Energy Campaigns:
Grades 4 – 7

Energy Campaigns program materials

Teachers and students working together – each teacher brings a small group of students to participate in the half-day workshop hosted by BC Hydro School Programs. The Energy Campaigns program explores issues of sustainability, energy conservation and the environment in a way that encourages students to think about their own energy-using habits and how their choices can impact the environment for future generations. The school activities, initiated by a core group of students and teacher-facilitator, make conservation concepts relevant to students' lives.

Program objectives

  • Students explore issues of sustainability, energy conservation and the environment.
  • Students are empowered to take their conservation messages and energy-saving behaviours into both the classroom and the broader community.

The program materials and activities have been designed to meet the varied needs and interests of B.C. teachers and students.

Teachers receive a complete set of classroom materials that includes:

Teacher Resource Guide

  • Eight lesson plans (40-minute lessons) with content suitable for grades 4 to 8
  • Teacher background information and colour overheads [PDF, 575 Kb]
  • Black line masters, assessment tools and extension ideas
  • Curriculum Connections [PDF, 81 Kb] that outlines how this resource meets B.C. Prescribed Learning Outcomes (PLOs) in Social Studies, English Language Arts, Science, Math, Health and Career Education, and Fine Arts

Stickers and classroom poster

Public Service Announcements (PSA)

In 2009, B.C. students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 were invited to submit their creative ideas for inspiring energy conservation in their schools and communities.

The winners

Ideas from the winning entries were used as inspiration to develop the following film and print PSAs.

  1. Inspired by Franklin Elementary School, Vancouver B.C.
  2. Inspired by the tips offered by Delta Manor Elementary School, Delta B.C.

Ideas from the following schools resulted in the creation of SwitchOff.ca interactive webgame and 'Turn it Off' energy savings stickers:

  • Steeples Elementary, South East Kootenay B.C.
  • 100 Mile Elementary, Cariboo Chilcotin B.C.
  • Nelson Elementary, Burnaby B.C.

What teachers are saying about the program

"This is a great program, either for a class or as an enrichment activity. The results were outstanding!" – Principal, Campbell River School District

"The workshop set the scene clearly and my students were able to organize working groups and set objectives for the rest of the class." – Teacher, Prince George School District

"After the workshop, my lead students got the whole class involved by giving a mini-workshop with the materials from BC Hydro. They loved being the teachers!" – Teacher, Surrey School District

"We held Power Smart Week with contests, songs, art, poetry displays and dancing computers and light bulbs in the entrance to encourage staff and students to Turn it Off." – Grade 7 students, North Vancouver School District

For more information about the program

To find out more about BC Hydro's school programs and how to register, please send us an email with the following information and we will get in touch with you.

  • Name
  • School
  • Grade
  • Email

Or call BC Hydro School Programs at 604 736 7424.

In the spotlight

BC Hydro Energy Campaigns workshop was highlighted on Global TV Newshour.
View the segment now.

See also

Energy Pizza [PDF, 575 Kb]

Curriculum Connections [PDF, 81 Kb]

Electricity is Everywhere classroom poster [PDF, 138 Kb]

Contact us

BC Hydro School Programs
Phone: 604 736 7424

Last Modified: May 7, 2012