Halloween is just around the corner! Celebrate the spooky season with an activity that gets your students thinking critically about saving energy!  

Imagine this: a major blackout has swept through the town just as Halloween night approaches, leaving you without electricity for three whole days! What would you do? How would you get around? What would you eat? How would you keep yourself entertained? These are questions that our Lights Out! activity invites students to explore. 

THE LIGHTS OUT ACTIVITY  

Our Lights Out! activity encourages students to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to figure out how they would survive without electricity for three days. By walking through this thought experiment, students will gain a greater appreciation for how much energy shapes their everyday lives and the importance of using it efficiently.  

Here is a breakdown of the spooky yet practical questions you’ll want to ask your students, along with some prompts to keep the ideas flowing.  

#1 HOW WOULD YOU TRAVEL?

Prompt: With no electricity and gas reserved for emergencies, how would you get where you need to go? 

Encourage your students to consider alternative transportation methods that don’t rely on electricity or fossil fuels. Discuss ideas like walking and biking, but also manual-powered methods that students may not consider. This could be skateboards, scooters or even horse-drawn carts!  

The goal here is to inspire creative thinking about how we can move from place to place without using energy, especially in a world that’s highly dependent on it. This question also invites students to think about the carbon footprint associated with transportation and why energy-efficient alternatives matter. 

#2 WHAT WOULD YOU EAT?

Prompt: One of the biggest challenges in an electricity-free world would be feeding yourself. Without access to refrigeration, microwaves, or electric stoves, meals would have to be simple, quick, and not reliant on modern appliances. Ask your students to brainstorm meal ideas that don’t require cooking or refrigeration. 

You might talk about ideas like canned goods, dried fruits, or jerky. Since there is a three-day timeframe, your class can also think about other foods that don’t spoil quickly, like nuts or hard cheeses.  

This discussion opens the door to talking about food preservation without electricity — think old-fashioned methods like drying, salting, or fermenting. Students can also explore the impact that food choices and cooking habits have on our overall energy consumption. Plus, Halloween candy makes a great example of a treat that won’t spoil for a few days! 

#3 HOW WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN YOURSELF?

Prompt: Without power, forget about video games, TV, or charging your devices. How would your students stay entertained during the day and as the dark nights creep in?  

They might suggest reading by natural light, playing board games with friends, or exploring outdoor activities like hiking, stargazing, or even creating shadow stories with flashlights. 

This question will challenge them to think outside the box and consider activities that don’t require electricity or artificial lighting. This part of the activity can also highlight how much of our leisure time is spent using energy-consuming devices, and spark ideas about how we can have fun while reducing energy use, encouraging students to unplug every now and then. 

 

NEXT STEPS 

After the activity, lead a brainstorming session on how students can apply what they’ve learned to save energy in the classroom and at home. Encourage them to discuss practical tips and habits that could help them navigate any unexpected energy outages — just like the one they imagined on Halloween night. 

Ready to bring some spooky fun to your classroom this Halloween season? Get the full FREE lesson plan here!