Conservation New

Untangle holiday lights

Unscramble the tangled lights and have fun solving the riddle.

French included

Grade

4-7

Duration

30 mins

Type

Hands on

Overview

Students test their knowledge on how to conserve energy and stay safe during the winter season. Solve a riddle to unscramble the tangled holiday lights.

Instructions

What you'll need

“Untangle the lights” student handout, print one copy per student
“Untangle the lights” teacher answer key

Start by asking students what they love about winter like keeping cozy indoors, playing in the snow, hot drinks, holiday celebrations and lights.
Share that in winter we use more electricity for things like powering lights, heating homes, and making hot chocolate. Ask students if they know how we make electricity in B.C. We use the power of falling water to make electricity, which is clean, renewable energy. Discuss why it’s important to conserve electricity and water. Students may share that conservation helps minimize the environmental impact, protects all living things who need water and habitat to survive and saves money on our energy bill.
Provide each student with a copy of the “Untangle the lights” student handout.
Have students follow the instructions by answering the questions and writing the letter in the box in one of the tangled light bulbs.
After answering the questions students untangle the lights by answering the riddle: I fall from the sky, far more beautiful than rain. There are no two pieces that ever look the same. What am I?
- Answer (English) Snowflakes
- Answer (French): Les Flocons
- Reference the answer key to reveal all the answers to the questions.
Once students have completed the worksheet, lead a class discussion about ways to conserve energy and stay safe during the winter season.

Modify or extend this activity

Ask students to make a pledge to conserve energy during the winter break. Each student could commit to three energy saving ideas, write or draw them and take them home to place somewhere visible to remind them.

Curriculum Fit

Core Competencies

Communicating

Connecting and engaging with others

Critical thinking

Questioning and investigating
Designing and developing

Social awareness and responsibility

Building relationships
Resolving problems

The activities also connect to a variety of grade-specific curricular competencies and content in a variety of subjects including Science, Social Studies, and Arts Education.

Teaching Notes

During the colder months, energy use generally increases as people heat their homes, use outdoor holiday lights, and use more hot water. This can lead to higher energy bills, along with the environmental impacts of using more energy. Students can help to conserve energy in their homes with different energy saving tips, and encourage their household members to participate as well.

For holiday lights, energy-efficient LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent lights, and can last up to 10 times longer, and using a timer to shut them off at a certain time reduces wasted electricity. Many electronics, such as computers, gaming consoles, even lights, draw power even when they are turned off, so unplugging is the only way to eliminate the energy use. Another tip is to lower the thermostat and use other methods of warming, such as warm clothing, blankets, closing curtains and reducing drafts. Hanging clothes to dry and washing clothes in cold water saves energy, as well as taking short showers and using a low-flow showerhead.

For more energy saving tips, visit Power smart.