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.

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5 Measure classroom temperatures (KS1, KS2)

5 Carry out a spot check to see if lights or electrical items are left on at lunch time (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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

5 Carry out a spot check to see if lights or electrical items are left on after school (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)

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

10 Investigate whether the the school's heating and hot water is switched off during the school holidays (KS1, KS2, KS3)

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

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)

20 Investigate how much energy families use at home (KS1, KS2, KS3)

20 Investigate heat loss with a thermal imaging camera (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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

30 Energy audit of the school science labs and design technology workshops (KS3)

5 Other (please specify) (KS1, KS2, 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 See heat with a thermal imaging camera (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Learn about marine energy (KS2, KS3, KS4)

10 Understand how our transportation choices impact the environment (KS1, KS2)

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

10 Learn about water power (KS1, KS2)

10 Understand how our carbon emissions cause the Greenhouse Effect and Climate change (KS1, KS2, KS3)

10 Learn about where our electricity and gas comes from and their impact on the environment (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)

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)

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

Energy and climate focussed activities that can be used in your maths lessons

20 Year 6 statistics - data handling, line graphs, bar charts and pie charts (KS2)

Linked programmes for activities for eco clubs or theme weeks

5 Eco club programme (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

50 Energy week (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

250 The BIG Question - How can switching off appliances help reduce our carbon footprint? (KS2, KS3)

5 Make energy saving posters (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils meet with the caretaker or site manager to discuss their role in 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 Do a creative activity themed around energy saving (KS1, KS2)

10 Pupils share their energy saving work with a wider audience (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

10 Pupils meet with the office staff to discuss their role in saving energy (KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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, KS4, KS5)

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

10 Run an assembly about saving energy (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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, KS3, KS4)

30 Create a promotional video to get pupils and staff to save energy (KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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

5 Appoint pupil energy monitors in all classes (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)

5 Label lights and appliances to show which should be left on or turned off (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

5 Thermometers are put in each classroom to monitor room temperature (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)

5 Make draught proofing equipment (KS1, KS2)

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

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 Run a campaign to close doors and windows when the heating is on (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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

30 Campaign for a meat-free day of school dinners (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4)

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

30 Turn off the heating for the summer (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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

50 Plan and run a campaign to promote sustainable and energy saving travel to school (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

50 Improve your school's insulation (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

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

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 Write a policy on closing external doors and windows when the heating is on (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

30 Run a themed event focused on energy use (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

30 Introduce a policy on switching off lights, computers, and other information technology equipment (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)

30 Introduce a policy on reducing energy and resource use from printing and photocopying. (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

50 Run a longer term switch-off campaign at school (eg Switch Off Fortnight) (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

75 Declare a Climate Emergency (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)

10 Other (please specify) (KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5)