KEEP On Going
Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program Newsletter
FALL 2009 | VOL. 10 NO. 2
In this KEEP issue:
KEEP at the Energy Fair............1,5
KEEP Receives Funding for
Energy Education Projects ...........2
Energy Educator of the Year - Call
for Nominations ............................3
Energy and Your School
Activity Guide ................................3
In the Spotlight:
Family Consumer Science............4
Free Energy Superhero
Bookmarks ....................................4
Resource Review...........................5
KEEP at the Energy Fair
The annual Energy Fair in Custer, Wisconsin is the perfect setting for teacher professional development. Each year, KEEP hosts two tents specifically for teachers: the
Educator Workshops Tent and the Educator Resources Tent. These tents provide a
“home-base” where educators earn graduate credit, learn about and receive
Calendar of Events .......................6
educational resources, and participate in hands-on workshops.
Energy Fair Thank You..................6
The main goal of teacher education at the Energy Fair is for teachers to increase
renewable energy content in curriculum; a secondary outcome is teachers return
home ready to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy practices into their
lives. For example, Myron Buchholz, a social studies teacher from Memorial High
School in Eau Claire who attended the Energy Fair in 2006, installed photovoltaics at
his home. Phillip Johnsrud, a Technology Education teacher from Iola, arranged for a
blower-door demonstration at his school to introduce students to energy efficiency,
the first step toward renewable energy. Another teacher from Kettle Moraine Lutheran
High School, Tom Mellon, attended the Energy Fair in 2007 and was able to get four
photovoltaic trackers installed at his school that generate about 20,000 kW annually.
Tom has also been a key player in the installation of an engineered wetland wastewater treatment plant at the school that uses four PV panels to charge batteries that
operate a direct-current submersible pump to recycle water for retreatment. The wetland uses a windmill that aerates subsurface bacteria as well. These project ideas
were generated because of the teachers’ experiences at the Energy Fair.
Continued on page 5
KEEP On Going
Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program Newsletter
Page 1
KEEP Staff
Jennie Lane
Director
Jamie Mollica
Program Specialist
Melissa Rickert
Outreach Specialist
KEEP Receives Funding for Energy
Education Projects
This year has been a successful year for KEEP receiving funds to support energy education
initiatives. KEEP staff are thrilled about this support as it indicates stakeholders believe in our mission and enables us to further help teachers enhance students’ energy literacy. Following is a list
of these projects, some underway and some forthcoming.
• Energy Education from School to Home: Community Energy Efficiency through Service
Learning Projects. This initiative is part of Wisconsin Public Service’s Energy community
based energy efficiency pilot plan that is being conducted in partnership with Focus on
Energy and the Citizen Utility Board. KEEP’s role will be to work with the Brillion School
District to enhance integration of energy concepts into curriculum and to develop and
implement school-based community energy efficiency service learning projects.
• Energy Bookmark Contest. Supplemental funds from Focus on Energy Schools and
Government program are supporting the 2010 Energy Bookmark Contest, the theme is
Saving Energy: My School First.
• Renewable energy education in We Energies Electric service territory. KEEP is partnering with
We Energies to develop and implement a variety of renewable energy education projects and
experiences for teachers, including travel support for the Solar Tour of Buildings, Renewable
Energy Networking Dinner, and the development of a renewable energy technologies in
building science conceptual framework.
• Fuels for Schools Course Development Workshop. KEEP partnered with the Wisconsin K-12
Forestry Education Program, also known as LEAF, to conduct a workshop focused on creating
a teacher inservice course that complements the Fuels for Schools program. Fuels for
Schools is meant to help Wisconsin schools and communities save hundreds of thousands of
dollars in energy costs by switching from natural gas to heating their buildings with wood or
other biomass.
• Spanish version of Know the Flow of Energy in Your School. KEEP’s popular elementary
supplement will be translated into Spanish and should be available spring 2010.
• Networking opportunity for KEEPtacular teachers. We will have a special venue for KEEP
teachers who have completed three or more of our courses on October 29 at 4:30 pm at the
2009 Wisconsin Education Association Council’s fall conference. For more information,
contact Jamie Mollica at jmollica@uwsp.edu.
• We are still trying to secure funds to enhance our transportation education initiatives and to
purchase resources to improve the Educator Resources Tent at the Energy Fair. We are
pleased with the support we have received this year and hope that many of you reading this
newsletter will benefit from these initiatives.
