How Much Electricity Did You Use Today?

Australian Curriculum content descriptions:

Year 5 Mathematics:

• Pose questions and collect categorical or numerical data by observation or survey (ACMSP118)
• Describe and interpret different data sets in context (ACMSP120)

Year 5 Science:

• Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples’ lives (ACSHE083)

Year 6 Mathematics:

• Interpret and compare a range of data displays, including side-by-side column graphs for two categorical variables (ACMSP147)

Year 6 Science:

• Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity (ACSHE100)
• Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples’ lives (ACSHE100)

Syllabus Outcomes: SC4-7WS, MA3-18SP, MA3‑1WM, MA3‑3WM

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Personal and social capability

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.7., OI.8

Relevant parts of Year 5 Mathematics achievement standards: Students pose questions to gather data, construct data displays appropriate for the data, and interpret different data sets.

Relevant parts of Year 5 Science achievement standards: Students discuss how scientific developments help us solve problems

Relevant parts of Year 6 Mathematics achievement standards: Students interpret and compare a variety of data displays

Relevant parts of Year 6 Science achievement standards: Students explain how scientific knowledge helps us to solve problems and inform decisions.

Time required: This activity can be set as homework or set over the period of one whole day

Level of teacher scaffolding: Assist students in analysing their energy usage and participate in the activity if you are really keen! Engage students in a discussion around the result

• Student Worksheet – one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet.
• One home electricity bill

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Creativity
• Collaboration
• Digital literacy
• Communication

This is an original Cool.org lesson. Facts and figures in these lessons may have changed since this lesson was published. We always endeavour to update our resources in a timely manner, but if you see an error or issue in our resources please get in touch with us.