Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
New school resources set to switch children onto energy efficiency
Children in schools across the country are getting ready to lead the charge against energy waste with the launch of SMART Squad, a set of free teaching resources designed to educate pupils about energy efficient behaviours.
The curriculum-linked SMART Squad resources have been developed by Smart Energy GB, the voice of Britain’s smart meter roll out, and include a lesson presentation and activity sheets designed to help encourage energy saving behaviour in school and at home.
The national rollout of the resources, available in both English and Welsh, follows last year’s successful pilot of the SMART Squad programme in Welsh schools. The results of the pilot showed that SMART Squad made a significant difference to primary school pupils’ knowledge of energy efficiency and lead to a direct change in their energy efficient behaviours. The resources have been developed to aid numeracy and literacy skills, as well as encourage group work and class discussion, with teachers in the first pilot using them within science, geography, PSHE and global citizenship lessons.
Lowri Evans, a teacher at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen - Machynlleth, Powys said: “I would highly recommend the resources to any teacher who wants to teach their class about energy saving and energy efficient behaviour. The resources are easy to access, informative and digestible.”
Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB, said: “Our SMART Squad programme has demonstrated that, when given the right tools and knowledge, children can be a real catalyst for change when it comes to energy saving. That’s why we’re offering all primary schools across the country the opportunity to make these resources a part of their lessons and help their pupils to get a real understanding of energy efficiency and smart meters.
“Smart meters, which show you exactly how much energy you are using in pounds and pence, are one of the easiest and most effective ways for families across Great Britain to make positive changes to their energy behaviour and reduce their bills.”
The SMART Squad resources aim to help pupils learn about the importance of energy efficiency and how to be energy SMART:
- Save: Don’t waste energy
- Monitor: Keep an eye on how much you’re using
- Advise: Help your family, friends, school and community to save energy
- Record: Record what you see
- Turn it off: Turn things off that you’re not using
For more information about SMART Squad, and to download the resources, please visit: www.smartenergygb.org/en/resources/schools/resources-for-teachers
School: Alway Primary School
Photographer: Laura Jayne
