Frank H. MacDonald Elementary School gets started with energy!

Last month, Engagement Officer Pam visited Ms. (Kathryn) Humphreys’ Grade 6 class, and another 5/6 class at Frank H. MacDonald Elementary School. The group of 47 students got participated in the “Getting Started with Energy” presentation, learning about energy, electricity, electricity in Nova Scotia, and how we can use energy efficiency in our homes and schools to reduce our energy needs. The students also watched the “Vampire Power” video, which explains how our electronics can still waste electricity when not in use, and how to reduce this waste (by unplugging them!).

After the presentation, four volunteers came up to the front of the class to test out household devices with the energy meter. The volunteers worked with the class to guess which devices took more power, and put them in order from least to most energy needed. They had a lamp with incandescent light bulbs of 100W and 60W, a CFL 15W, and a LED 7W light bulb, an LED nightlight, Christmas mini-lights, newer LED Christmas lights, and a hair dryer. The students had these devices in order before testing them, and the class had the order mostly correct, with the LED night light reading 0W while the hair dryer read up to 1341W with its highest, hottest setting.

At the end of the presentation, the students received a green prize, which they got to bring home and show their families. Students also asked for the Efficiency NS phone number to get their old night lights replaced at home. During the engagement, a student mentioned that his Pop had made solar panels at home using old pop cans, and how well they work. Some DIY instructions for such a project can be found at http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Soda-Can-Heater/

After the engagement, student Shelby presented Pam with a lovely thank you. Green Schools looks forward to their next visit at Frank H. MacDonald Elementary!