KEEP On Going
Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program Newsletter
Sara Windjue
Energy Education Specialist
Carrie Bea Ziolkowski
Program Coordinator
KEEP Advisory
Committee Participants
Randy Champeau (chair)
Director, Wisconsin Center for
Environmental Education
Jean Derfus
Senior Regulatory Analyst, Xcel Energy
Julie Fitzgerald
Fond du Lac School District
Lisa Fox
Manager, Cross Sector Initiatives
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp.
Jacquelyn Haas
Education Outreach, We Energies
Jim Jenson
Community Education Coordinator
Madison Gas & Electric
Kathy Kuntz
Director of Energy Programs
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp.
Shelley Lee
Science Education Consultant
Department of Public Instruction
Tehri Parker
Executive Director Midwest Renewable
Energy Association
Charlie Schneider
Sector Manager, CESA 10 and
Focus on Energy Schools Program
Cheri Tessmann
WPPI Energy, Community & Customer
Programs Coordinator
Kelly Zagrzebski
Public Affairs
Wisconsin Public Service
Page 2
Energy and
Your School
Activity Guide
Energy Educator of the Year Call for Nominations
KEEP is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the Energy Educator of the Year Awards.
This award recognizes one formal educator and one non-formal educator who each take the extra
step to improve energy literacy in Wisconsin.
KEEP is proud to present Energy
Nominating someone or yourself involves completing an entry form and submitting a one page narra-
and Your School, the latest sup-
tive that details the nominee’s energy education initiatives and outcomes. If this is a self-nomination,
plement to the KEEP Activity
we also require a letter of reference. The nomination form can be found on the KEEP Web site:
Guide. This guide is filled with fun
www.uwsp.edu/keep/Networking/index.htm#Awards. The due date for nomination form and narrative
and exciting activities that will
is February 22, 2010. Nominations must be submitted or postmarked on this date.
help students explore the energy
systems in their school. These
Nominations are encouraged to highlight applicant’s exemplary actions and experiences in one or
activities look at how energy is
more of the following areas:
used in buildings and ways to
• Professional Development Experiences (leadership, teaching courses, taking workshops, etc.)
save energy at schools. In addi-
• Curriculum and Resource Development (developing curriculum, creating teaching aids, using
tion to the activities, the appendix
contains cross reference charts,
fact sheets, sample school
assessments and surveys, case
studies, and much more.
resources effectively, etc.)
• Networking and Outreach (presentations, organizing conferences and events, creating Web
sites, etc.)
• Student Involvement (leading clubs and after school projects, involving students in the Bright Idea
Fundraiser, career development, etc.)
• Fundraising (grant writing, organizing fundraisers, conserving energy, etc.)
Each teacher that participates in
the KEEP NRES 734: School
Award Categories: The Formal Energy Educator of the Year Award recognizes a Wisconsin K-12 class-
Building Energy Efficiency
room teacher, public or private, for his or her efforts and dedication to energy education. Teachers of
Education course will receive a
all subjects are eligible.
copy of this new guide. If you are
interested in having a NRES 734
The Non-Formal Energy Educator of the Year Award recognizes a Wisconsin resident who works with
course in your district, visit the
the community, outside of a school setting, to promote energy education in one form or another.
KEEP Web site, click on
Professional and volunteer educators who teach in non-school settings are eligible.
Professional Development, then
complete and submit the NRES
Awards: The Formal and Non-Formal Energy Educator of the Year Award recipients will be awarded
734 Course Request Form.
$1,000 and additional resources (worth up to $250) to be used to further their energy education
efforts. Award winners will be notified March 16, 2010 via email. Winners will be announced on
KEEP’s Web site and newsletters and will be recognized at KEEP’s Annual Energy Awards Ceremony.
For questions regarding the 2010 Energy Educator of the Year Awards Program, please contact
Jennie Lane at 715.346.4770 or email jlane@uwsp.edu.
KEEP On Going
Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program Newsletter
Page 3
Free Energy
Superhero
Bookmarks!
