If you recognize him from this next segment, please

don’t try to apprehend him yourself, just call our toll-free number, 1-800-TURNOFF. Remember, he’s very dangerous

because he’s very bright.

This Week in Energy Conservation

NEWS STORY STARTERS

Always boil water in a pan that is covered. Water will boil

faster and use less energy in a covered pan.

Whenever possible, use a toaster oven or microwave

instead of a regular oven. These smaller appliances take

less time to cook food so you save energy.

When baking, keep the oven door closed rather than

opening it to look inside — use the oven light to see

inside. An open door lets valuable heat escape; maintain

the heat by keeping the door shut.

Clean range pans (under the burners) regularly. A clean

range pan reects more heat than a dirty one.

Only preheat the oven for ve minutes or not at all. It’s

also a good energy practice to cook several dishes in the

oven at once to make maximum use of this concentrated

heat source.

Use the right size pan for each burner. A small pan on a

large burner wastes energy because the air surrounding

the pan will be heated, too.

Make sure lights are turned o in rooms where you don’t

regularly go, such as the basement or attic. Consider

installing indicator lights to tell you when those unseen

lights are on.

Use outdoor lights only when needed. Consider using an

automatic timer that switches o outdoor lighting in the

morning.

Use uorescent lights, CFLs, or LEDs whenever possible.

A uorescent light lasts 10 times longer and uses 75

percent less energy than an incandescent bulb. LEDs use

even less energy and last even longer!

Dust bulbs and light xtures frequently because dirt

absorbs light. Clean xtures and bulbs give you more

light.

Reduce light in non-working areas. Lighting needs vary

with each task. Over-lighting an area wastes lots of

energy. Adjust your lights accordingly.

Turn down three-way light bulbs to the lowest setting

when watching television. Dimmer light reduces glare on

the TV and saves energy.

Use one large bulb, instead of several small ones, in areas

where bright lights are needed. Concentrate lighting in

study areas and in stairwells where it’s needed for safety.

OFF

Auto Driving Habits Energy News Team Introduction

Our next story may have some of you saying that group therapy sessions have gone too far. This time it’s automobiles.

Their operators have very bad driving habits, and these habits are driving the cars crazy. We visited one of these sessions

to learn what can be done to reduce this conict between cars and their drivers.

Auto Maintenance Energy News Team Introduction

I’ve just been handed a bulletin. American automobiles have just called a wildcat strike. They refuse to operate again until

their list of demands is met. Their major concern is health care. They feel that their previous owners did not give them

the maintenance they deserved. An Energy News Team mobile unit brings us this late breaking story from a used car lot,

where used cars are refusing to leave the car lot with their new owners until they are promised better care. That’s right

folks, these autos are demonstrators.

This Week in Energy Conservation

NEWS STORY STARTERS

Drive the speed limit and don’t exceed it. Driving faster

than 50-60 mph decreases gas mileage. Slow down to

save fuel.

Do not overll the gas tank. To avoid spilling gasoline,

consider your tank full when the automatic valve shuts

o.

Eliminate unnecessary or frequent starts and stops.

Aggressive driving can lower highway gas mileage by 33

percent.

Be a carpooler, and share a ride. Carpooling can save

energy, reduce pollution, and make your car last longer.

Do not let an automobile idle for more than one minute

when waiting for someone. Idling equals zero miles per

gallon in fuel economy.

Eliminate unnecessary trips, and plan trips carefully.

Combining errands can use less gasoline than several

independent trips.

Use public transportation. Try to substitute another

means of transportation (bus, subway, bicycle, walking)

for your automobile at least once a week.

When replacing tires, look for ones with low rolling

resistance. This type of tire will use less energy to roll

along the road.

Keep the oil and air lters clean. For older cars with a

carburated engine, clean air lters can increase gas

mileage 2 to 6 percent. For fuel-injected, computer-

controlled engines, a clean air lter can improve

acceleration time.

Remove unnecessary weight from the car. A heavier car

uses more gas to reach its destination. The lighter the

load, the better the gas mileage will be.

Check tire pressure every two weeks. Properly inated

and aligned tires improve gas mileage.

Have the car’s engine tuned regularly. A well-tuned

engine can improve gas mileage.

Select the correct gasoline octane and grade of oil for

your car. If you change the oil yourself, take the used oil

to a service station for recycling

OFF

24 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

You will need a marker and a large sheet of poster paper for each group. Seat the group in a circle

near a chalkboard or wall where you can hang up the paper.

Get Set

Divide the class into groups of eight to fteen students. Select one person from each group as the

group leader, and one person from each group as the recorder.

Instruct the groups to brainstorm ideas on energy conservation. Each idea should be simple and

no longer than ve syllables. For example, “Turn o lights,” “Tune-up,” and “Insulate.” Continue

brainstorming until the group has at least the same number of ideas as there are group members.

Explain the game to the group with this introduction: “Slap your thighs once with both hands and

say CON; clap once and say SER; snap your right ngers and say VA; and then snap your left ngers

and say TION. Slap your thighs again and say FOR; clap your hands and say OUR; snap your right

ngers and say NA; and snap your left ngers and say TION. Slap your thighs a third time and say

CON, clap once and say SER; snap your right ngers and say VA; and then snap your left ngers

and say TION. Slap your thighs a fourth time and say READY, clap your hands and say GO. This time

between the snaps you must give a conservation tip.”

After the introduction, you should give three or four sample conservation tips between

consecutive snaps. Do not repeat the introduction with each tip. You can reinforce the cadence

by giving the instructions to the class between the snaps.

Tell the groups to study the sheet of paper because it will not be posted during the game.

If someone forgets or repeats, the circle must begin again. The person who has made

the mistake begins with the introduction, and the game continues until you have made

a complete circle with everyone giving a tip between the snaps.

NOTE: If you are running more than one circle at a time, instruct the groups that they may have to

begin again on their own.

Conservation for Our Nation

This activity teaches

brainstorming and

cooperation skills to a group

or groups of 8-15 people. It

also reinforces knowledge of

some energy conservation

tips.

Grade Levels

K-12

2 Preparation

Less than 5 minutes

 Time

20 minutes for a group of ten

OFF

Get Ready

Print the Energy Chants graphics on page 15 so that you have one slip per student and an equal

number of each energy source. Cut the graphics out and laminate, if necessary.

On sheets of plain paper, write down six energy facts for each energy source, found on the Energy

Chants sheet located on page 14. Do NOT write the names of the energy sources on these plain

sheets of paper. (See the extension on page 26)

Number ten pieces of dark colored paper, one through ten, in large numbers.

Prepare ve black poster boards for the nonrenewable energy sources and ve yellow poster boards

for the renewable energy sources, as follows. Mount one fact sheet to the lower half of each poster

board, making sure the fact sheets correspond to the colors of the poster boards. Mount the top

edge of the number sheets near the top of the posters. Do not secure the bottom edge of the

number sheets to the posters; the number sheets will be used as aps.

Write the names of the energy sources on the posters, underneath the number sheet aps. Lightly

secure the bottom edge of the number sheets with tape to the posters.

Mount the posters around the walls of the room. Space the posters equally apart and set up chairs

for each station, if desired. Place a piece of paper and a pencil by each poster station. The players will

use these toward the end of the game.

Get Set

Assign players to groups using the Energy Chants graphics cards you cut out. Let the players draw

these out of a hat or pass them out randomly. (You can assign players to fewer than ten groups by

eliminating one or more energy sources from the hat. Even if you have fewer groups, keep all ten

posters on the walls.) Make sure each source you will use is represented by at least one student.

Instruct the players NOT to tell anyone which group they’ve picked.

PART I

Give the players these instructions for playing the game:

You have all been assigned to an energy source group. In a minute, you’ll be getting into these

groups. You must follow these instructions.

You cannot speak or communicate with anyone during the rst phase of the game.

Decide if your energy source is a renewable or nonrenewable source of energy. The ten posters on

the walls around the room have been color-coded to help you nd your energy source. The yellow

posters represent renewable energy sources; the black posters represent nonrenewable sources. If

you don’t know if your energy source is renewable or nonrenewable, then it may take you a little

longer to nd your group.

When I say go, walk to the closest poster and read the six clues that describe the energy source.

If you think these clues describe your energy source, remain beside that poster. If the clues don’t

describe your energy source, move on to another poster. Repeat the process until you think you’ve

found your energy source.

