In Portugal, introducing renewable energies to young people.
Learn with Energy is a multidisciplinary education program of EDP Production through which it intends on promoting the development of social and creativity skills within the school community. Elementary teachers and students (between 10 and 12 years old) have the opportunity to approach subjects connected to environmental awareness, such as renewable energies and sustainability, and to assemble, in a classroom, a reduced-scale model of a turbine and a hydroelectric power plant.
EDP has developed a kit that offers schools that apply for the Learn with Energy Program, every material necessary to assemble a turbine and a reduced-scale hydroelectric power plant. This way, the program foresees that during the assembly process, in a classroom, students can understand how it’s possible to generate energy through water. In Portugal, water energy is produced in dams, and is one of the main sources of electricity. With a process of fun and learning it will still be possible to awaken the attention and curiosity of students about sustainability and innovation issues.
How to access the Program
At the beginning of each school year, teachers interested in receiving the kit must submit an application for their school. There is a limited number of kits for distribution, so the first schools who apply will have access to the program. This kit includes a model to assembly, 1 activity sheet, 1 sticker packet and also a binder with stickers that includes relevant content about renewable energies and sustainability.
Main objectives of the program
For EDP, besides providing information on how a hydroelectric power plant works, it’s also important that the program follows through with their global mission:
- Introducing renewable energies to young people;
- To incite curiosity and empathy regarding the use of renewable energies and adoption of more sustainable habits;
- Motivate students for new learning skills through the experience;
- Provide and stimulate work group dynamics.