Hands-on
Resources
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| About KEEP |
Professional
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Funding Opportunities |
| Hands-on Resources |
| Energy Trunk |
Energy Packed
Trunk Attack
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.
| 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. If you are interested
in using the Hand-crank Generator in your classroom and are
a Wisconsin educator, please
contact Jamie at
jmollica@uwsp.edu or 715.346.4818.
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
| 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 and a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), a
hair dryer, radio, and a fan. 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).
To learn more about the Pedal Power, click here.
KEEP's Pedal Power Host Project
Would you like to have a Pedal Power Unit for your
educational site or classroom? Would you be interested in
helping others in your community gain “legs-on” experiences
in energy efficiency? If so, we encourage you to apply to
become one of KEEP’s Pedal Power Hosts. As a Host, KEEP
lends a Pedal Power unit to your school or education site
for two years. During those two years, you use the Pedal
Power Unit in your classroom or setting and also sublet the
Unit out to other educators. To learn more about about the
application process, click
here.
| 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.
| Videos |
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).
| Watt 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.
| 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
