Ready to get hands-on with energy learning? This week, turn your classroom into a mini lab by putting energy use to the test! This activity helps students connect data and real-life habits by measuring how much electricity everyday devices consume. It’s a place-based activity that builds student agency while encouraging energy-saving behavior changes.
How do you put energy use to the test?
By conducting a device energy investigation, your class can put energy use to the test and analyze the energy use of common devices. By seeing actual numbers tied to their daily habits, students gain a deeper understanding of how small changes—like unplugging a device—can lead to big energy savings.
How to conduct an investigation
Gather Devices
Choose common classroom or household items such as:
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Laptops or tablets
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Desk lamps
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Fans
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Phone chargers
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Printers
Measure Energy Use
Use an energy meter (like a Kill A Watt or a smart plug with monitoring features) to measure how much energy each device uses:
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When turned on
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When in standby or sleep mode
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When powered off but still plugged in
Record and Analyze
Have students record their findings in a data table. Then, have them create bar graphs to visually compare energy consumption across different devices and modes.
Discuss Behavior Changes
Review the results as a class. Discuss what habits could help reduce energy use based on the data, such as:
- Unplugging devices when not in use
- Turning off electronics at the end of the day
- Reducing reliance on high-energy devices
Extend the Lesson
Estimate Annual Costs
Have students calculate how much money is spent annually on running each device—and what could be saved by changing usage habits.
Home Energy Investigation
Challenge students to run a similar investigation at home with family electronics and share their findings.
Did You Know?
💡 A typical desktop computer and monitor left on all day can use over $100 in electricity per year. Multiply that by the number of classrooms in a school, and the savings potential becomes huge!
Join the Movement to Save Energy
The Device Energy Investigation is a fun, interactive way to integrate STEM, place-based learning, and student agency into your classroom. By participating, students learn how energy is used, measured, and conserved—all while developing critical thinking and data analysis skills.
Want to go even further? Join a Renew Our Schools competition today!
