Lessons on energy efficiency to be taught at school

Monday, July 11, 2016

Pretoria - With the aim to educate electricity users of the importance of energy efficiency, Eskom has developed educator guides and learner activity sheets for Grade R to Grade 9 pupils and teachers.

“Eskom believes it critical to educate electricity consumers of all ages about the importance of efficient electricity usage in the home and across all business sectors in South Africa.

“This education programme plays a key role in helping to teach pupils about the importance of energy efficiency from an early age,” said the utility on Monday.

The educator guides and learner activity sheets have been developed by an education expert to complement each subject per grade and per phase. Since electricity is already included in the school curriculum, the material is an ideal source of supplementary information on energy efficiency.

“Material for the foundation phase is based on the principles of integration and play-based learning and comprises short, structured teaching and learning activities guided by the teacher.”

Material for the intermediary phase features repetitive activities across the grades adapted according to the level of the subject skills required for a grade. Material for the senior phase focuses on outcomes such as energy transfer in electrical systems and renewable energy.

In addition, teachers of Grade R learners can also use Ruby and the Powerpals, a children’s book containing four stories, each with its own sing-along-song on CD.

The book introduces children aged 5 to 7 to Ruby, a little girl who learns how to save electricity by interacting with four special friends in her home - Laaitie the Light Switch; Hottie the Hot Tap; Freddie the Fridge; and TiniRimote, the television remote.

All the Eskom energy efficiency material for teachers and learners is available free of charge at www.eskom.co.za/idm. The Ruby book is available for download at www.rubybook.co.za. – SAnews.gov.za