me know right away! I love busting Energy
Hogs and saving energy! I’m an Official
Energy Hog Buster!
But as for that Energy Hog being around
here - it was probably just a rumor, so don’t
worry. Anyway, an Energy Hog is anything
that wastes
For more resources and to
prepare for your Energy Hog
presentation please see
Preparation and Actor's Notes and
Energy Hog Assembly
Materials/Prop Suggestions.
Energy Hog Skit
for grades 3-5
energy. If you have an old
refrigerator running in your garage, or in
your basement, THAT’S an Energy Hog! If
you leave the water running while you brush
your teeth, the Energy Hog loves that! If you
turn up the air conditioner in the summer
more than what you really need, it attracts
Energy Hogs to your home…” (continue with
naming examples of wasteful things. As actor is
talking Energy Hog peeks out from behind the
stage curtain. Audience will yell out that they
just saw an Energy Hog and the actor should
stop talking and say) WHAT!? You did? Are
you sure? No… it can’t be!
I caught him! Now Energy Hog, you sit right
there and don’t say a word. I don’t want any
trouble out of you, got it?”
II.
ENGAGING AUDIENCE &
TALKING ABOUT ENERGY: (5
minutes)
I.
SETTING THE TONE &
ENGAGING THE AUDIENCE:
(5 minutes)
BUSTER: Hi, I am <NAME>, and I’m an
Energy Hog Buster!
I am here to talk to you about saving energy
– well, actually, I’m here to talk to you about
BUSTING ENERGY HOGS. Energy Hogs
are dastardly characters who love to waste
energy. They feed off the energy that people
waste(!), and are attracted to homes and
places where people waste energy.
Energy Hogs are usually invisible, but today
I heard that one was actually spotted, for the
first time ever, sneaking around here! Have
any of you seen it? OK, well if you see it, let
BUSTER: OK now, where were we – ah yes.
Let’s see if you’ve got the idea about Energy
Hogs. Can anyone here tell me some ways we
waste energy in our homes or at school? (You
can either have kids call out examples or raise
their hands. As they name off ways to waste
energy…)
ENERGY HOG: The hog starts getting really
excited and stands up to shake his arms in
victory, and looks very happy with the answers.
After all, people are talking about his favorite
topic – wasting energy! He jumps, cheers (with
arm motions), claps, and acts goofy at each
answer on how people waste energy. (The Hog
Buster just continues to get answers from the
kids, and gives the hog dirty looks and finger
wags occasionally, but lets the hog do his thing.
Keep asking for more ways that people waste
energy until you’re ready to move on (3-10
answers is fine).
BUSTER: Now let’s think of how we can save
energy. What are some ways that we can
SAVE energy? Raise your hand if you have
an idea of one way.
ENERGY HOG: As audience give energy
saving measures, hog shakes his head, looks
down at the ground, waves his hands as if that’s
a very bad idea, covers his ears, kicks the floor
and eventually sits down with his head in his
hands or lays on the floor because he’s so
disappointed and depressed about the way the
conversation has turned.
III. THE GAME SHOW: (12
minutes)
BUSTER: Now I think it’s time to play a
little game! Who wants to play?
ENERGY HOG: Energy Hog should raise his
hand and get excited – he loves games.
NOTE: a list of additional questions is
included at the bottom of this document.
When Q1 is chosen from hat:
BUSTER: Which of these light bulbs saves
more energy, and incandescent of a compact
fluorescent? (Buster holds up pictures of an
incandescent and a CFL for everyone to see.
Note: Kids on stage talk softly, and at this point
in the show, it’s easy to slip into a one-on-one
conversation with the child on the stage and
lose the audience. Make sure that you repeat
what the child says so that everyone in the
audience remains engaged. Give the volunteer
time to answer the question, but if they take too
long, you can ask the audience to help the
volunteer). ALTERNATIVE: if you prefer,
rather than having students come on the stage
you can point to them in the audience. It will
keep the flow moving rather than spending time
bringing a student to a stage. Be sure to repeat
what the student says so everyone can hear their
answer. If no one gets the right answer after
several attempts tell them.
ENERGY HOG: The Hog tries to get people to
guess the incandescent by pointing and pleading
with them to choose that one, making it obvious
that the other one is the right answer. The
Buster can say things like “Don’t pay attention
to that hog.” “He doesn’t know anything”…
etc.)
BUSTER: Great job! Did you guys know
that a CFL saves a LOT of energy? In fact,
90% of the energy that this bulb takes (hold
up incandescent) is wasted as heat! That’s
why they get so hot? Have you ever noticed
how hot one of these light bulbs gets? It will
burn you it’s so hot! And your family pays
for all that lost heat on your energy bill –
every month. And in the summer, when it’s
already hot in your house, these light bulbs
are adding more heat, making it even hotter.
That’s why CFLs (hold up CFL) are SO much
better of light bulb. Energy Hog Busters
know that to bust Energy Hogs, a CFL is a
great thing to use! (look very official and
proud).
When Q2 is chosen from hat:
BUSTER: Which appliance in your home
uses less energy – a refrigerator or a toaster?
ENERGY HOG: The hog tries to pantomime a
refrigerator, showing the outline of it with his
arms, then pantomiming opening the door, etc.
then pleads with the contest to choose the
refrigerator. When child answers correctly, hog
looks disappointed and wanders away a bit. The
hog needs to make sure not to steal all the
attention from the Buster, so that the Buster is
always in control of the show.
