Pattaya school kids recently had some eye-opening lessons
about how precious our energy resources are and how to use them wisely. In a
move to expand national energy saving measures, the Policy and Energy
Project Department and the Ministry of Power came to Pattaya School No. 8 to
establish the “Energy Protector 2nd Step Project”. This creative
learning experience conducted by project experts was not only fun, but
though provoking. Over 200 pupils attended the session and all came away
with ideas on how to save energy.
Energy
experts charge up the children to learn about energy conservation.
Project producer Thanita Mongkolsuk explained about the
Energy Protector project supported by the Policy and Energy Project
Department, the Ministry of Power, and the Ministry of Education. “We feel
that school children are not too young to learn how important it is to use
energy economically. The first step of this project was such a success we
extended it to a second step. The aim is to educate pupils in the primary
classes 4-5 and will introduce the project to all Pattaya schools. We hope
the youngsters will share what they have learned with others including their
parents.”
The
children take a pre-activity quiz.
The first step of the project was initiated in the large
cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Had Yai and proved a major success. It is
now slated to expand to more areas of the country. Pattaya was chosen
because it is a highly populated tourist town that uses vast amounts of
energy each year.
Thanita explained that the project’s learning session
is a half-day event and has 6 bases, all of which the youth must participate
in, and that the activities provide knowledge and amusement suited to the
children’s ages.
The First Base is titled a Blind World. It imitates life
without energy so the children can understand how difficult it would be if
the world had no energy.
The Second Base is titled A Hot World, the Greenhouse
Effect. It consisted of a clear plastic tent which imitates the greenhouse
effect so children can participate by asking questions about what they were
seeing.
The Third Base is titled A Naughty Boy. The undisciplined
boy gets into trouble with energy. The children participate by answering
questions about using energy correctly and efficiently.
The Fourth Base is titled Following the Route of Energy.
This base has signboards with diagrams of energy evolution. Using energy
methods, the children must answer questions and classify different types of
energy evolution.
The Fifth Base is titled Coordinate to Stop Leaking. This
is an energy protection base with many methods used to make sure energy
isn’t wasted. The children play games and must participate in the concept
of energy protection.
The Sixth Base is titled Coming Together to Save Energy.
This final base is for evaluating and understanding energy protection by
imitating a room in the house that uses energy in different ways. It lets
children check different aspects of the room so they learn how to use energy
without wasting it.
Each base has learning points for the children’s teams.
The children also receive an energy protection badge at the end of the
training course so they can continue to practice saving energy in society.
Thanita said although these children are not yet high energy consumers,
armed with better knowledge, they will become a group that can help educate
society on energy conservation now and in the future. “It’s one of the
best methods for public relations on energy protection. It is critical that
everyone in the world pay intention right now,” she stressed.
The
mobile library in a shaded area of the public park on Koh Loy.
The
new library service drew much interest from Sriracha children.