Shaping the future – Discovering renewable energy with children
In cooperation with: WG Biology/ Physics Heidelberg University of Education
The nuclear phase-out in Germany has been decided and the modification of the energy supply towards more renewable energy sources such as water, wind and sun is in full swing. For a social acceptance of this development, raising children’s and adolescents’ awareness of renewable energy early is important. The project introduces preschool children and pupils of secondary school to the field of renewable energy.
The interdisciplinary project consisted of three parts:
Subproject I (working group of Prof. Dr. Welzel-Breuer) has been developing and organizing professional development courses for kindergarten teachers and accompanied them scientifically. The kindergarten teachers develop and test different possibilities to get the topic renewable energy to a level that is understandable for preschool children.
Subproject II (working group Prof. Dr. Storrer, later working group Prof. Dr. Siegmund) has built and supported partnerships between secondary schools and kindergartens. It also has developed educational materials and a guideline for teachers. In the framework of the PLUS-concept (“Patenschaftliches Lernen und Spielen” i.e. Learning and Playing in Partnership) students of secondary school have been trained to become “energy-scouts”. The students have developed concepts to pass on what they learned to preschool children.
Subproject III (working group Prof. Dr. Siegmund) has measured the competence of preschool children regarding the topic renewable energy. Based on a normative competence model, it has been tested in how far preschool children have competences in the area renewable energy. For that a measurement instrument has been developed in several empirical studies.
The project is in dissemination phase. If you are interested to take part, please contact the VRD Foundation for Renewable Energies.
Visit of secondary school students in a kindergarten
Project term: 2011 - 2015
The project was sponsored by the VRD Foundation for Renewable Energies and support by the city of Heidelberg.
