Field Trips
With energy all around us, making a field trip is almost as easy as stepping out your front door.
Watt Watchers (www.wattwatchers.org) is a Texas state program that has resources for schools to start energy conservation efforts. They have clever posters and “tickets” for students to give to teachers who forget to turn their lights off. The materials can be used in any school across the country and can also serve as a model for developing your own program.
Go to Your Source
Where does the power for your school come from? Major power generators are often located far from the places they power, but if you are close to your facility, call and set up a tour. If you are far away, at least discuss with your students what type of energy your school uses. Is it nuclear? Is it from burning coal? Look on a map and see how far it has to travel to get to you. Then try to find a local source of energy that might provide smaller amounts of electricity to your community. Is there a dam? Maybe a public building that has solar panels?
Energy for the Future
Research your community to find out if there are any alternative fuel sites like wind farms or solar fields. You can also try to find a local organization or college that is researching new energy sources like biofuels. Generally, people who are creating or inventing the energy of the future are extremely passionate about their work and will welcome the opportunity to talk to your students about it. If you're having a hard time finding someone, contact a local environmental organization that works on energy issues.
