The holiday season is here, and with it comes the excitement and festive spirit that students eagerly anticipate. This time of year provides us with a unique opportunity to blend holiday fun with valuable energy-saving lessons, helping students build lifelong habits. From festive lighting to energy sweeps, we’ve rounded up simple, effective ideas to winterize your classroom for the holidays in an energy-efficient way. 

IDEA 1: EMBRACE FESTIVE AND FUN ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING 

If you’re thinking about brightening your classroom with holiday lights, opt for LED holiday lights instead of traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs use less energy than incandescent lights and can last much longer, which means you can reuse them year after year. Beyond reducing energy consumption, LED lights are cool to the touch, making them safer to use around curious young hands. With so many colours and designs available, you can create a magical, festive atmosphere while keeping your classroom energy conscious. 

To take it a step further, consider using a plug-in timer or a smart plug to control when the lights turn on and off. This setup lets you automatically switch the lights on during the school day and ensures they’re off when no one’s around, saving even more energy.

IDEA 2: GIVE ENERGY A HOLIDAY BREAK, TOO 

Did you know that electronics and chargers can still consume energy even when they’re turned off? As the holiday break approaches, it’s essential to ensure that your classroom isn’t drawing unnecessary power while everyone’s off spending time with family and friends.  

Make this lesson interactive by having your students participate in an “Energy Sweep” activity where they go around and unplug devices like chargers, computers, and classroom gadgets that won’t be in use over the break. They can also turn off power strips to cut power entirely. This small act is a great way to help students grasp the real impact of energy waste and show them how simple it can be to save energy when they’re not around. It’s also fun to turn it into a group activity — try assigning a team of “Energy Elves” each day in the last week before break to handle the daily sweep. Once you’re done being Energy Elves, your class will be ready to check out idea 3! 

IDEA 3: DO A FESTIVE CLASSROOM ENERGY AUDIT 

Generation E offers a handy Classroom Checklist (also available in a larger size to print out) that makes it easy to incorporate energy-saving habits into your holiday preparations and beyond. Each day, students can review the list and complete tasks like turning off lights, opening the blinds to let in the warm sunlight, and turning off classroom electronics.  

It’s perfect for reminding students about energy-saving habits and helps reinforce these practices as part of their routine. Encourage students to spread the energy-saving cheer by taking home what they’ve learned to share it with their families.  

DISCOVER MORE RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE 

Looking for even more creative ways to engage your students? From detailed lesson plans, activities to try in class, and printable resources, Generation E has everything you need to make energy efficiency a festive part of your holiday season and year-round. 

Wishing you a bright, energy-efficient holiday season!