You’ll have three minutes to nd your energy source. Remember, no talking or communicating is

Energy Roundup

Energy Roundup is a good

activity to introduce an

energy unit or to reinforce

students’ knowledge of the

nation’s leading sources of

energy. Energy Roundup

divides a large group into ten

or fewer small groups.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grades 4-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

15-30 minutes

 Time

10-50 minutes

2Set-up Tip

Pre-made poster sheets with

facts can be printed by visiting

www.NEED.org. The link to

the posters be found directly

below the title for this guide.

26 Energy Games and Icebreakers

allowed. Does anyone have any questions? Ready? The rst round lasts three minutes. Go!

Your three minutes are up and everyone must be at their poster. Remember, remain silent. Now,

will the person closest to each poster lift the ap of the poster so that only the people in your

group can see which energy source the clues describe. (Players lift aps to reveal energy sources.)

Please close the ap. If you’re in the correct group, remain at your poster. If you’re not, look for

your energy source again. This time you have only one minute. No talking or communicating. Go!

(Round two lasts one minute. You can continue rounds until everyone has found his or her energy

source. Subsequent rounds last 30 seconds to one minute each.)

PART II

After all the rounds are nished, give the groups these instructions:

You will be allowed to talk during this part of the game. The members of your group must now

decide which three of the six clues reveal the least about your energy source. Keep the least

revealing clues and eliminate the three clues that reveal the most. I’ll give you two minutes to do

this, and then I’ll ask three people in your group to each read a clue one at a time. After the third

clue has been read, everyone in your group will say in unison, “What are we?”

Now, one person in your group should take the pencil and paper at your station and write the

numbers one through ten down the side of the paper. After a groups says “What are we?” the

other groups will have 15 seconds to write down the name of the energy source. Since every

source has a number, just write the group’s name by the corresponding number on your piece of

paper.

The group that correctly identies the most energy groups wins.

*Reminder: Use the clues and graphics on pages 14-15 for this activity.

 Extension

Have your students read the Energy Infobook sections on each of the sources and provide the facts

to create posters.

Utilize alternative colors for the posters instead of black and yellow as suggested in the instructions.

For an added challenge, do not tell students what the colors signify until after they have begun

the game.

Get Ready

Before class, make a sample wanted poster. Have an ink pad, paper, and markers available.

Get Set

Explain the activity to the students. Exhibit the sample wanted poster.

Use a digital camera to take front and side view “mug shots” of each student to generate enthusiasm

for the activity. Print out the pictures.

Brainstorm with the students a list of the common ways that they waste energy daily, for example:

Leaving the TV on.

Taking long (or too many) showers.

Leaving the water running while brushing teeth/washing dishes.

Leaving doors/windows open with heat/AC on.

Asking for a ride when walking or riding a bike would be appropriate.

Running dishwasher/washing machine half empty.

Leaving unnecessary lights on.

Brainstorm appropriate punishments for the crimes. (Skipping a favorite TV show, for example, as

punishment for leaving the TV on. Or, washing the dishes by hand as punishment for running the

dishwasher half empty.)

Using the list, have each student keep a daily record of the energy crimes that he/she has committed

over a designated time period.

Construct wanted posters for each student. If you did not take “mug shots” of the students before

you began the activity, have the students draw or take pictures of themselves. Use a water-soluble

ink pad to take ngerprints. Students should write their own crime descriptions using their daily

crime records.

America’s Most Wanted Energy Wasters

America’s Most Wanted Energy

Wasters increases students’

awareness of their energy

wasting habits and reinforces

simple energy-saving

behaviors.

Grade Levels

K-12

2 Preparation

10-30 minutes

 Time

30 minutes, or longer

depending on student interest

OFF

28 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

Duplicate as many Energy Bingo sheets on page 30 as needed for each person in your group. In

addition, decide now if you want to give the winner of your game a prize and what the prize will be.

Get Set

Pass out one Energy Bingo sheet to each member of the group.

PART ONE: FILLING IN THE BINGO SHEETS

Give the group the following instructions to create bingo cards:

This bingo activity is very similar to regular bingo. However, there are a few things you’ll need to

know to play this game. First, please take a minute to look at your bingo sheet and read the 16

statements at the top of the page. Shortly, you’ll be going around the room trying to nd 16 people

about whom the statements are true so you can write their names in one of the 16 boxes.

When I give you the signal, you’ll get up and ask a person if a statement at the top of your bingo

sheet is true for them. If the person gives what you believe is a correct response, write the person’s

name in the corresponding box on the lower part of the page. For example, if you ask a person

question “D” and he or she gives you what you think is a correct response, then go ahead and write

the person’s name in box D. A correct response is important because later on, if you get bingo,

that person will be asked to answer the question correctly in front of the group. If he or she can’t

answer the question correctly, then you lose bingo. So, if someone gives you an incorrect answer,

ask someone else! Don’t use your name for one of the boxes or use the same person’s name twice.

Try to ll all 16 boxes in the next 20 minutes. This will increase your chances of winning. After the 20

minutes are up, please sit down and I will begin asking players to stand up and give their names. Are

there any questions? You’ll now have 20 minutes. Go!

During the next 20 minutes, move around the room to assist the players. Every ve minutes or so

tell the players how many minutes are remaining in the game. Give the players a warning when just

a minute or two remains. When the 20 minutes are up, stop the players and ask them to be seated.

PART TWO: PLAYING BINGO

Give the class the following instructions to play the game:

When I point to you, please stand up and in a LOUD and CLEAR voice give us your name. Now, if

anyone has the name of the person I call on, put a big “X” in the box with that person’s name. When

you get four names in a row—across, down, or diagonally—shout “Bingo!” Then I’ll ask you to come

up front to verify your results.

Let’s start o with you (point to a player in the group). Please stand and give us your name. (Player

gives name. Let’s say the player’s name was “Joe.”) Okay, players, if any of you have Joe’s name in one

of your boxes, go ahead and put an “X” through that box.

When the rst player shouts “Bingo,” ask him (or her) to come to the front of the room. Ask him to

give his name. Then ask him to tell the group how his bingo run was made, e.g., down from A to M,

across from E to H, and so on.

Now you need to verify the Energy Bingo winner’s results. Ask the bingo winner to call out the rst

person’s name on his bingo run. That player then stands and the bingo winner asks him the question

which he previously answered during the 20-minute session. For example, if the statement was “can

name two renewable sources of energy,” the player must now name two sources. If he can answer

Energy Bingo

Energy Bingo is a great

icebreaker for a NEED

workshop or conference. As

a classroom activity, it also

makes a great introduction to

an energy unit.

Grade Levels

K-12

2 Preparation

5 minutes

 Time

45 minutes

Bingos are available on

several dierent topics.

Check out these resources for

more bingo options!

Science of Energy Bingo—

Science of Energy guides

Transportation Bingo—

Transportation guides

Renewable Energy Bingo—

Energy Infobook Activities

Wind Energy Bingo—Wind

guides

Biomass Bingo—Energy Stories

and More

Hydrogen Bingo—H

Educate

Solar Bingo—Solar guides

Hydropower Bingo—

Hydropower guides

Change a Light Bingo—Energy

Conservation Contract

Energy Eciency Bingo—

Monitoring and Mentoring and

Learning and Conserving

Nuclear Energy Bingo—

Nuclear guides

Oil and Natural Gas Bingo—

Oil and Natural Gas guides

the question correctly, the bingo winner calls out the next person’s name on his bingo run. However, if he does not answer the question

correctly, the bingo winner does not have bingo after all and must sit down with the rest of the players. You should continue to point to

players until another person yells “Energy Bingo.”

In case of a tie, ask the winners to come to the front one at a time to verify their results. If time permits, you may wish to continue the game

for second or third place winners. You may want to change some of the questions to t your group. Below are eight extra statements you

can use instead.

 Knows what energy source C

is (propane)

 Knows what ethanol is made from in the U.S. (corn)

 Knows which state produces the most oil (Texas)

 Knows which state produces the most coal (Wyoming)

 Can name two products made from petroleum (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, fuel oil, plastic, tires, etc.)

 Knows which energy source generates the most electricity (coal)

 Knows the main ingredient in natural gas (methane)

ENERGY

ANSWERS

Student should share location.

coal, petroleum, natural gas,

propane

(no answer needed)

Students should be able to

describe a clothes line.

Students should describe plant

or location of plant.

turning o lights, insulation,

saving water, etc.

(no answer needed)

tire pressure, maintenance,

removing excess weight

(no answer needed)

Student should describe

volcano, geyser, or hot spring.

