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.
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 Measure classroom temperatures (KS1, KS2)
5 Monitor whether outside doors and windows are closed during cold weather (KS1, KS2)
10 Review school heating timings (KS1, KS2, KS3)
10 Investigate how the school's hot water is heated (KS1, KS2, KS3)
10 Investigate the school's thermostats (KS1, KS2)
10 Find out when your school's energy use changes (KS1, KS2)
10 Analyse your school's gas use (KS2, KS3, KS4)
10 Analyse your school's electricity use (KS2, KS3, KS4)
10 Analyse your school's solar data (KS2, KS3)
10 Use appliance monitors to understand the energy use of individual appliances (KS1, KS2, KS3)
20 Investigate how much energy families use at home (KS1, KS2, KS3)
30 Energy audit of the school science labs and design technology workshops (KS3)
30 Monitor light levels in classrooms (KS3)
30 Energy audit of the school kitchens (KS3, KS4)
30 Monitor whether electrical appliances and lights are left on or on standby after school. (KS3)
5 Review the Energy Sparks energy usage charts for your school (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
10 Units of energy and understanding energy bills (KS3)
10 Learn about appliances that use energy at home and school (KS1, KS2)
10 Save energy in the kitchen in Food Technology (KS3)
10 Understanding how our diet affects the climate (KS1, KS2, KS3)
10 How insulation saves energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)
10 Learn about water power (KS1, KS2)
10 Smart meters and their benefits for saving energy (KS2, KS3)
10 Understand how our carbon emissions cause global warming and the Greenhouse Effect (KS1, KS2, KS3)
10 Learn about where energy comes from and its impact on the environment (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)
10 Renewable sources of energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)
10 Use energy data during maths lessons (KS2)
10 Making sense of our school's carbon footprint (KS2, KS3, KS4)
10 Solar thermal heating, solar furnaces and solar ovens (KS2, KS3)
30 Solar PV panels and how to increase their efficiency (KS3)
10 Run an assembly about saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
10 Share the energy saving message with parents and the local community (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
10 Pupils share their energy saving work with a wider audience (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
10 Do a creative activity themed around energy saving (KS1, KS2)
10 Pupils meet with the office staff to discuss their role in saving energy (KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
10 Pupils meet with kitchen staff to discuss their role in saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
10 Pupils meet the Business Manager to discuss the school's energy usage and bills (KS1, KS2, KS3)
10 Pupils communicate with lunchtime supervisors and cleaning staff about saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3)
20 Set up an Energy or Eco team to lead on energy efficiency at your school (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)
20 Create an energy saving display (KS1, KS2)
30 Create a promotional video to get pupils and staff to save energy (KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
5 Label lights and appliances to show which should be left on or turned off (KS1, KS2)
5 Thermometers are put in each classroom to monitor room temperature (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)
5 Make draught proofing equipment (KS1, KS2)
5 Appoint pupil energy monitors in all classes (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)
30 Turn the school heating down by 1°C (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
30 Run a campaign to switch off electrical equipment overnight (KS1, KS2, KS3)
30 Plan and run a campaign to switch off lights and use natural light on sunny days (KS1, KS2, KS3)
30 Staff improve efficiency of school lighting (KS1, KS2, KS3)
30 Campaign for a meat-free day of school dinners (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)
30 Staff check boiler controls are optimal (KS1, KS2, KS3)
30 Run a campaign to close doors and windows when the heating is on (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
50 Improve your school's insulation (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
10 Introduce an energy efficiency reward system (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
20 Governors discuss energy efficiency in Governors' meeting (KS1, KS2, KS3)
20 Teachers discuss energy efficiency in a staff meeting (KS1, KS2, KS3)
30 Run a themed event focused on energy use (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
30 Run a whole school lights switch off competition (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
30 Write an energy action plan for your school (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
30 Write a policy on transportation to school (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
30 Introduce a policy on classroom temperature (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)
50 Run a longer term switch-off campaign at school (eg Switch Off Fortnight) (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)