Sustainable Use of Electricity
Save energy, reduce emissions, and learn how your habits matter.
In this interactive workshop, participants assess how electricity is used in their daily lives and learn how to reduce unnecessary consumption. The activity encourages generational dialogue on past vs. present habits and empowers students and families to make practical changes at home.
How to use this workshop
Each workshop is designed to be flexible. You’ll find multiple activities and exercises within each section: Simply mix and match the ones that best suit your class’s needs, age group, and available time. This allows you to create a personalised, engaging learning experience while staying within your preferred timeframe.
Workshop Overview
Learning Objectives
Recognise common myths about electricity and energy productio
Understand how everyday habits influence household energy consumption
Reflect on renewable and non-renewable energy sources
Engage family members in discussions about energy use at home
Develop critical thinking about sustainability and environmental impact
Duration
Flexible, 90 minutes recommended
Materials
Presentation slides with “Common Myths About Energy”
Printed myth statements (True or False cards)
Flipchart or whiteboard
Markers
Reflection worksheet
Projector and computer
Optional materials:
- Energy consumption examples (real bills or mock data)
- Online quiz tools
All relevant materials can be found in the Tools & Materials section.
Electricity is part of our everyday life, but how much do we really know about how it works and how we use it?
Many common beliefs about energy are actually myths. In this workshop, students explore frequent misunderstandings about electricity and renewable energy, reflect on their own habits at home, and engage in intergenerational dialogue to promote more sustainable energy behaviour in their households.
Within each section, you will find a core activity. Select and combine the sections that best match your class’s needs, age group, and available time. This approach allows you to plan and deliver a tailored learning experience while staying within your intended timeframe
| Activity description | Duration | Materials |
|---|---|---|
Energy Myths Icebreaker Divide participants into small groups. Provide each group with common energy myths (e.g., “Leaving devices plugged in consumes no energy”). Groups discuss whether the myth is true or false, and the facilitator reveals the answers with explanations. Ask these questions to get into the topic with the students: | 10 Minutes | Printed or digital list of energy myths and slides for explanations, IL4SH materials (eBook) For introduction, read the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development |
Life without Electricity Show the video: “How Much Energy Does My Home Use?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JOMuVjVbiY ). Facilitate a quick Q&A: “What’s one surprising fact you learned from the video?” Guiding questions: | 10 Minutes | Laptop, projector or screen and internet connection Additional resources: |
| Activity description | Duration | Materials |
|---|---|---|
Where does our electricity come from? Interactive Quiz Game: Use tools like Kahoot or Mentimeter to create a quiz on sustainable energy practices (e.g., how to reduce electricity use, energy-efficient appliances, using LED lights). Guiding questions: | 15 Minutes | A device (computer/tablet) with Kahoot or Mentimeter set up, participants’ phones/tablets. Additional links: |
Energy Habit Challenge Group Analysis: Provide participants with information sheets about different appliances and their energy consumption (e.g., LED bulbs vs. incandescent, energy-efficient fridges). Groups discuss which options they would choose and why. Facilitate a group discussion about the importance of informed decisions. You can help them understand the topic by asking following questions: | 15 Minutes | Printed or digital information sheets about energy-efficient appliances, comparison charts. |
Smart Energy Choices Show the video: “How to Reduce Your Energy Consumption at Home” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGfXfCyvZoM). Afterwards, participants write down one tip they plan to adopt and share it with the group.