Student should list where:

home, street light, calculator,

etc.

hydropower, solar, geothermal,

wind, biomass

12.7 cents/kWh national

average

pipeline propane ssion

BINGO

A Has seen a wind turbine B Can name two fossil fuels C Has never seen coal D Uses a solar clothes dryer

E Has visited a power plant F Can name two ways to save energy at

home

G Uses a hand-operated can opener H Can name two ways to increase a car’s

MPG

I Recycles aluminum cans J Has seen geothermal energy K Has seen a photovoltaic cell L Can name two renewable energy

sources

M Knows the cost of a kilowatt-hour of

electricity

N Knows how natural gas is usually

transported

O Knows which fuel is used in barbecue

grills

P Knows how uranium atoms give o

energy

30 Energy Games and Icebreakers

For each letter, nd one person about whom the statement is true. Write each name in one of the boxes below.

Energy

NAME

BINGO

A Has seen a wind turbine B Can name two fossil fuels C Has never seen coal D Uses a solar clothes dryer

E Has visited a power plant F Can name two ways to save

energy at home

G Uses a hand-operated can

opener

H Can name two ways to

increase a car’s MPG

I Recycles aluminum cans J Has seen geothermal energy K Has seen a photovoltaic cell L Can name two renewable

energy sources

M Knows the cost of a kilowatt-

hour of electricity

N Knows how natural gas is

usually transported

O Knows which fuel is used in

barbecue grills

P Knows how uranium atoms

give o energy

Get Ready

Select eight of the energy match questions listed on the next page, according to the grade level of

the students playing the game. The two most dicult questions of the eight will serve as the nal

Energy Match Game questions and will be awarded a double point value. For each student, take two

sheets of 8 1/2” x 11” paper and cut them in half or use small dry erase boards.

Get Set

Put students into four to six rows so that students cannot see what their fellow team members are

writing. You need a minimum of four students per team.

Prepare a scoreboard to keep point values for each team.

Give each student four sheets of paper or a markerboard. Explain to the students that if they are

using paper, they will have to write on both sides of each sheet of paper in order to have enough

paper for all eight rounds.

Give the students the following instructions for how to play the game:

Today, we’re going to play the Energy Match Game. There will be eight rounds in the game. The nal

two rounds will have double point value.

To begin a round, I will read a statement and you will have to write your answer in large letters on

one of the pieces of paper I have given you. You may not look at the responses that any of your team

members are writing down. If you do, your team will be penalized 25 points and will be eliminated

from that round. You will have 15 seconds to write your answer and then you must put your pen or

pencil down. Every match will be worth ve points for the rst six rounds.

Let me give you an example of how the game is played and scored. The sample statement is “Name

a renewable source of energy.” You will have 15 seconds to write your answer on one of the sheets

of paper, and then everyone will put their pens and pencils down.

Next, the rst person on team one will show me his/her answer while telling the class what his/her

answer is. Say, for example, he has written SOLAR.

The next person on the team will then show me his answer. If the second person has written SOLAR,

then team one would have a match and it will receive ve points. If the second person has written

WIND, then there would be no match. The third person on the team will then show me his answer.

If the third person’s answer matches either the rst or second person’s answer, then team one will

receive ve more points. The fourth person on the team will then show me his answer. If the fourth

person’s answer matches either the rst, second, or third person’s answer, then team one will receive

another ve points.

We will continue in this manner until all members of team one have revealed their answers. Then,

we will repeat this process for the remainder of the teams. Are there any questions? Let’s go! Here’s

the rst statement.

Energy Match Game

Energy Match Game reviews

and reinforces students’

knowledge about energy. The

activity can take as little as

ten minutes or as much as an

entire class period.

Grade Levels

K-12

2 Preparation

5-10 minutes

 Time

10-30 minutes

32 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Energy Match Questions

 Name an energy source, other than coal, that is used to generate electricity.

(wind, uranium, natural gas, etc.)

 Name a nonrenewable source of energy.

(petroleum, coal, propane, natural gas, uranium)

 Name a way to save energy in your car using proper driving habits.

(drive the speed limit, carpool, limit quick trips, etc.)

 Name a way to save energy in your car using proper maintenance.

(regular oil changes, proper tire pressure, etc.)

 Name a major energy consuming device in your home.

(refrigerator, clothes washer/dryer, air conditioner, etc.)

 Name a country from which the U.S. imports petroleum.

(Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, etc.)

 Name a product, other than gasoline, made from petroleum.

(plastics, medicines, kerosene, motor oil, etc.)

 Name a chemical characteristic of propane. (ammable)

 Name a unit used to measure electric power. (watt, kilowatt)

 Name a source of energy that does not produce air pollution when used.

(hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear)

 Other than the United States, name a country that uses a lot of energy.

(China, Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc.)

 Name a major petroleum producing state in the U.S.

(Texas, North Dakota, Alaska, California, etc.)

 Name a major coal producing state in the U.S.

(Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, etc.)

 Name an energy consuming device you could not live without.

(cell phone, television, gaming system, etc.)

 Name your favorite source of energy. (answers will vary)

 Name the rst energy source used by people. (solar)

 Name the source that will be the leading provider of U.S. energy in the year 2030.

(answers will vary)

 Name a way of saving energy for home heating.

(use a programmable thermostat, insulating or sealing cracks, etc.)

 Name an energy saving device you could use in your home.

(CFL or LED bulb, power strip, etc. )

Get Ready

Divide the students into ten teams. For each team, make a list of ve to ten words or phrases that

describe the team’s energy source. The number of words or phrases you use will depend on the age

level and experience of the students playing the game. You may use the lists on page 34 and cross

out the words and phrases that you do not want to use, leaving ve to ten words or phrases for each

energy source. (If you feel that the words provided are too dicult, or revealing, feel free to make up

your own list of words.) Next, write the name of each energy source on the top of a blank sheet of

paper. Students will use these sheets to brainstorm their own lists.

Get Set

Give students an overview of the game. Give each team the sheet of paper with their energy source

name and remind them not to reveal their energy source to the other teams.

Give the students the following instructions for how to play the game:

Each team has been given a sheet of paper with the name of an energy source. Remember, don’t let

the other teams see your name. You will have four minutes to brainstorm as many words or phrases

as possible that relate to your energy source. For example, if your energy source is ELECTRICITY,

what words might you brainstorm that relate to electricity? (List student examples on the board—

words might include: kilowatt-hour, generator, megawatt, power plant, and peak demand.) You will

now have four minutes to brainstorm words and phrases for your energy source. Write the words

you have brainstormed on the sheet of paper that I have given you. Please do your brainstorming

quietly so that the other teams will not be able to hear you.

Now, I will give each team a list of words and phrases that I have selected for their energy source.

Compare my list with the list of words you have developed. On your list, cross o all the words that

match the ones on my list.

Next, take your sheet of paper and write the numbers one through ten on the reverse side. A student

from team one will now stand up and tell the class in a loud, clear voice the words and phrases that

have not been crossed o their list. The other teams will write these words next to the number one

on their sheet of paper. After all ten teams have given their remaining words, you will have three

minutes to decide which energy source each team represents.

One at a time, each team will stand up and tell the class the energy source they represent. On your

sheet of paper, place check marks next to the teams that you guessed correctly. Do not check your

own team—the most you can guess correctly is nine. You receive ten points for each correct guess.

Starting with team one, how many teams correctly guessed the rst team’s identity? Team one

receives ve points for each team that guessed their identity. (The leader continues this process

with the remaining teams.)

Teams should now add up their scores. The group that has the most points wins.

Energy Eliminators

strengthens students’

brainstorming skills while

reviewing major energy

topics.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grades 4-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

5-10 minutes

 Time

45 minutes

34 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Word List | RENEWABLE

Word List | NONRENEWABLE

 BIOMASS

organic matter

photosynthesis

burning

bacterial decay

methane

wood

renewable

fermentation

corn

landlls

garbage

ethanol

 GEOTHERMAL

Earth

electricity

hot springs

volcanoes

radioactive decay

plate tectonics

Ring of Fire

magma

heating buildings

steam

core

renewable

 SOLAR

nuclear fusion

radiation

hydrogen

renewable

space heating

collector

greenhouse eect

passive system

active system

photovoltaic cells

silicon

electricity

 HYDROPOWER

water

water wheels

grind grain

electricity

Niagara Falls

kinetic energy

turbine generator

dams

reservoir

tidal power

Grand Coulee

renewable

 WIND

air

windmill

rotor blades

electricity

wind farms

anemometer

renewable

Holland/Dutch

pump water

tower

kinetic energy

turbine

 URANIUM

nuclear

ssion

chain reaction

radioactive

electricity

1957

99 reactors

Fukushima

neutrons

cooling towers

Three Mile Island

Chernobyl

 COAL

surface mines

underground mines

sulfur

trains

electricity

fossil fuel

carbon

nonrenewable

scrubber

shaft

bituminous

anthracite

 PETROLEUM

oil

crude

imported

fossil fuel

OPEC

renery

gasoline

heating oil

transportation

tankers

oshore drilling

air pollution

 PROPANE

heating

transportation

LPG

pressurized tanks

odorless

portable gas

fossil fuel

rening

nonrenewable

farms

industry

barbecue grills

 NATURAL GAS

heating

fossil fuel

methane

processing plant

wells

cubic feet

compressor stations

pipelines

industry

CNG

LNG

nonrenewable

Energy Eliminators

Get Ready

Before class, choose ve to ten of the license plates listed on page 36. The number of license plates

you use will depend on the age level and experience of the students playing the game.

Get Set

Divide the students into ve or more teams. Explain to the students how the game is played. Instruct

each team to take out one sheet of paper for their answers.

Write the license plates that you have chosen on the board.

In the rst round, give the students ve to ten minutes to solve the Energy Bumper Stumpers without

the clues. Once the round is over, check the teams’ answers. The teams receive ten points for each

Energy Bumper Stumper they guessed correctly.

In round two, read the clues that correspond to the license plates on the board. The teams should

now try to guess the Energy Bumper Stumpers they missed in the rst round. When round two is

completed, check the teams’ answers again. The teams receive ve points for each Energy Bumper

Stumper they guessed with the clues. The team with the most points is the winner.

Energy Bumper Stumpers

is an activity to review

and reinforce students’

knowledge about energy.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grades 3-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

2 Preparation

5 minutes

 Time

20 minutes

36 Energy Games and Icebreakers

1. NRGWSTR—This license plate would be ideal for a person who doesn’t believe in conserving our resources. (Energy

Waster)

2. NDSTRE—This plate would be appropriate for the leading consumer of energy. (Industry)

3. SRMIK—This plate describes the protective covering that surrounds a uranium fuel pellet. (Ceramic)

4. DSTL8N—This plate refers to the process in which petroleum is separated into various components. (Distillation)

5. SWNDOO—This plate identies the most favorable method of access for passive solar heating. (South Windows)

6. CREWDOYL—This plate suggests another name for a liquid fossil fuel. (Crude Oil)

7. SLRNRG—This plate describes a type of renewable energy. (Solar Energy)

8. GNR8R—This plate names a device containing a magnet and a coil of wire. (Generator)

9. NSL8ORS—This plate describes the type of materials that do not conduct electricity well. (Insulators)

10. POWRLYN—This plate identies the method of transporting electricity across our nation. (Power Line)

11. NCANDSNT—This plate refers to one type of device that turns electrical energy into light energy. (Incandescent)

12. FLAMNT—This plate describes the wire inside an incandescent light bulb that conducts the electricity. (Filament)

13. YRAINEM—This plate refers to the source of a nonrenewable energy that is not a fossil fuel. (Uranium)

14. POLUTNT—This plate identies a hazard of burning fossil fuels. (Pollutant)

15. DARYK—This plate refers to the tower rig that is used to drill for petroleum. (Derrick)

16. GRENHOWS—This plate describes a building that eectively uses passive solar heating. (Green House)

17. NEWKLEYE—This plate identies the place where nuclear ssion takes place. (Nuclei)

18. RAD8—This plate describes heat energy transfer. (Radiate)

19. SLYCON—This plate identies the element used in turning solar energy into electrical energy. (Silicon)

20. POWRTOWR—This plate refers to a device used to collect solar energy. (Power Tower)

21. POWRPUL—This plate names the cooperative of utilities linked together to share electricity eciently. (Power Pool)

22. BBKUGRIL—This plate names a device that many people use during the summer, some of which require propane

to operate. (Barbecue Grill)

23. DSYLFUL—This plate identies a product of petroleum distillation used by large trucks. (Diesel Fuel)

24. SIZMIK—This plate names a method of exploration used to locate types of fossil fuels. (Seismic)

25. C-NMLS—This plate names what scientists believe to be the source of several fossil fuels. (Sea Animals)

26. SDIMNT—This plate refers to the material that settled on top of ferns to form fossil fuels. (Sediment)

27. FIRTLIZR—This plate identies a way to encourage plant growth for biomass fuels. (Fertilizer)

28. YOTYLTEE—This plate identies the companies responsible for distributing electricity. (Utilities)

29. RSRFOR—This plate names the location of potential energy at a hydropower plant. (Reservoir)

30. PNSTOK—This plate signals the portion of a hydropower plant that brings the water to the turbine. (Penstock)

31. FASYLFUL—This plate identies a term given to several of the nonrenewable energy sources. (Fossil Fuel)

32. TITLPOWR—This plate names a type of hydropower that is aected by the moon. (Tidal Power)

33. WINTRBIN—This plate refers to another name for a windmill. (Wind Turbine)

34. LYMSTON—This plate identies a type of rock in which petroleum is often trapped. (Limestone)

Energy Bumper Stumpers

Get Ready

Before class, make nine nametags for the celebrity energy guests. Next, make a copy of the game

board found on page 40 to project for the class. Cut out X and O shapes from black construction

paper or make sure interactive board markers are available. There are ve questions provided for

each guest. Most likely, only three or four questions will be needed, so choose the ones you feel are

most important. You can also come up with alternative questions appropriate to the grade level of

the students playing the game.

ENERGY NAMES

Pablo Petroleum Naima Natural Gas Colin Coal

Reba Renewable Ursula Uranium Christy Conserve

Priya Propane Eli Electricity Hector History

Get Set

Choose nine students to act as energy guests for the game. Provide each guest with a nametag and

stand them in front of the room. Another student acts as the game show host. Props and costumes

may be used.

Divide the remaining students into four teams. Each team must choose one spokesperson.

Only two teams can participate at one time—decide which two teams will play in the rst round

and which two will play in the second round.

Flip a coin to determine which rst round team begins the game. The winner of the coin toss decides

who goes rst, and the losing team chooses either X or O as their symbol. Repeat this procedure

with the second round teams.

Give the students the following instructions for how to play the game:

This game is similar to tic-tac-toe. The goal is to get three X’s or O’s in a row on the game board. The

rst two teams will play each other and then the remaining two teams will play. The winners will

face o in the nal championship round.

The rst team chooses a guest and his or her accompanying square on the game sheet. The guests’

names correspond to the topic of the question they will be asked. The host asks the guest a question

and the guest answers to the best of his knowledge and ability. It is now the team’s responsibility

to decide whether or not they agree with the answer given by the energy guest. If they answer

correctly, the team’s symbol is placed in the square. However, if they answer incorrectly, the other

team’s symbol is placed in the square. After each question, it is the other team’s turn to choose a

guest.

When choosing guests, keep in mind that this game is played like tic-tac-toe. You are trying to get

three of your symbols in a row while blocking your opponents from doing the same thing. Play

continues in this manner until a team succeeds in getting three in a row or all squares are lled with

either X’s or O’s. One nal rule—when a team is going for the winning square to get three in a row,

the team members must answer the question correctly. If the question is answered incorrectly, the

other team does not place its symbol in that square. Again, this is only applicable when one of the

teams is going for the winning square. In case neither team succeeds in getting three in a row, the

team with the most symbols on the board wins.