ORDER ONLINE AT
WWW.UWSP.EDU/KEEP/STUDENT
INVOLVEMENT
In the Spotlight Family Consumer Science Teachers
If you have been following KEEP over the past
refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR qualified
years you may have noticed that we have
refrigerator. KEEP awarded ten refrigerators
several outreach programs for Technology
through this program to FCS teachers
Education and Engineering teachers in
throughout the state! Last year KEEP worked
Wisconsin schools. KEEP has also been work-
with the Wisconsin Environmental Education
ing with Family Consumer Science (FCS) teach-
Board (WEEB) to incorporate the appliance
ers to foster a partnership that will help KEEP
program into an online Energy Education
develop special curriculum, resources, and pro-
Resource Grant Program for FCS and Tech. Ed.
fessional development opportunities to help
teachers. This grant offered funds for ENERGY
them teach about energy education in their
STAR appliances and additional hands-on
classrooms.
resources such as watt meters, DVDs, and
books to use in the classroom. Several FCS
KEEP has identified FCS teachers as a critical
teachers applied online and received funds to
audience to work with because FCS curriculum
purchase energy resources! KEEP hopes to
has numerous opportunities to infuse energy
offer this again in the spring of 2010.
education. Budgeting, family health, foods science are all a great fit for in the FCS classroom!
This summer twelve FCS teachers from around
When KEEP staff made the decision to work
the state gathered at UWSP to take a class that
with FCS teachers we knew we needed to find
reviewed existing FCS energy activities and
out how and how much they teach about ener-
started the process of developing a FCS Energy
gy, what the barriers are to teach about energy,
Education Activity Guide. These teachers identi-
and what they need to teach about energy.
fied effective activities that already exist and
From this needs assessment, KEEP discovered
activities that could be improved to integrate
that FCS teachers are interested in teaching
into a curriculum. These twelve teachers are in
about energy but they need professional devel-
the process of developing activities that will be
opment, resources, and funds to support their
part of this activity guide. The activity guide will
efforts.
be available online when it is completed.
In response to this KEEP has implemented
KEEP looks forward to developing additional
programs and has numerous ideas for
programs and services for FCS teachers. FCS
additional programs in the coming years. KEEP
teachers can look forward to special offers to
first secured funds from Focus on Energy to
pilot the ENERGY STAR® Appliance Upgrade
attend relevant conferences, additional profes-
Program in which FCS teachers could apply for
resources, specialized workshops, and more!
The winning bookmark designs are
available to view and order online.
The 2009 theme was Energy
Superheroes: The Quest for an
Energy Efficient Planet. This theme
challenged students to think creatively about how people can be
energy efficient superheroes.
To request your free set of 45 bookmarks or to order larger quantities
go to the Web site listed above, fill
out the form, and send it to KEEP. If
you have any questions please contact KEEP at energy@uwsp.edu or
715.346.4651.
KEEP is happy to announce the
theme for 2009/2010 is Saving
Energy: My School First. Contest
rules and entry forms are available
on the Web site listed above.
sional development opportunities, funds for
funds to replace an energy inefficient
KEEP On Going
Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program Newsletter
Page 4
KEEP at the
Energy Fair
Cont’d.
There is an increasing trend in the
number of teachers who revisit the
Energy Fair after attending KEEP’s
graduate courses. If you haven’t yet
attended the Energy Fair, consider
attending next summer (June 18-20,
2010).
Resource Review
“I have told numerous people that I
Energy Hogs
have no idea why I waited 20 years
By Adventerra Games
to get to this [Energy] Fair. It more
For Middle and High School Students
than surpassed my expectations
The goal of Energy Hogs is to teach kids to change their daily behaviors to save energy at home.
and I intend to make it an annual
The winner is the player who uses energy most intelligently at home and makes the smartest
event for my personal growth.”
decisions about new services and products, thus saving money and the planet. Three or four
students can play this game individually, or it can be played with three or four teams.
“Thank you for the opportunity to
expand my horizons at the Energy
This game illustrates how energy choices can impact expenses by teaching students that wasting
Fair. You can be sure that I will be
energy costs money. While choosing energy efficient products and services may cost more
looking forward to attending in the
money up-front, they typically save money (and energy) in the long run. In this game saving
future!”
energy is equivalent to saving money. For example, students can choose to buy appliances with
the best ENERGY STAR® ratings thus consuming the least amount of energy and allowing them
“By far, this was one of the best
to collect money at the beginning of each turn; or they can choose a cheaper, less efficient appli-
classes I have taken. I have been
ance and pay for the cost of its use at the beginning of each turn. Basic math skills are a must.
talking to a lot of people about the
A full game can be played in an hour or you can play a shortened or an extended version. For
great time and all the cool technolo-
more information and availability visit http://adventerragames.com.
gies that were [at the Energy Fair].”
