Energy Sparks Activities

Each school's energy-saving journey will evolve in a different way. But a well-designed energy-saving plan will involve a balance of activities from each of the following categories.

Choose a category below to explore the list of recommended activities. More detail is provided about each activity to help you complete it.

Completing activities will allow you to score points and earn awards.

The figure in the green square is the number of points each activity is worth, 10 points for example: 10

Choose a category below to explore the list of recommended activities. More detail and resources are provided for each activity to help you complete it. Activities are currently filtered by the curriculum stage of your school. You can change this if you wish to explore the activities available for older and younger pupils.

5 Pupils carry out a spot check to see if lights or IT are left on after school (KS1, KS2)

5 Pupils monitor whether outside doors and windows are closed during cold weather (KS1, KS2)

5 Pupils carry out a spot check of classroom temperatures (KS1, KS2)

5 Pupils monitor whether adults and pupils are wearing warmer clothes inside the school building during winter (KS1, KS2)

5 Pupils carry out a spot check to see if lights or electrical items are left on at lunch time (KS1, KS2)

5 Other (please specify) (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils install appliance monitors to understand the energy use of individual appliances (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils review school heating timings (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils investigate the school's thermostats (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils investigate whether the the school's heating and hot water is switched off during the school holidays (KS1, KS2)

10 Collect data on key times in the school day when energy use changes (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils compare energy use for heating with outside temperature data (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils investigate how the school's hot water is heated (KS1, KS2, KS3)

20 Pupils investigate how much energy their families use at home (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Pupils carry out a programme of monitoring light levels in classrooms (KS3)

30 Pupils carry out an energy audit in the school kitchens (KS3)

30 Pupils carry out an energy audit in the school science labs and design technology workshops (KS3)

30 Pupils design and carry out an experiment to monitor the variation in classroom temperature across a 7 day period (KS3)

30 Pupils carry out a programme of monitoring whether electrical appliances and lights are left on or on standby after school. (KS3)

5 Pupils review energy usage charts (KS1, KS2, KS3)

5 Other (please specify) (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils use energy data during maths lessons (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils learn about saving energy in the kitchen in Food Technology (KS3)

10 Pupils learn about units of energy and understanding energy bills (KS3)

10 Pupils learn about Smart meters and their benefits for saving energy (KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils learn about solar thermal heating, solar furnaces and solar ovens (KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils learn about renewable sources of energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils learn about ways of saving energy (eg insulation) (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils learn about appliances that use energy at home and school (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils learn where energy comes from and its impact on the environment (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Pupils learn how solar PV panels work and how to increase their efficiency (KS3)

5 Other (please specify) (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils meet with the office staff to discuss their role in saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Do a creative activity themed around energy saving (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils share their ideas about saving energy with parents and the local community (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils or staff run an assembly about saving energy (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils meet with the caretaker or site manager to discuss their role in saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils meet the Business Manager to discuss the school's energy usage and bills (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils meet with the headteacher and school governors to discuss introducing an energy policy (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils communicate with lunchtime supervisors and cleaning staff about saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Pupils meet with kitchen staff to discuss their role in saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)

20 The school has a prominent display showing up-to-date information about saving energy (KS1, KS2)

20 The school appoints a team of adults and pupils to lead on energy efficiency (eg Energy Team) (KS1, KS2, KS3)

5 Lights and appliances are labelled to show which should be left on or turned off (KS1, KS2)

5 Other (please specify) (KS1, KS2, KS3)

5 Thermometers are put in each classroom to monitor room temperature (KS1, KS2)

5 Pupil energy monitors are appointed in all classes (KS1, KS2)

5 Pupils make draught proofing equipment (KS1, KS2)

20 Pupils talk to the caretaker about turning off the heating and hot water in the school holidays (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Pupils carry out a campaign to inform staff and pupils about the importance of classroom layout to keep the heating running efficiently (KS2, KS3)

30 Staff implement measures from their energy survey (all B&NES schools have a survey) (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Pupils run a campaign to close doors and windows when the heating is on (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Pupils run a campaign to switch off electrical equipment overnight (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Pupils run a campaign to switch off lights and use natural light on sunny days (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Staff check boiler controls are optimal (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Pupils ask the caretaker or site manager to turn the school heating down by 1°C (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 Staff improve efficiency of school lighting (KS1, KS2, KS3)

50 Staff and governors improve insulation (KS1, KS2, KS3)

50 Pupils run a campaign to promote sustainable and energy saving travel to school (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Other (please specify) (KS1, KS2)

10 The school introduces a system to reward classes or departments for energy efficiency (KS1, KS2, KS3)

20 Teachers discuss energy efficiency in a staff meeting (KS1, KS2, KS3)

20 Governors discuss energy efficiency in Governors' meeting (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 The school holds a themed event focusing on energy use (KS1, KS2)

30 The school introduces a policy on classroom temperature (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 The school introduces a policy on reducing energy and resource use from printing and photocopying. (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 The school introduces a policy on closing external doors and windows when the heating is on (KS1, KS2, KS3)

30 The school introduces a policy on switching off lights and IT (KS1, KS2, KS3)

50 The school runs a longer term switch-off campaign at school (eg Switch Off Fortnight) (KS1, KS2, KS3)