Energy Squares

Based on tic-tac-toe, Energy

Squares reinforces students’

knowledge of energy sources

and energy-related topics.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grades 3-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

10-15 minutes

 Time

30 minutes

38 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Energy Squares

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR PETROLEUM

1. What is the major use of petroleum in the U.S.? (Transportation)

2. What is the major product produced during petroleum rening? (Gasoline)

3. How many gallons of oil are in one barrel? (42)

4. True or false? Alaska is the nation’s top oil producing state. (False, Texas is)

5. What percentage of U.S. petroleum supply is imported—26%, 48%, 67%, or 79%? (48%)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR NATURAL GAS

1. How is natural gas usually transported? (By pipeline)

2. True or false? Natural gas is a light yellow color. (False, it’s colorless)

3. What is the major use of natural gas by a family? (Home heating)

4. What is the chemical name for natural gas? (Methane)

5. True or false? Natural gas is measured in, and sold by, gallons? (False, by cubic feet)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR COAL

1. What is the major use of coal? (Producing electricity)

2. True or false? Canada is the world leader of known reserves of coal. (False, the United States is )

3. How is coal mainly transported? (By railroad)

4. On average, is coal typically older or younger than other fossil fuels? (Younger)

5. Most U.S. coal is produced from which type of mining, surface or underground? (Surface)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR RENEWABLES

1. What type of solar cell produces electricity directly from sunlight? (Photovoltaic cell)

2. Renewables make up approximately what percentage of total U.S. energy demand—2%, 10%, 20%, or 50%?

(10%)

3. Which renewable source of energy is NOT a result of the sun’s energy striking the Earth? (Geothermal)

4. True or false? Wind is the result of uneven heating of the Earth’s mantle. (False, uneven heating of the Earth’s

surface)

5. Which energy source gets its energy from garbage and agricultural wastes? (Biomass)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR URANIUM

1. Where is nuclear waste stored? (On-site in spent fuel pools and dry casks/vaults)

2. True or false? The isotope of uranium that splits in nuclear reactors is U-238. (False, it’s U-235)

3. What is the name of the subatomic particle that causes nuclear ssion when it strikes U-235—an electron, a

neutron, or a proton? (A neutron)

4. Plus or minus ten years, in what year did America’s rst nuclear power plant go into operation? (1957 (accept

1947-1967))

5. In what part of a nuclear power plant does nuclear ssion take place? (The reactor)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR CONSERVATION

1. Which letter of the alphabet is used to measure the value of insulation? (R value)

2. True or false? Incandescent light bulbs provide the same amount of light that uorescent bulbs do for one-fourth

the energy. (False, it’s exactly the opposite)

3. After home heating and cooling, what is the most energy-consuming job in the home? (Water heating)

4. What two items are used to seal cracks around windows and doors? (Caulking and weatherstripping)

5. As the energy eciency rating of an appliance increases, the amount of energy it requires to operate: increases,

decreases, or remains the same? (Decreases)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR PROPANE

1. Is propane used mostly in metropolitan or rural areas? (Rural)

2. By what quantity is propane sold? (By the gallon)

3. What physical state does propane turn into when it’s stored under moderate pressure or cooled to -45° Fahrenheit?

(A liquid)

4. Propane comes from processing which fossil fuels? (Natural gas and petroleum)

5. Is the density of propane lower than, higher than, or equal to the density of air? (Higher)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWER FOR ELECTRICITY

1. How is electricity used, measured, and sold? (By the kilowatt-hour)

2. What is the average cost of a kilowatt-hour of electricity for consumers? (12.7 cents (accept 10 to 14 cents))

3. Is electricity produced by rotating wires in a magnetic eld in a turbine or a generator? (A generator)

4. In the summer, during what time period does the demand for electricity peak—6:00 a.m. to noon, noon to 6:00

p.m., or 6:00 p.m. to midnight? (Noon to 6:00 p.m.)

5. What is the leading energy source used to generate electricity? (Coal)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR HISTORY

1. Whose motorized vehicle created a great demand for gasoline? (Henry Ford)

2. Where was the world’s rst hydroelectric power plant built in 1882? (Appleton, Wisconsin on the Fox River)

3. Who invented the steamboat, Robert Fulton or Edwin Drake? (Robert Fulton)

4. Who invented the light bulb and other electrical devices? (Thomas Edison)

5. After World War II, this energy source replaced coal as the number one energy source consumed in the U.S.

(Petroleum)

40 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Pablo Petroleum Naima Natural Gas Colin Coal

Reba Renewable Ursula Uranium Christy Conserve

Priya Propane Eli Electricity Hector History

Energy Squares

Get Ready

Make one copy of the activity on page 42 for each student.

Distribute a copy of the activity to each student.

Explain to the students how to complete each energy source box, using hydropower as an example.

The students begin with number 1 and decide whether the energy source is 1a or 1b, write the

correct number in the box, draw an arrow, then follow the directions after the number until they

discover the name of the energy source. When they discover the correct name, they write it at the

bottom of the box.

For the example for hydropower, the students must rst decide whether hydropower is renewable

or nonrenewable. It is renewable, so 1a is the rst number to be written in the box. They follow the

directions to 2 and decide whether the source can be burned. Hydropower is not burned, so they

write the number 2b and follow the directions to the next clue, until they discover the name of the

energy source.

Extension

Have students work in pairs to design a ow chart that displays all of the information in this game,

and extra information if they desire. It may serve as a graphic study tool for later.

Energy Source Detective

Energy Source Detective is a

critical thinking activity to

reinforce understanding of

the basic characteristics of

the major energy sources.

Grade Levels

Primary, grade 2

Elementary, grades 3-4

2 Preparation

Less than 5 minutes

 Time

10 minutes

42 Energy Games and Icebreakers

1a Renewable .......................... go to 2

1b Nonrenewable .................... go to 6

2a Can be burned .................... Biomass

2b Is not burned ...................... go to 3

3a Energy from space .............. Solar

3b Energy in/on the Earth ....... go to 4

4a Inside the Earth .................. Geothermal

4b On the Earth’s surface ........ go to 5

5a Moving water ...................... Hydropower

5b Moving air ........................... Wind

6a Fossil fuel ............................ go to 7

6b Energy-rich mineral ............ Uranium

7a A gas.................................... go to 8

7b A solid or liquid .................. go to 9

8a Moved by pipeline .............. Natural Gas

8b Shipped in tanks ................. Propane

9a Mined from the Earth ........Coal

9b Pumped from the Earth ...... Petroleum

Energy Source Detective

Get Ready

Make one copy of the puzzle you choose from pages 44-45 for each student.

Distribute a copy of the puzzle to each student.

Instruct the students to color the squares in each column using the key at the top of the puzzle, then

cut apart the squares. While the students are doing this, discuss which energy sources the icons

represent, how they are used, and whether they are renewable or nonrenewable.

Explain to the students that the goal of the activity is to arrange the squares so that only one icon

and one color is in each row and column. Explain that there are several ways to solve the puzzle

and to look for patterns to help solve it. Hint: The key is to nd a pattern, such as beginning with a

diagonal row of the same color or icon.

Sample Solutions:

Energy Source Puzzle

Energy Source Puzzle is a

critical thinking activity

to reinforce renewable

and nonrenewable energy

sources.

Grade Levels

Primary, grades K-2

Elementary, grades 3-5

2 Preparation

Less than 5 minutes

 Time

15–30 minutes

Red

Blue

ellowYellow

Yellow

Blue

Red

Yellow

Green

Blue

Red

Green

Blue

Red

YellowYellow

Green

Yellow

Green

Blue

Red

Yellow

Blue

Red

Yellow

GreenGreen

44 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Blue RedYellow

Yellow Blue Red

Yellow Green Blue Red

46 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

Copy one set of the Energy in the Round cards on pages 47-49 on card stock and cut into individual

cards.

 Have a class set of the Energy Infobooks available for quick reference.

Get Set

Distribute one card to each student. If you have cards left over, give some students two cards so that

all of the cards are distributed.

Have the students look at their bolded words at the top of the cards. Give them ve minutes to

review the information about their words using the Energy Infobooks.

Choose a student to begin Round 1 and give the following instructions:

Read Question 1 on your card. The student with the correct answer will stand up and read the

bolded answer, “I have _____.”

That student will then read Question 1 on his/her card, and the round will continue until the rst

student stands up and answers a question, signaling the end of the round.

Continue the game with Rounds 2 and 3.

If there is a disagreement about the correct answer, have the students listen to the question carefully,

looking for key words (forms versus sources, for example), and discuss until a consensus is reached

about the correct answer.

Answer Key

Energy in the Round

Energy in the Round is a quick,

entertaining game to reinforce

information about energy

sources, forms of energy, and

general energy information

from the Energy Infobook.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grade 5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

5-10 minutes

 Time

10–15 minutes

Alternative Instructions

Give each student or pair a set of

cards.

Students will put the cards in

order, taping or arranging each

card so that the answer is directly

under the question.

Have students connect the cards

to t in a circle or have them

arrange them in a column.

“In the Rounds” are available on

several dierent topics. Check

out these guides for more, fun

“In the Round” examples!

