Hands-on
Resources
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| About KEEP |
Professional
Development |
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Involvement |
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| Hands-on Resources |
KEEP's Hands-on Resources are available to loan to Wisconsin educators free of charge
for a period of up to 4 weeks.
If you would like to check out any of KEEP's Hands-on Resources, please contact Jamie at
jmollica@uwsp.edu or 715.346.4818.
Hands-on Resources can be picked up/dropped off at the KEEP office in Stevens Point between
7:30 AM and 5:30 PM Monday - Friday,
excluding legal holidays.
| Energy Education Resource List |
KEEP has compiled a list of resources that can be purchased from vendors around the country. Download the Energy Education Resources list (2 page Adobe PDF) which includes information on where to purchase resources and the approximate cost.
| Energy Trunk |
Energy Trunk
The KEEP Energy Education Trunks are full of educational resources available for Wisconsin KEEP teachers to rent. The Trunks were developed with the middle school student in mind, specifically grades 5-7. They contain materials for FIVE popular KEEP activities (Station Break, Circuit Circus, The Cost of Using Energy, At Watt Rate, and Diminishing Returns) as well as energy education VIDEOS and HANDS-ON RESOURCES. Click here to learn more about the contents of the trunk and where you can get one. THIS ITEM CANNOT BE SHIPPED. YOU MUST PICK IT UP AND DROP IT OFF.
| Hand-crank Generator |
The
hand-crank generator is a great tool to learn the difference
between an incandescent light bulb and a compact fluorescent
light bulb (CFL). Use your cranking power to discover how
much energy it takes to light up two different light bulbs.
As you crank, a generator transforms your muscle power into
electrical energy. SHIPPABLE ITEM.
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KEEP purchased the hand-crank generator from:
Creative Design Associates
Austin H. Munson IDSA
President
Product Development
Industrial Design
5227 Cty Hwy M
Waunakee, WI 53597-9139
Phone: 608.831.4269
Fax 608.831.8832
With both the hand crank and the Pedal Power unit below, students might ask why is harder to turn the crank (or pedal the bike) to light the incandescent light bulb than the CFL. A simplified answer is provided below (talk to a physics teacher for a more scientific answer).
| Pedal Power |
The Pedal Power is a tool that you can use in your
classroom to teach about
energy production, use, and
conservation. Students can actually ride a stationary bike
to power a generator, which in turn powers an incandescent
light bulb, a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), a
light emitting diode (LED), a
hair dryer, a radio, a fan, and more. There is also a
photovoltaic (PV) panel that can be used instead of a
generator. This activity will teach
students how much energy it takes to power these common
electrical conveniences we use everyday and how important
it is to turn them off when not in use (or not use them at
all). THIS ITEM CANNOT BE SHIPPED.
YOU MUST PICK IT UP AND DROP IT OFF.
To learn more about the Pedal Power, click here.
In addition to the Pedal Power unit at the KEEP office in Stevens Point, there are three Pedal Power Hosts for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. These hosts may be contacted to sub-lease Pedal Power in their county and surrounding counties within Wisconsin:
- Timber-lee Christian Center's Science Education Center, East Troy, WI
- Pulaski Community Middle School, Pulaski, WI
- Washington Elementary School, Waupun, WI
To contact one of the Pedal Power Hosts click here.
Students might ask why is harder to turn the crank (or pedal the bike) to light the incandescent light bulb than the CFL. A simplified answer is provided below (talk to a physics teacher for a more scientific answer).
The crank is harder to turn (and the
bike harder to pedal) because there is more resistance with the
incandescent. With a traditional light bulb, it is lit by heating up a
tiny filament. This is done by forcing the current (the electrons)
through tinier and tinier wires until essentially a traffic jam is
created with causes friction and thus heat. The crank feels the
resistance to this “push” of the current. CFL tubes are coated with
fluorescent materials (called phosphors) that emit light when they are
electrically stimulated. The chemical reaction requires less energy and
there is less friction (less resistance in the electrical wire) and the
crank is easier to turn.
| Radiometer |
The original radiometer was invented by Sir
William Crookes in the mid-nineteenth century. The device
was developed to measure the intensity of radiant energy or
heat. There are a number of companies that sell radiometers
that teachers and students can use to demonstrate how light
energy can be used to do work or change things.
What makes the radiometer work? The atmosphere inside a radiometer is a nearly perfect vacuum. More than 99 percent of the air has been removed, leaving only thousands of air molecules inside the radiometer in comparison with the trillions in the atmosphere outside it. This means that each molecule of air inside the radiometer is able to move about more freely. The opposing sides of each vane or wing of the radiometer are alternately dark and light in color. When light energy from infrared radiation strikes these wings, it transfers heat to each one, but not to the same degree. The lighter side of the wing reflects light, and the dark carbonized side absorbs light. When the freely moving air molecules inside the radiometer strike the light colored side of the wing, they take on very little energy and do not bounce off very fast. However, when the molecules strike the dark side, they take on a great deal of energy and kick away at terrific speed. This causes the vane to spin in the direction it has been kicked (away from the dark carbonized side of the wing). In other words, the temperature difference between the two sides causes the vane to move due to convection currents and momentum transfer. SHIPPABLE ITEM.
| Watts Up? Meters |
Watt Meters (sometimes called Line Loggers) are a tool
that can be used to
measure the electric usage of
appliances. By plugging an appliance into the meter and then
into a socket, you can measure the actual electric use of a
particular appliance. Many
public libraries across the State of Wisconsin have
these resources available for check out. SHIPPABLE ITEM.
| Energy Bingo by Nasco |
Energy
Bingo can be played by an entire 4th-6th grade class of 30 (or in any
smaller group down to three students), for any length of time, and with any
number of winners. Enables students to learn and/or review terms and
definitions quickly and easily without tedious memorizing. Includes 30
playing cards (5" x 6"), 50 problem cards, master answer key, directions,
and plastic markers. SHIPPABLE ITEM.
| Energy Hogs by Adventerra Games |
A board game where kids learn how to save energy at home, so
as to pollute less,
slow global warming, and save money for
trips to
Disneyland and other cool stuff! The goal of Energy Hogs is
to learn to change your daily behaviors to save energy at
home. The winner is the player who uses energy most
intelligently at home and makes the smartest decisions about
new services and products, thus saving money and the planet. 3-4 students can play this
game. SHIPPABLE ITEM. 4th grade & up.
| Videos (available through the WCEE Resources Library) |
These videos have been reviewed by KEEP Staff and are recommended for use in the classroom:
Kilowatt Ours (35 minutes) - This documentary explains energy efficiency and renewable energy through a tour of the mountainous regions of the southeastern United States including Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. After explaining the process of mountain top removal for coal, Jeff Barrie teaches about how much energy an average home uses per year and what we can do to decrease our fossil fuel consumption. The negative effects of fossil fuel use such as pollution and health problems are considered as well. This is a must-see for high school students and adults! Learn more about this video at www.kilowattours.org/.
Renewable Energy: Clean Power for Wisconsin (25 minutes) - This video explores renewable energy use in Wisconsin including solar hot water, hydropower, geothermal, clean burning woodstoves, wood biomass, cool daylighting, solar electric, building with renewables, and living off-grid.
Future World - This video follows two children as they travel to the year 2050 only to find that there is no energy left because we used it all up in this generation. This is a good video for younger students.
These videos are available to rent through the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) Resources Library (for WI residents only).
| Posters |
To request a free Oil Age Poster, go to www.oilposter.org/ and click on School Request in the right-hand column.
Send comments and suggestions to KEEP, energy@uwsp.edu or call 715.346.4770.
Copyright 2001 KEEP