BUSTER: That’s right, the refrigerator is
almost always the appliance that uses the
most energy in a home. So when it’s time to
buy a new one, make sure it has the
ENERGY STAR ® symbol on it. Do you
know what that is? (Someone is sure to say no)
Well, if you don’t know what the ENERGY
STAR symbol is, I’ll tell you – it’s the symbol
of an energy-saving item You can find that
symbol on stereo equipment, TVs,
refrigerators, and lots of other things. You
can learn about it on the website
ENERGYHOG.ORG also. Now everyone
repeat after me three times “ENERGY
STAR, ENERGY STAR, ENERGY STAR!
When you have an ENERGY STAR
refrigerator, your fridge uses less energy. The
ENERGY STAR logo is also found on other
things too – like stereos, DVD players, TVs.
So whenever you have to buy a new one,
make sure it’s got the ENERGY STAR label
on it.
When Q3 is chosen from hat:
BUSTER: OK you guys, now this is a hard
one – who’s brave enough to try this one?
BUSTER: Hot air rises – and in the winter,
the heat goes up in your home to the highest
point. What’s one way you can stop the air
from getting through the ceiling and out
through the roof? (Answer: Add Insulation–
explain that insulation acts as a big blanket on
top of your house, holding the heat inside. In the
summertime, the insulation holds the cool air
inside and blocks the hot sun from heating up
your house.)
ENERGY HOG: Looks disgusted about this
whole conversation, but don’t be too distracting
because the crowd won’t pay attention to the
Hog Buster if you the hog is too entertaining.
Can hold hands over ears, etc.
IV.
WRAPPING IT UP &
SENDING THEM OFF TO
LEARN MORE: (3 minutes)
BUSTER: Well, that’s all we have time for
right now, but since you’ve all been such a
good audience, I’m going to hang around
after this presentation and give each one of
you an Energy Hog tattoo! Remember, it’s
very very important for you to save energy at
home and at school. Now that you’ve learned
a bit about saving energy, you can become
Official Energy Hog Busters YOURSELVES!
All you have to do is go to
ENERGYHOG.ORG and play five games.
When you win, you can print out a certificate
that says you’re an Official Energy Hog
Buster, just like me! You can hang it on the
door of your room, or on your refrigerator,
or wherever. But… (with emphasis from
someone who takes his job seriously) as an
Official Energy hog Buster, it’s YOUR job to
remind the people you know to save energy.
So go to energyhog.org and try it out! There
are also Energy Scavenger Hunts and fun
games.” (point to where they can find them or
have another adult hand them out, or hand them
out after the show yourself)
ENERGY HOG: (The Hog should be
motioning for them NOT to go to
energyhog.org)
BUSTER: Now I’m going to get rid of this
Energy Hog. Then I’ll meet you all right
there (point) in just a minute! (escort Hog
backstage, then go shake kids hands and pass
out tattoos while the Energy Hog takes a break.
If it’s in an air conditioned location and the
Hog isn’t too sweaty, the Hog can go around
giving hugs and high-fives to kids as well).
Additional Assembly Questions
8. What are two non-renewable sources?
1. Which is more efficient, a CFL or
incandescent light bulb?
Answer 8:
Oil, coal, natural gas, uranium
Answer 1:
CFL
2. Which saves more energy,
taking a bath or a shower?
Answer 2:
Shower—it uses less hot water
9. Which uses more energy, a WII or a
refrigerator?
Answer 9:
WII
3. True or false: saving energy equals saving
money
10. What does a foot-candle meter measure?
Answer 3:
True
Answer 10:
Amount of light or light level on a surface
4. Which is more efficient, a T-8 or T-12 bulb?
11. Oil is also known as a _____ fuel (think
dinosaurs)
Answer 4:
T-8 (or electronic ballast)
Answer 11:
Fossil (or non-renewable)
5. What should you do when you leave a
room?
12. When something is losing energy does it
get hotter or colder?
Answer 5:
Turn off or unplug all electronics, close the
door and windows.
Answer 12:
Hotter
13: What are two renewable sources?
6. Which is a renewable source, wind power or
natural gas?
Answer 6:
Wind power
Answer 13:
Wind, solar, geo-thermal, gravitational (or
hydro), ocean
7. Looking at the picture on the left, what is this
symbol called?
14: Looking at the picture on the right, which
part of the house could lose energy?
Answer 7 (see picture below):
Energy star rating
Answer 14 (see picture below):
All parts indicated
15. What is one appliance that should only be
run when fully loaded?
Answer 15:
Dish washer or washing machine
19: What is the unit used to measure electric
energy?
Answer 19:
Watt (or kilowatt)
16. What can you use to seal cracks around
windows and doors?
20: When an appliance is using energy even
when it's turned off, what is that called?
Answer 16:
Caulk (or insulation)
Answer 20:
Phantom load (or vampire power)
17: What does cfl stand for?
21. What type of fuel is coal?
Answer 17:
Compact Florescent Light bulb
18. What keeps heat from escaping through
the roof of your home?
Answer 18:
Insulation (or caulk)
Answer 21:
Non-renewable (or fossil)
Question 7:
Question 14: