Lesson Overview

This activity helps K-2 students become aware of the things they use every day that consume energy by identifying whether cut-out pictures of objects use energy or not. They then use those pictures to create a collage. Once their art project is complete, they can discuss their pictures with the class and come up with ways to reduce their energy use.

Target Grades: K-2

Set Up Time: 5 minutes

Class Time: 45 minutes

Lesson Resources

Objectives

1. Define phantom load. 

2. Identify items that have a phantom load.

Guiding question: What are phantom loads?

Educational Standards

ALASKA ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS STANDARDS: K/1 W.T.T. 1.2; K/1/2 SL.CC.4,5; K/1/2 SL.PK.4,5;K/1/2 SL.PK.6

ALASKA CULTURAL STANDARDS: B4

NGSS: K-2 ETS1-1

ENERGY LITERACY CONCEPTS: 1.5

Lesson preparation:
  • Read the Background section below
  • Review the PowerPoint Presentation
Materials:
  • Phantom Load PowerPoint presentation (download from “Lesson Resources” drop down above)
  • One copy of the Phantom Load drawing sheet per student (or one piece of blank paper for drawing per student)
  • Crayons, or colored pencils for students to draw
  • Extension activity: One or more electricity monitors

A phantom load refers to electricity that is consumed by an appliance even when it is turned off.  How does this happen?  Many devices go into “standby mode” rather than actually powering off.  These phantoms are all around us, in our homes, classrooms, and other buildings: TVs, DVD players, computers, cell phones and iPod chargers, toasters, and audio equipment, to name some of the most common phantoms. Many of these devices have “stand-by LEDs” that remain lit even when the appliance power switch is in the “off“ position, or a receiver that is using electricity to look for a command from a remote. Nationally, approximately 5% of energy use goes to power phantom loads. 

By unplugging these devices at night or when not in use, you can conserve energy and save money on your next electric bill. If several of these devices are near each other (such as TV, DVD player, and game console), you could plug them into a power strip and switch the power strip off when not in use. This will cut off the power supply to these devices without having to unplug all of them individually.

Appliance – Something at home or school (such as a TV, computer, or refrigerator) that uses electricity to work. 

Electricity– A form of energy which is comprised of moving negatively-charged electrons.  It occurs naturally as lightning.

Electricity monitor – A machine that measures and displays how much electricity an appliance uses, for example a Kill-a-Watt meter.

Phantom load – Electricity used by an appliance while it is turned off or in standby mode.

Gear Up:
  • If time permits, do the “Energy Collage” AK EnergySmart lesson first for an introduction to everyday which  use electricity and other types of energy. If you do this, start the next activity off by asking students if they remember examples of things which use electricity.
  • Start by telling students that there are phantoms all around them! Some appliances and electronics around the home and classroom use “phantom loads” and suck up energy even when turned off. These phantoms “steal” electricity, driving up electric bills and wasting energy.
Activity
  • Go through the Phantom Load PowerPoint presentation with students to review electricity, and introduce the concept of phantom loads.
  • Explain to students that they can act as detectives to track down these phantoms in the classroom and at home. List some of these phantom load devices (TVs, DVD players, computers, cell phone and iPad chargers, coffee makers, speakers, etc.). Ask students to point to various locations around the classroom where these phantoms exist.
  • Tell students to pick a phantom load in the classroom and draw a picture of it and write a sentence to explaining how to banish the phantom. Students can do their drawings on a blank piece of paper, or the included drawing sheet.
  • Have students identify critical appliances that need energy and should always stay plugged in (e.g. landline phones, smoke detectors, refrigerators). Why is it important to have energy for certain things?
  • Wrap Up: 
    • Ask students if there was anything that surprised them that has a phantom load.
    • Have students share their drawings with the class.
Extension
  • Electricity monitor activity: 
    • Start by asking “Which item do you think uses the most phantom energy? Which item do you think uses the least?” Record their answers somewhere you can refer back to later.
    • Use a Kill-A-Watt meter or other electricity monitor to measure electricity consumption for one or more of the phantom load devices in the classroom for a week.
    • At the end of the week, record how much energy the phantom load has eaten up.
    • As a class, brainstorm ways to reduce the phantom load and pick one to implement and “banish a phantom” (unplug at night/when not in use, or use a power strip that is turned off when not in use). 
    • Measure the new energy use and compare the amount of electricity used by the device during week one to the amount of energy used during week two. Compare to
    • Explain how the chosen energy saving method can reduce costs and help conserve energy. With more advanced students, you can discuss sources of energy and how reducing energy use can reduce fossil fuel use. 
  • Have students make their own reminder posters to turn appliances off and unplug when possible.
  • Have students create a map of the locations and source of phantom loads in their homes. Students can walk around their house at night in the dark and count the number of LEDs that are lit. Or, they can touch various appliances with their palm when the appliances are turned off. If they are warm, they are probably a phantom load device. 
Evaluation
  • As an exit ticket, ask students to explain “phantom load” in their own words.