Free Watts from Nature: Wind Solar Hybrid System Project.
Student Activities
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Upper primary
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1. As a class, brainstorm and discuss ideas about electricity and its
importance in our daily lives. Introduce ideas about alternative or renewable
energy sources.
2.a) As a class, discuss the main uses of electricity at home and at school.
b) Discuss what might happen if electricity was unavailable for a few days. Determine if people are set up to cope with this.
c) As a class list other sources of power that could be used instead of electricity.
d) Locate Sirohi and Kota in your atlas. Note the Avarali mountains, the desert, rivers and any other features that will help you to understand the area. Discuss these features.
3. In pairs list as many of the electrical appliances that you use every day. Alongside each one list what could be used instead e.g. lights = candles, gaslamps, kerosene lamps. Compare your list with other lists. Are there any ideas that you had not thought of?
4. In groups of four, choose the four most important electrical items from the above lists. Divide a sheet of butcher paper into four and draw one in each section. Underneath each one, describe why it would be difficult to live without. Display and compare these.
5. You have just been told to evacuate your house and are only allowed to take four electrical appliances with you. List your own four. In groups (4-6) compile a master list from each member and as a group choose four again. When finished make a class list and then as a class choose four. Compare the final four with your own original four. How much do you agree or disagree? Discuss your feelings in groups. Is there any way you could change the class list to accommodate your own wishes?
6. Imagine that there has been a disaster and your community is without electricity for several days. Write a description of how your family managed for lighting, heating, hot water and cooking.
7. In pairs list the main difficulties people have with electricity in Mt. Abu. Write a letter from a villager to a friend in Australia describing these problems. Share these letters.
8. As a class discuss the main ways in which electricity could improve the lives of the people in remote villages. Make a class mural depicting these.
9. Your local energy company will help you with the following. In groups, investigate the following;
a) the source of your electricity supply
b) what is used to fuel the power station
c) the number of households that are connected to this supply
d) who looks after it to ensure you have a regular supply
e) what the electricity company would do if the power failed
f) if the company uses any sources of renewable energy
Write your findings into a group report.
10. A kilowatt is one thousand watts. In pairs, investigate how much electricity your family uses each month. This information can be gained from the electricity account. Is this more or less than running 100 x 100 watt light bulbs? List the five most important uses of electricity in your home and find out how many watts each one needs in order to operate.
11. From the above information list how you could save electricity. List the benefits alongside each one.
12. Much of Australia's electricity is supplied from the burning of fossil fuels. However the use of renewable energy is increasing in remote parts of the country. As a class discuss what you know about this. List any examples e.g. windmills are commonly used to pump water in rural Australia, solar panels are used to heat water.
13. In pairs make a poster advertising the benefits of renewable energy. Make up a catchy slogan to highlight the use of the 'free watts' from nature.
Follow up activities.
14. If you have Internet access there are many web sites that can help you learn about renewable energy and energy conservation. Share information with your class members. (see resources).
15. Plan an energy conservation week at school and include information about renewable energy.
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