Hydrogen in the Round—H

Educate

Oil and Natural Gas Industry

in the Round—Fossil Fuels to

Products, Exploring Oil and

Natural Gas

Conservation in the Round—

Monitoring and Mentoring,

Learning and Conserving

Forms of Energy in the Round—

Science of Energy guides

Uranium in the Round—Nuclear

guides

Solar Energy in the Round—

Energy from the Sun

Transportation Fuels in the

Round—Transportation guides

Solar

Energy

Sustainability

Natural Gas

Biomass

Renewable

Coal

Ethanol

Thermal Energy

Wind

Fossil fuel

Nuclear Fusion

Hydropower

Hydrogen

Electricity

Petroleum

Nonrenewable

Greenhouse

Uranium

Energy Sources

Power Plant

Geothermal

Nuclear Fission

Radiant Energy

Industry

Energy

Photosynthesis

Texas

Water Cycle

Mining

Propane

Round 1—Starting with Propane’s clue

Round 2—Starting with Propane’s clue

Round 3—Starting with Propane’s clue

Industry

Coal

Power Plant

Energy

Sustainability

Hydrogen

Wind

Mining

Nuclear Fusion

Renewable

Texas

Geothermal

Hydropower

Solar

Water Cycle

Nonrenewable

Biomass

Ethanol

Energy

Nuclear Fission

Greenhouse

Thermal Energy

Photosynthesis

Radiant Energy

Petroleum

Fossil Fuels

Natural Gas

Electricity

Uranium

Energy Sources

Propane

Mining

Greenhouse

Biomass

Fossil Fuel

Power Plant

Thermal Energy

Hydropower

Solar

Ethanol

Nuclear Fission

Wind

Electricity

Coal

Radiant Energy

Hydrogen

Energy

Petroleum

Energy Sources

Nonrenewable

Energy

Sustainability

Geothermal

Photosynthesis

Uranium

Natural Gas

Texas

Nuclear Fusion

Water Cycle

Industry

Renewable

Propane

I HAVE PROPANE.

1. Who has the energy source converted directly into

electricity using PV cells?

2. Who has the sector of the economy that uses

about 22 percent of the nation’s energy?

3. Who has the processes of surface, deep,

underground, room-and-pillar, and longwall?

I HAVE RENEWABLE.

1. Who has the energy source that generates about 33

percent of the nation’s electricity?

2. Who has the number one state for producing

natural gas?

3. Who has the gas that becomes a liquid under

moderate pressure or when cooled?

I HAVE SOLAR.

1. Who has an energy concept based on eciency

and conservation?

2. Who has the process during which precipitation

replenishes oceans, rivers, and lakes?

3. Who has the alcohol made by adding yeast to

biomass?

I HAVE COAL.

1. Who has a renewable fuel often made from corn

that is mixed with gasoline to burn cleaner?

2. Who has the item that can use many dierent fuels

to produce most of the electricity in the U.S.?

3. Who has the form of energy released by a compact

uorescent light bulb?

I HAVE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY.

1. Who has the energy source transported by more

than two million miles of underground pipeline?

2. Who has the resource that fuel cells use to

generate electricity?

3. Who has the energy source that produces

volcanoes and hot springs?

I HAVE ETHANOL.

1. Who has the internal energy of atoms and

molecules?

2. Who has something can be changed into other

forms, but cannot be created or destroyed?

3. Who has the process in which atoms are split apart,

releasing thermal energy as radiation?

I HAVE NATURAL GAS.

1. Who has the energy source that makes renewable

methane gas?

2. Who has a secondary source of energy dened as

moving electrons?

3. Who has the state that generates the most

electricity from wind?

I HAVE THERMAL ENERGY.

1. Who has the energy source caused by uneven

heating of the Earth’s surface?

2. Who has the process in which water, carbon

dioxide, and sunlight are turned into glucose and

oxygen?

3. Who has the energy source that requires the Earth’s

gravity to work?

I HAVE BIOMASS.

1. Who has the energy sources that are replenished

in a short time?

2. Who has a transportation fuel that can be made

from biomass?

3. Who has the group of nonrenewable energy

sources used most in the U.S.?

I HAVE WIND.

1. Who has a term that describes petroleum, coal,

natural gas, and propane?

2. Who has the process in which uranium and coal are

brought to the Earth’s surface?

3. Who has the item that is generated when a magnet

is spun in a coil of copper wire?

48 Energy Games and Icebreakers

I HAVE FOSSIL FUEL.

1. Who has the process in which the sun’s extremely

high pressure and hot temperature cause

hydrogen atoms to combine?

2. Who has a clean burning fossil fuel used to heat

many homes in the U.S.?

3. Who has something that uses a generator, turbine,

and transformer?

I HAVE PETROLEUM.

1. Who has the type of energy source we can’t make

more of in a short time?

2. Who has the group of sources that were formed

from plant and animal remains long ago?

3. Who has resources that are used specically to

meet energy needs?

I HAVE NUCLEAR FUSION.

1. Who has the energy source that depends on the

amount of rainfall?

2. Who has energy sources whose supplies are

readily replenished?

3. Who has the process in which water changes from

liquid to vapor and back?

I HAVE NONRENEWABLE.

1. Who has the gases that make up one percent of the

atmosphere?

2. Who has the energy source that uses sunlight in

photosynthesis to store radiant energy?

3. Who has a long-term energy plan that meets the

needs of today as well as tomorrow?

I HAVE HYDROPOWER.

1. Who has the smallest element, which is only

found on Earth combined with other elements?

2. Who has the energy source that takes eight

minutes to reach the Earth?

3. Who has the source of energy that can be

concentrated on a dish, trough, or tower to create

electricity?

I HAVE GREENHOUSE.

1. Who has the radioactive mineral used to produce

electricity in 99 reactors in the U.S.?

2. Who has the form of energy released deep within

the Earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles?

3. Who has a renewable source of energy from wood,

garbage, and agricultural waste?

I HAVE HYDROGEN.

1. Who has the secondary energy source generated

by a waste-to-energy plant?

2. Who has the energy source that produces noise

pollution but no air pollution?

3. Who has the item that makes light, heat, motion,

growth, and powering technology possible?

I HAVE URANIUM.

1. Who has the resources that can be categorized as

either renewable or nonrenewable?

2. Who has natural resources that are used to do

work?

3. Who has the energy source that consists mostly of

methane?

I HAVE ELECTRICITY.

1. Who has the energy source whose major use is for

transportation?

2. Who has the energy source that is the nation’s

third leading producer of electricity?

3. Who has the energy source that can produce acid

rain when it is burned?

I HAVE ENERGY SOURCES.

1. Who has the production facility where electricity is

generated?

2. Who has the portable energy source used in

barbecue grills and hot air balloons?

3. Who has the energy sources whose supplies are

limited?

I HAVE POWER PLANT.

1. Who has the energy source that comes from the

Earth’s core?

2. Who has the belief that every generation should

meet their energy needs without compromising

the energy needs of future generations?

3. Who has the form of energy commonly called

“heat”?

I HAVE ENERGY.

1. Who has the process green plants use to change

radiant energy into chemical energy?

2. Who has the process nuclear power plants use to

produce electricity?

3. Who has the energy source of which most is rened

into gasoline?

I HAVE GEOTHERMAL.

1. Who has the process in which an atom of uranium

is split by a neutron?

2. Who has the energy source that might disrupt sh

and wildlife when its production facility is built?

3. Who has the process used by green plants to store

the sun’s energy?

I HAVE PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

1. Who has the number one petroleum producing

state?

2. Who has the form of energy transformed by plants

into energy stored in its roots and leaves?

3. Who has the energy source whose waste products

can be stored in spent fuel pools?

I HAVE NUCLEAR FISSION.

1. Who has the form of energy that comes from the

sun?

2. Who has the eect that traps heat in the

atmosphere?

3. Who has the renewable energy source that

produces most of its electricity in Texas, Iowa, and

Oklahoma?

I HAVE TEXAS.

1. Who has the process of evaporation, condensation,

and precipitation?

2. Who has the energy source that is abundant in the

Ring of Fire in the Pacic Ocean?

3. Who has the nuclear combining process that gives

o radiant energy?

I HAVE RADIANT ENERGY.

1. Who has the sector of the economy that makes

the goods and materials we use every day?

2. Who has the energy source that the U.S. must

import from other countries like Canada and

Saudi Arabia?

3. Who has the energy carrier that may become a

signicant transportation fuel in the future?

I HAVE THE WATER CYCLE.

1. Who has the continuous process used to reach

energy sources buried underground?

2. Who has the type of energy sources in which fossil

fuels are grouped?

3. Who has the sector of the economy that uses

natural gas and propane the most?

