The energy sources we use most are limited, pollute the environment and contribute to global warming. This is why a change in mentality among the population is needed. Not only to consume less energy but also to switch as much as possible to renewable energy sources. Organising awareness activities at school ensures that students consciously learn to make sustainable choices for our planet. Energy is an integral part of our lives, everything consumes energy. What are the consequences when you organise a low energy day at school? What happens when Energiekje pulls the plug for a while?
Did you know that…
fossil fuels aren’t infinite ... once they are gone, they are gone!
Energiekje was at school last night and pulled the plug. The pupils are amazed at what goes on when no more energy is consumed.
How can they spend the day?
Which devices no longer work?
What can they still do?
MORNING
Step 1: At the school level
- A message is sent out that no energy can be consumed that day. This can be done via a video message, a letter, a play, ... .
Step 2: Take stock, do the following exercise with the pupils
- SEARCHING for energy:
- What are the energy sources at school? Where are they located?
- Look for energy metres (electricity, gas, water, solar panels) in school and write down the metre readings.
- The pupils look for the MEANING of the following terms: energy source, energy consumer, fossil fuels, renewable energy, rational use of energy, CO2 emissions, ecological footprint, global warming, North-South imbalance.
- Give EXAMPLES of energy use.
- Make the right CONNECTIONS between energy source and energy consumer.
Step 3: Brainstorm about possible alternatives
- The pupils think about alternative activities that don’t require fossil fuels.
- The teachers think about possible teaching alternatives.
- The management and maintenance staff think about how they will fulfil their tasks.
- Even the parents think about alternatives to consume as little energy as possible during the day and bring their children to school in an energy friendly way.
Step 4: Make an inventory of all possible ideas from the different groups
- A list is made of what the day will eventually look like.
- The effects on the environment and climate are listed.
AFTERNOON
Step 5: Possible actions
- Replace the electric school bell with drum rolls or an old school bell.
- Use your own creativity and organise activities such as playing with associations, quartet, colouring plants, board games, etc.
- Go back in time and compare the energy sources of the past with those of today.
- Organise musical activities at a forum.
- Organise class-breaking workshops with hammering and carpentry, jewellery making, drama, music, word and image.
- Organise a low-energy lunch where everyone brings their own meal, because... what cooking activity can be done without using fossil fuels?
- Let parents participate as well, because everyone can contribute to a low-energy day!
- Work around a theme of 'toys without batteries'.
Step 6: Evaluate
How can we anchor certain solutions under the principle ‘saving energy without sacrificing comfort’?
- At the end of the day, each target group (pupils, teachers, management, maintenance staff, …) can calculate how much CO2 their action saved that day.
- An overview of the school and class activities on the low-energy day and the amount of CO2 saved by the school are communicated to the outside world through the school paper, the information sheet, the website… .
- Visualise the savings and link it to a party.
Watch out!
Energy is difficult to visualise. Make sure you can convert the CO2 consumption into visible and recognisable objects, e.g.: for this much CO2 consumption, x number of trees are needed.
- energiesparen.be
- with the Flemish Energy Agency (VEA)
- vreg.be: the Flemish Regulatory Authority for the Electricity and Gas Market
- wwf.be: teaching material: the energy box
- MOS-website
- CO2-calculator