Lincolnshire solar energy company, Freewatt has introduced an innovative renewable education pack for school children across the county.
The packs were put together in collaboration with Bishop Grosseteste University College, and are designed to help students at key stages two and three. Currently, ten schools around the county have committed to install
The packs have been designed by education experts to enhance the science, technology, engineering and maths curriculum, and include a wealth of special activities to help students understand how solar technology works. Pupils will be able to participate in a survey of their own school to find ways of saving energy, design an eco-house incorporating solar PV cells and racing solar-powered toy cars.
One of the school’s adopting the new education pack is Washingborough Academy, which will begin the 12-week programme in the spring of 2013. The academy is uniquely placed to embrace the new education pack after 45 solar panels were installed last year by Freewatt.
Around 70 students in years five and six will use the historic data stored from the school’s own panels to help them better understand how solar PV technology works as well as analyse the generation.
“It is important to get sustainability into the curriculum and this approach helps us to work it into maths, science and English. It is an innovative approach and I haven’t seen an education pack like this before,” said Head Teacher Jason O’Rourke.
“These children are what I call the environmental generation and if they are aware of the issues they can look at what can be done to address them. If we give them the inspiration, the person who one day finds the solution could be sitting in our school.”
Managing Director of Freewatt, Julian Patrick, said it was important for children to understand environmental issues since there generation would feel the effects even more.
“From our experience children are much more open minded about environmental issues and the impact of depleting fossil fuels. It's also this generation that is really going to feel the pinch. If we can spark their interest hopefully we can get them excited about sustainability.”