I HAVE INDUSTRY.

1. Who has the ability to do work or make a change?

2. Who has the energy source that is transported

chiey by train?

3. Who has the type of energy source that includes

biomass, solar, geothermal, hydropower, and

wind?

I HAVE MINING.

1. Who has the energy source Dr. Walter Snelling

discovered in 1911?

2. Who has the process in which larger atoms are

made by combining smaller atoms?

3. Who has the gases that include CO

, methane, and

water vapor?

50 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

Copy one set of hang tags (school or home) on pages 51-58.

Cut the cards horizontally so the object and its description are in one strip.

Fold in half on the dotted line. For extra durability, copy on card stock and laminate.

Get a ball of yarn or string.

Use a single hole punch to make holes in the top corners of each folded card.

Lace one length of yarn or string through each and tie o creating a necklace.

Get Set

Explain that a building is an interactive system consisting of the occupants, the mechanical systems,

and the movement of heat, air, and moisture. All of these aspects relate to indoor air quality, the

cost of energy, and environmental quality. This activity will help students understand the systemic

nature of energy use and its impacts on the broader environment.

Hand out the role card hang tags and ask students to read the backs of their cards. Give students a

chance to ask any questions they have about what is written on their cards.

Have students put on their hang tags and stand in a circle.

Hand the ball of yarn to one of the students. Explain that he/she should look around the circle and

identify another component of a system that is related to his/hers.

The student should hold on to the end of the yarn, then pass or toss the ball of yarn to the identied

student, explaining how that part of the system is related. The next student repeats the process,

holding onto the yarn and passing the ball to another student with a related component of the

system.

Continue passing the yarn around until all students are holding onto the yarn. The students will

have created a web made of yarn connecting all of them.

Choose one student to give a tug on the string. Explain that this tug represents a stress of some sort

on that part of the system. For instance, the person wearing the Heating System tag might give a

tug, and you would say, “There is a malfunction in our heating system. It is not operating eciently.”

Repeat this several times with dierent students tugging on the yarn. For each tug, describe a

possible scenario for the component that is causing stress on the system.

Ask students to describe how the system is dependent on all of the components. Students should

be able to explain that a change in one part of the system can aect all other parts of the system—

sometimes in unexpected ways!

Energy Web Games

Energy Web Games help

students understand the

interactions that aect energy

use, energy costs, and indoor air

quality.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grade 5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grades 9-12

2 Preparation

10-15 minutes

 Time

20–30 minutes

Check out NEED’s other web

games that can found within the

following resources:

Liqueed Natural Gas as a

system—Exploring Oil and

Natural Gas

Climate Web—Climate Change

Guides

OFF

SCHOOL AS A SYSTEM WEB GAME

HOME AS A SYSTEM WEB GAME

School Hang tags

Lights

It’s important to have good quality lighting in a

school and enough light to complete tasks.

Lights use electricity, which costs money and can

cause pollution.

Air Conditioning

AC helps you stay cool in hot weather.

AC uses a lot of electricity, which costs money and

can cause pollution.

Is there AC anywhere in your school?

Electric Bills

Electricity costs money. Whenever you use

electrical devices or lighting, the school district is

charged.

This means there is less money available for

classroom books and supplies and other things the

district must provide.

Heat

Most areas need heat in the winter. The heat in a

school building probably comes from a boiler that

burns natural gas or oil.

It takes a lot of these fuels to heat a building. This is

very expensive for the school district.

OFF

52 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Books and Supplies

You probably don’t think about it much, but the

materials you use in class cost money.

The more money spent on energy, the less money

there is to get the materials you need to help you

learn.

Weather

The weather greatly aects energy use.

The colder it is outside, the more it costs to heat the

building. The hotter it is, the more it costs to run the

AC.

Students

When you are comfortable, you learn better.

Schools need to heat and cool buildings to maintain

comfortable temperatures, which costs money.

Students can do a lot to save energy around the

school. Can you think of some ways?

Oil and Natural Gas

Prices

The boiler that heats your school probably runs

on oil or natural gas. When the cost of these fuels

increases, it costs more to heat the building. The

cost of these fuels usually rises during winter

months.

SCHOOL HANG TAGS

Indoor Air Quality

Clean air in a school is important for students to be

healthy and comfortable. Your building has a system

that brings in fresh air.

This system uses a lot of energy, which costs money.

The more students there are in a building, the harder

these systems must work.

District Budget

The school district has a limited amount of money it

can spend each year.

The less money it spends on energy, the more it

can spend on classroom supplies and hiring more

teachers.

Heating Bills

Heating a building costs money. The more heat used,

the more the school district has to pay.

This means there is less money available for classroom

books and supplies and other things the district must

provide.

Hot Water

Heating water costs money. Your school probably

uses natural gas or oil to heat water. The more hot

water used, the more the school district has to pay.

This means there is less money available for classroom

books and supplies and other things the district must

provide.

SCHOOL HANG TAGS

54 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Air Pollution/

Global Warming

Every time the heating system is operating in your

building, the boiler is releasing emissions that can

pollute the air. The electricity used in the building

comes from a power plant, which can also add

pollution to the air.

Many of these emissions can contribute to global

warming.

Computers

Computers use electricity that costs money. If you

leave computers on when they’re not in use, it

wastes energy.

Computers also cost a lot of money to buy. The

more your district has to pay for energy, the less

money there is to buy computers.

Teachers

Teachers are more eective when the building is at a

comfortable temperature. Buildings must be heated

in cold months, which costs money.

Teachers can do a lot to save energy around the

school. Can you think of some ways?

Comfort

Your comfort is important. You need heat in the

winter. You need good lighting and clean air in your

school.

All of these use energy, which the school district has

to pay for.

SCHOOL HANG TAGS

Home Hang tags

Lights

It’s important to have good quality lighting at home

and enough light to accomplish tasks.

Lights use electricity, which costs money and can

cause pollution.

Air Conditioning

AC helps you stay cool in hot weather. AC also

removes moisture from your home, which helps

you be more comfortable when the air is humid.

In humid climates, drier air is also better for your

health in the summertime.

AC uses a lot of electricity, which costs money and

can cause pollution.

Electric Bills

Electricity costs money. Whenever you use electrical

appliances or lighting, your parents are charged for

it.

This means there is less money available for other

things your family needs and wants.

Insulation

Insulation helps keep your house warm in winter

and cool in summer. If your house is well insulated,

the heating and AC systems don’t have to work as

hard.

Good insulation saves money on heating and

cooling costs and can reduce air pollution.

OFF

56 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Clean Air

You need clean air to be comfortable and healthy.

If too much air ows through your home, however,

it removes heat, making the heating system work

harder.

Sealing your home too tightly, on the other hand, can

trap moisture, causing health problems.

Weather

The weather greatly aects energy use.

The colder it is outside, the more it costs to heat a

home. The hotter it is, the more it costs to keep it

cool.

People

You want to be comfortable in your home. That

means you need heat in the winter, which costs

money.

One way that people aect indoor air quality is by

adding moisture to the air through their activities.

Oil and Natural Gas

Prices

Most homes are heated by a furnace that burns oil or

natural gas.

When the cost of these fuels increases, it costs more

to heat your home. The cost of these fuels usually

rises during winter months.

HOME HANG TAGS

Moisture

Too much moisture in a home can lead to mold

growth, which can cause health problems. Too little

moisture in the air can cause health problems, too.

How does moisture get into your home? How does

it get into the air?

Household Budget

Your family has a limited amount of money it can

spend each month.

The less money your family spends on energy, the

more you can spend on other things that you need

and want.

Heating Bills

Heating your home uses a lot of energy and costs

money. The more heat you use, the more your

parents must pay.

This means there is less money available for other

things you need and want.

Hot Water

Heating water uses energy and costs money. Most

homes use electricity or burn natural gas or oil to

heat water.

The more hot water you use, the more your parents

have to pay. This means less money is available for

other things you need and want.

HOME HANG TAGS

58 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Air Pollution/

Global Warming

When you heat your home, the furnace is releasing

emissions that can pollute the air. The electricity you

use comes from a power plant, which may also add

pollution to the air.

Many of these emissions can contribute to global

warming.

Heating System

The colder it is outside, the more fuel your heating

system uses.

Insulation in the walls and attic can reduce the

amount of heat your home needs, saving energy

and money, and reducing pollution.

Electrical Appliances

Refrigerators, TVs, and other appliances use

electricity, which costs money. If you leave

appliances on when they’re not being used, that

wastes energy. Appliances also add heat to a home.