| 10 Minutes | Laptop, projector or screen, sticky notes or cards, pens/markers, and a board or wall space for sharing tips. Optional but strong if you want one more resource: |
| Activity description | Duration | Materials |
|---|---|---|
Save Energy at Home Role-Play Scenarios: Sustainable Appliance Choices: In this activity, participants are given different scenarios about the choice of appliances or energy use in certain situations (e.g. ‘You have to decide between buying an efficient microwave or a traditional oven; which option do you choose and why?) Participants role-play the dilemma and have to present their justification for the decision based on sustainability and energy savings. Afterwards, the group gives feedback on the decisions made. Additional Questions: | 20 minutes | Scenario cards with different energy consumption decisions and choice of props (small toy electrical appliances or pictures of electrical appliances) |
Choose the Efficient Option Show the video: “My Energy-Saving Routine // Tips for Using Less Power at Home!” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF58m2vFfI0). Discuss how participants can build their own sustainable energy routines at home | 15 Minutes | Laptop, projector or screen, internet connection Optional: Tips for saving energy at home |
| Activity description | Duration | Materials |
|---|---|---|
Building Energy Smart Habits Design Your Routine: Participants create a visual action plan for their own sustainable energy use routine using worksheets. They can include steps like appliance usage, unplugging devices, or using natural light. | 15 Minutes | Printed worksheets, colored markers or pens, sample templates for inspiration, and optional stickers for creativity. |
My Personal Energy Plan Energy Consumption Audit: Divide participants into groups and assign a common space (e.g. an office, home, or business) that each group must audit. The groups will have to analyse the energy use habits of the space, identify areas of high demand (e.g. unnecessary use of lights, inefficient appliances, etc.), and create a detailed plan to reduce energy consumption. Each group should present their audit and suggest actions to improve energy efficiency. Closing question: | 20 – 30 Minutes | Energy consumption audit sheets, action plan templates, markers and note-taking sheets. You can reuse: Tips for saving energy at home |
| Activity description | Duration | Materials |
|---|---|---|
Energy Detectives Energy Tree of Change: Put up a large poster in the shape of a tree (or use a digital version if it is an online workshop). Participants write their commitments and feedback on sheets of paper in the shape of leaves. They then stick the leaves on the tree to form their ‘Tree of Change’. At the end, the facilitator reads out some of the leaves, highlighting the most inspiring commitments. | 15 Minutes | Large paper in the shape of a tree (or an interactive digital version such as Padlet), sheets of paper in the shape of leaves (or another fun shape), markers or pens. |
Close the workshop with a guided group conversation that helps students connect knowledge with action. Invite them to speak openly and reflect not only on facts, but also on their own habits and responsibilities.
You may begin with questions such as:
- What surprised you the most about electricity use or energy sources?
- Did anything change in the way you think about your home energy habits?
- Which activity made you reflect the most?
Encourage them to move from awareness to action:
- What is one concrete change you can apply this week at home?
- What small habit could make a big difference over time?
- How can we reduce electricity use as a class or as a school?
If time allows, write their ideas on the board and group them into “home actions” and “school actions.” This helps students see that sustainability is both a personal and collective responsibility. End by reinforcing the idea that responsible energy use is not about giving up comfort, but about making smarter, more conscious choices.
Assign a small project or activity for students to do at home. Examples:
- Ask students to observe their household’s electricity use for one week. They can list the most frequently used appliances and identify at least two habits they could improve.
- Invite them to talk with a parent or grandparent about how electricity use has changed over the years. What did people do differently in the past?
- Encourage students to create a simple “Family Energy Plan” with 3 realistic commitments, such as turning off standby devices, reducing air conditioning time, or using natural light more often.
- As a class, design a small awareness poster or campaign for the school promoting responsible electricity use.
Use concrete, everyday examples such as leaving lights on, charging devices overnight, or using air conditioning for long hours. Students relate much more when they recognise their own habits.
Bring a real electricity bill (with sensitive data removed) so students can see actual numbers, tariffs and consumption patterns. This makes the topic less abstract.
Encourage open discussion rather than only giving explanations. Ask students what appliances they think consume the most energy before revealing the answers.
Invite students to share what their parents or grandparents say about saving electricity. Older generations often have different habits, which enriches the intergenerational learning aspect.
Keep the tone empowering, not blaming. Focus on what can be improved rather than criticising current behaviour.
→ See also the tool collection for other materials.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/search/resources/?q=energy&page[number]=1&page[size]=25
https://www.iea.org/energy-system/electricity
https://www.iea.org/energy-system/energy-efficiency-and-demand
https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency_en
https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-are-the-challenges-of-nuclear-power-m-v-ramana-and-sajan-saini
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-does-the-world-s-largest-machine-do-henry-richardson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kUE0BZtTRc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc979OhitAg