Note: This game doesn’t incorporate real life expenses or discuss fossil fuels, but it does give
If you enroll in one of KEEP’s gradu-
students good ideas about what energy saving practices are and are not. It is a nice follow-up
ate courses at the Fair, you will be
activity to an energy efficiency lesson.
required to attend some mandatory
sessions, but the rest of the course
Into the Outdoors: Tread Lightly, Volume 0802
hours are free for you to choose
Run Time: 24:30
which sessions to attend. Some
For Elementary, Middle, and High School Students
examples of sessions offered
Into the Outdoors is a five-time Emmy Award Winning Wisconsin outdoors television series for
include Steps to a Successful
kids. The Tread Lightly episode examines people’s individual carbon footprints by discussing how
Renewable Energy Project; Energy,
the choices we make everyday affect the environment. This short video analyzes the energy effi-
Environment, & Economics;
ciency and cost of compact fluorescent light bulbs vs. incandescent light bulbs. It also shows
Sustainable Farming; and Biofuels
ways to conserve energy at home and at school. The viewers visit a school where kids are apply-
101.
ing their lesson in energy conservation to the community.
To learn more, visit
Tread Lightly is positive and energetic. It addresses energy concepts in a way that students can
www.the-mrea.org or contact KEEP
relate to. It highlights simple ways kids can make a difference. And it’s all done in Wisconsin!
for information regarding graduate
courses at the Fair.
KEEP On Going
This video is available for checkout at WCEE Resources Library.
Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program Newsletter
Page 5
Energy Fair
Thank You
Thank you to the following organizations and companies for their
wonderful donations that were
displayed and/or awarded to educators at the 2009 Energy Fair on
Calendar of Events
June 19-21:
Acorn Naturalists, Adventerra
September
Games, Alliant Energy,
15 & 16: Sustainability and Energy Efficiency (SE2) Conference in Milwaukee
Bookfinders, Energy Information
23: FREE Energy Center of Wisconsin Webinar - Energy Efficiency’s Great Potential
Administration, Green & Healthy
www.ecw.org/project.php?workid=5&resultid=390
Schools, Green Teacher, Lake
24, October 1, 8, & 15: NRES 734 in Howard-Suamico
Michigan Wind & Sun, LEGO
26: Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s Harvest Fest and Ride for Renewables
Education, Madison Gas &
October – Energy Awareness Month
2: Solar Decade Conference in Milwaukee
2 & 3: Wisconsin Solar Tour of Homes, statewide
6, 8, 13 & 15: NRES 734 in Waunakee
Electric, Midwest Renewable
Energy Association, NASCO,
National Energy Foundation,
Stevens Point Area Co-op,
SunWind Solar, We Energies,
7, 14, 21 & November 4: NRES 734 in Princeton
9: 56th Annual Technology Education Conference in Menomonie
11 & 12: Wisconsin Electrathon and Supermileage Challenge at the Dells Raceway Park
in Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources, WPPI Energy,
Wisconsin Public Service, Xcel
Energy.
13, 15 & 17: NRES 734 in Richland Center
14-17: Midwest Environmental Education Conference in Champagne, IL
14, 19, 21 & 26: NRES 734 in Gillett
These resources were used to
increase energy education in
16, 17 & 24: NRES 730 in Eau Claire
Wisconsin and around the coun-
21-24: Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Fall Conference in Eau Claire
25 – November 22: NRES 735 Biomass Online course for We Energies teachers
29: School Building Energy Efficiency Workshop in Monona Grove
29 & 30: Wisconsin Education Association Council Convention in Milwaukee
try. These donations provide
opportunities for educators to
learn about hands-on products
that are available for use in their
November
classrooms, nature centers, and
6-8: NRES 730 in Park Falls
other educational facilities.
18: 2009 Wisconsin High School Conference on the Environment in Stevens Point
December
14: Energy Bookmark Contest entries due to the KEEP office
January
20-22: State Education Convention in Milwaukee
February
13: Wisconsin Environmental Education Board Grant applications due
22: Energy Educator of the Year nominations due to the KEEP office
KEEP On Going
Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program Newsletter
Page 6