In the summer, that means the AC has to work

harder, using more energy.

Comfort

Comfort is important. You need heat in the winter.

You need good lighting and clean air in your home.

All of these use energy, which your parents have to

pay for.

HOME HANG TAGS

We are NEED energy students,

Saving energy is our plan,

We save energy for our future,

Saving energy throughout the land.

Hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, and biomass,

Coal and petroleum, uranium, propane,

the clean burning ame of natural gas.

Energy sources light our future,

Saving energy takes all hands,

Working together, conserving forever,

Saving energy throughout the land.

The 14 Easy Steps

Find a partner and place your palms together (thumbs up) in front of you. Face your partner.

1. Slap your hands back and forth (keeping palms together).

2. Slap hands back and forth once with the backs of your hands landing together and stop.

3. Take your right hand away from the left and clap once.

4. Clap once with your right hand and your partner’s hand above your left hands.

5. Clap your hands together once as in number 3.

6. Grab your partner’s right hand with your right hand below your left hands.

7. Take your left hand below your right hand and grab your partner’s other hand.

8. Take your right hand and slap your right hip twice.

9. Move that hand above your other two, shaking hands, and slap your partner’s hand once back and forth.

10. Grab your partner’s hand and hold together with thumbs up.

11. Hit the top of your hand once.

12. Hit the top of your hand again.

13. Repeat steps 1-12.

14. Have FUN!

The NEED Clap

DEVELOPED BY LINDA HUTTON AND THE NEED STUDENTS IN KITTY HAWK, NC

60 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Get Ready

Construct a 3-D energy collage or scene. The collage can use markers, paper, streamers, cotton balls,

paper bags, toys, etc. Incorporate as much or as little of a challenge as you’d like.

Gather materials for students to use to recreate your collage. Be sure to include the materials you

used in the original, plus some others of varied colors, textures, etc. Create art stations with materials

for students to recreate the original.

Set up the collage in a part of the room where it will be hidden, in the hallway, or in a separate room

as space and supervision allow.

Set a boundary line with masking tape between the collage and the area where artwork will occur.

The boundary should be placed so that runners may not see the collage as they approach its hidden

location.

Make a set of name tags for each student group that include “SEE”, “RUN”, “DO.”

Secure an impartial judge for the nal work, if necessary.

Get Set

Place students in groups of 3-5.

Explain to the groups that they will each assume a role. One person from each group will be a “See-

er”, one person will be a “Runner”, and the remaining student(s) will assume the role of “Do-er”. Ask

students to choose their roles and wear a name tag for their chosen role.

Ask the “Do-ers” to pick their home base area where they will assemble their collages, Show the

“Runners” and “See-ers” the boundary lines that they may not cross. Take the “See-ers” to the

sheltered collage area where the original is placed.

Explain the goal and rules for the game by reading the following: Each group will work together

to re-create the collage or scene that is hidden. The only person who can look at it, however, is the

person who has chosen to be the See-er. The See-er. will stay by the collage and observe it. See-ers

will meet the Runners at the boundary line and share information about what they see and how to

recreate what they see. The Runners will return to the home base to communicate instructions to

the Do-ers. Do-ers will remain at home base, using the art supplies provided to recreate the original

based on their instructions. Runners can go back and forth as many times as they need in the time

allotted to ask questions and take instructions from the See-ers.

 After the allotted time, bring together all of the recreated collages and post on the wall for all to see.

Have the class discuss the dierences, accuracies, and inaccuracies about each version. The class can

vote on the most accurate recreation, or an impartial judge can do the voting. Award groups prizes

if you desire.

See, Run, Do

See, Run, Do is a wonderful

icebreaker and team building

activity that tests students’

communication skills

and creativity. It makes a

wonderful activity to use as

an introduction to a topic

or unit, and can be used

in the classroom, during

multidisciplinary lessons, and

even during adult workshops

or conferences. See, Run, Do

is very easy to implement

with all ages by adjusting the

complexity of the collage.

Grade Levels

K-12

2 Preparation

10-30 minutes, depending on

the collage

 Time

45 – 60 minutes

Get Ready

Gather supplies needed for the game. Each group will need the following:

50 M&Ms candies or similar

3 jelly beans

2 plastic bowls

Plastic straws

A small plastic cup

Put the M&Ms candies into bowls for each group. Set up stations so that each group will have each

of the materials listed above, exept the jelly beans. The jelly beans will be passed out later.

Get Set

Divide the students into groups of 2-4. Place a group at each station with the materials.

Explain to the students that the candy in the bowl will represent energy. The empty bowl is their

discard bowl.

Tell students that during the game they will transfer candy from the full bowl to the plastic cup

to “consume energy.” However, they may only use the straws to transfer the energy – NO hands

allowed!

Make sure students know they must wait to eat the candy until the end of the game.

Part 1: NONRENEWABLES

Set a timer for 15 seconds.

Tell groups that when the time starts, they will need to provide energy for their town. They must use

their straw to provide suction to extract energy from the full bowl. They must transfer this energy

into the cup. They may transfer as many candies as they can before the year ends, but they may not

use their hands at all – not even to hold the straw! A year will last 15 seconds.

After 15 seconds, have students count how many candies made it into their cups during the “year.”

Ask students to keep a tally of how much they extracted and how much remains.

Place any candy in the cup into the extra discard bowl.

Extract energy for 3 more “years,” following the steps above. Ask students how much energy remains

in their bowl (if any). Ask them to predict how many years their energy sources would last.

Part 2: NONRENEWABLES AND RENEWABLES

Tell students to place ALL candies back into one bowl. Add three jelly beans to each group’s bowl.

Explain to students that as time went on their town has become better able to predict how much

energy it needs. Explain to them that they will still transfer candy, but each year are only required to

get 2 pieces of candy per person.

Set the timer for 15 seconds. Remind students they may only use their suction – NO HANDS!

Allow students to extract their energy for 15 seconds, transferring 2 candies per person into the

cup. Ask students if all groups met their energy needs of 2 candies per person? How many candies

remain in their original bowl?

Candy Collector

Candy Collector is a fun game

to introduce students to

the terms “renewable” and

“nonrenewable”. Students

will get a closer look at

how long energy sources

will last when using only

nonrenewable sources,

and when incorporating

renewable sources of energy.

Grade Levels

Elementary, grades 3-5

Intermediate, grades 6-8

Secondary, grade 9

2 Preparation

5-10 minutes

 Time

30-45 minutes

62 Energy Games and Icebreakers

Ask groups to discard ONLY the M&Ms from their cup into the discard bowl. The jelly beans represent renewable resources and may be

placed back into the original full bowl to be gathered for future years!

Complete three more 15-second “years”, each time discarding the M&Ms and returning the jelly beans. Ask students if their energy candy

will last longer knowing they can reuse the jelly beans? How many “years” might their candy last?

Explain to the class the denitions of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Ask the class which candies represent renewable

energy sources, and which candies represent the nonrenewable energy sources. Discuss as a class how this game is similar and dierent

to using energy sources in the real world.

Extensions

Have students graph their results on a class spreadsheet for each round. Groups can use the graphs to compare and discuss strategies,

successes, and challenges experienced by each group, and create mathematical models to predict how long each candy will last.

Adjust the numbers of candies for each round and the time in a year to suit the coordination of your students.

Play another round where certain bowls have dierent numbers of candies of both types. Ask students to describe how this situation

might be more similar to the real world.

Energy Games and Icebreakers

Evaluation Form

State: ___________ Grade Level: ___________ Number of Students: __________

1. Did you conduct all of the activities? If no, specify which ones below.  Yes  No

2. Were the instructions clear and easy to follow?  Yes  No

3. Did the activities meet your academic objectives?  Yes  No

4. Were the activities age appropriate?  Yes  No

5. Were the allotted times sucient to conduct the activities?  Yes  No

6. Were the activities easy to use?  Yes  No

7. Was the preparation required acceptable for the activities?  Yes  No

8. Were the students interested and motivated?  Yes  No

9. Was the energy knowledge content age appropriate?  Yes  No

10. Would you teach these activities again?  Yes  No

Please explain any ‘no’ statement below.

How would you rate the activities overall?  excellent  good  fair  poor

How would your students rate the activities overall?  excellent  good  fair  poor

What would make the activities more useful to you?

Other Comments:

Please fax or mail to: The NEED Project

8408 Kao Circle

Manassas, VA 20110

FAX: 1-800-847-1820

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