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Maine Energy Education
Maine Energy Education Program -
Central and Southern Maine
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Fun, hands-on way for students to learn about electricity, batteries and simple circuitry. |
Maine Energy Education Program (MEEP) combines general awareness classroom training activities with practical skills building that allows students to monitor their school building's energy use. An important program component is the recruitment of student volunteers to serve as school "Energy Patrols." The patrols consist of older students who increase teacher and student awareness of energy issues through classroom skits, distribution of informational materials, and reminders to turn off computers and lights that are not in use. MEEP has gathered data showing that the schools with active Energy Patrols have reduced their energy consumption. Between January and June of 2004, MEEP provided classroom training and developed Energy Patrols in 22 schools across the State.
Guide Your Students Toward Energy Literacy
Energy Education Leadership Workshops
In the fall, the MEEP hosts Energy Education Leadership Workshops in central and southern Maine. Teachers of fourth through eighth grade, with three to five students from their classrooms, are invited to the workshop. The workshop offers the following:
- Energy awareness and team building activities that can be aligned with Maine's Learning Results;
- Fresh ideas for classroom activities and projects, including the Junior Solar Sprint, model solar boat, car competitions, and Maine Green Schools;
- Year long follow up in the form of resource materials, classroom support and ongoing dialogue with MEEP staff;
- Great Energy Debate Game (Fourth to eighth grade);
- It's Electric (Fourth to sixth grade);
- Apple Battery;
- Mini-wind turbine; and,
- Photovoltaic / Solar Fan
- Global Energy Game (Seventh to eighth grade); and,
- MEEP Jeopardy.
Classroom Presentations
MEEP offers a variety of energy awareness activities for classrooms. Focused on energy sources, energy conservation, alternative modes of transportation, and outdoor air quality, these activities are fun, dynamic, and interdisciplinary. Plus, they can be easily modified to meet the needs of the curriculum and students. Here are some of the activities MEEP offers:
- The Car Puzzle Activity
- Challenges students to create designs for future cars by combining the features found in today's cars with more energy efficient features and with the environmental benefits of alternative fuels.
- Energy Patrols
- Established to help educate and to empower students, teachers, custodians and administrators to conserve energy at school.
- Electric Meter Reading
- The skill is introduced to each energy patrol team with the hope that each one will use its newly energy patrols are initiated.
- Light Meter Reading
- Used to assess found skills to monitor its school's energy consumption both before and after whether there is sufficient natural light entering a classroom to warrant the turning off of some or all of the overhead lights in the classroom, thereby helping the school to conserve more energy.
- Electric Nameplate Reading
- Students learn to read the information off the UL labels on appliances, thereby allowing them to determine what appliances in the classrooms consume large amounts of energy.
- Apple Battery Activity
- Fun, hands-on way for students to learn about electricity, batteries and simple circuitry.
To find out more about the Maine Energy Education Program, contact Peter Zack at (207) 625-7833.
Maine Public Service's Energy Education Program -
Northern Maine
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Children utilizing an electric meter. |
Maine Public Service's (MPS) Energy Education Program dates back to the 1970s. The program has changed to reflect modern energy issues, and now includes two components.
Energy Eagle Patrol
The Energy Eagle Patrol is a team of students who raise the awareness of energy issues within the schools through the distribution of materials and by reminding fellow students and teachers to turn off lights. The Patrol Program includes presentations on how to reach electric meters, the advantages of fluorescent lighting, and the energy use of computers. One Energy Eagle Patrol team was established in each of the following schools: Fort Street School in Mars Hill; Pine Street School; Patrick Theriault School; and Zippel School. The schools saved approximately $1.50,000!
BE Energy Wise Program (BEEP)
Maine Public Service's BE Energy Wise (BEEP) program is part of a larger, national energy education effort. BEEP materials are designed to fulfill educational learning standards in most disciplines and at all grade levels. Portfolios of student work developed through the program are entered into a national competition. From October 2003 to October 2004, Maine Public Service conducted 59 educational presentations and reached over 1,139 students.
Classroom Activities
The three E's programs introduce basic concepts on energy, environment, and economics and the interaction among the three. These programs assist the participant to understand some of the challenges and problems related to energy use. Energy workshops are also offered, which enable each participant to gain knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts of energy education through hands-on activities.
- Lighting Demonstration Program
- Using graphs and work sheets, students can utilize their math skills to learn how much electricity daily classroom lighting consumes.
- Meter Reading
- Demonstrations are given of how a meter works, how to read the electricity meter, and how to save on your electricity bill.
- Energy and Energy Management Programs
- A discussion of energy sources available to us and their wise use is presented.
- Teacher/Student Energy and the Environment Workshops
- A daylong workshop filled with energetic activities on energy, electricity, and environmental concerns.
To register for one of the Maine Public Service's Energy Education Program activities, click on this registration form or contact Nancy Chandler at (207) 760-2556.
For more information
If you are interested in find out more about the Energy Education Programs please contact Joy Adamson at (207) 287-8350.
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Public
Utilities Commission