Increasing energy conservation awareness in elementary school students

Abstract

An energy education program — Knowledge Is Power! (KIP) — in California's Ojai Valley, uses peer to peer interaction and experiential learning to educate elementary school students. A marionette show, interactive solar-powered laboratory, energy footprint project, and a school energy audit are all part of the curriculum. Educational consultant Michael Stark submitted this effective practice in August, 2003 as part of a project for CalServe.

Issue

Increasing energy conservation skills and knowledge in young students through their participation in the KIP program.

Action

Journey to Perpetua, a multimedia marionette show, was created and performed by Chaparral High School students for K-6 students.
Fourth, 5th, and 6th grade students received a visit by Solar Roller, an interactive solar-powered mobile energy laboratory where they performed hands-on experiments. Typical activities included a solar cooking station, sun print paper, UV beads, a solar balloon, and solar cars.
A presentation on the concept of the energy/ecological footprint was given to 6th grade classrooms. Then students performed energy audits both at home and in the classroom.
Sixth grade students developed an energy plan for the school and presented it to the entire student body during a special assembly.

Context

Ojai Solar Electric Company launched KIP in 2003. KIP received funding for the 2002-2003 school year from the California State and Consumer Services Agency under their innovative energy education grants program.

The performance, Journey to Perpetua was presented and performed in assemblies at ten district elementary schools. The running time was 25 minutes, with questions and answers at the end. The next component (Solar Roller — a traveling energy station/box) was borrowed by one of the school educators. The last component (energy plan for the school) had the overall goal of saving money by saving energy.

Through the CalServe Initiative, the California Department of Education has been supporting a Statewide Regional Service-Learning Network and district wide school-community partnerships that annually involve over 120,000 students and approximately 15,000 community volunteers in urban, rural and suburban communities throughout the state. It is the California Department of Education's vision that by the year 2004, 50 percent of all districts will include service-learning as part of their regular instructional practice, engaging students in at least one service-learning experience at each grade span (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12).

Outcome

The students who participated:

Learned about energy efficiency and conservation.
Garnered knowledge about electricity, thermal energy, and renewable energy technologies.
Gained a better understanding of the impact of energy habits on the environment.
Performed energy audits for their homes and classrooms.
Created and presented an energy plan for their school.

The program was well received by students and teachers alike and left students with more knowledge regarding renewable energy, conservation, and sustainability. The experience made students energy savvy and empowered them to create positive changes in their energy.