Get Energy Smart Teacher FAQs
Q. What is the Get Energy Smart program?
A. Get Energy Smart is an educational program for students in grades 3–4 that is designed to teach children about energy efficiency. These materials, created by Scholastic and sponsored by Duke Energy, feature characters from The Magic School Bus book series. Interactive Get Energy Smart lessons kits are currently being distributed to schools in the Duke Energy service area in the state of Ohio.
Q. How will the Get Energy Smart program fit in with my regular class curriculum?
A. The program’s lessons and activities were created specifically to meet a variety of state standards for Science, Math, and Language Arts. Each lesson fits within your state-standardized academic requirements.
Q. What is contained within the Get Energy Smart program?
A. Get Energy Smart features the following components:
- Teaching Guide
- Certificate of Participation
- Family Booklet
- Home Energy Survey
- Mailing Envelopes (Teacher and Family versions)
- Teacher Questionnaire
- Pop-out Magic School Bus with characters from the series
- Energy-saving tools
Q. Teaching Guide: What does this contain?
A. Each Teaching Guide contains three standards-based lessons (featuring extensive instructions and wrap-up activities) and related student worksheets.
Q. Certificate of Participation: What is this for?
A. The Certificate of Participation highlights your students' participation in the Get Energy Smart program, and can be posted in the classroom to remind your students of the great work they've done.
Q. Family Booklet: What is this for?
A. The Family Booklet (thirty copies for each class) contains at-home activities, energy-saving tips, and the Home Energy Survey. We encourage you to distribute the booklet to your students for them to bring home to their families.
Q. Home Energy Survey: What is this for?
A. This short survey is being provided by Duke Energy in order to show students' families how they can make their homes more energy efficient and save money on their energy bills. The survey features thirty questions about energy use in the home.
Q. Prepaid Mailing Envelopes: What are these for?
A. Prepaid mailing envelopes (a 6" x 9" envelope for families and a 9" x 12" envelope for teachers) should be used to return completed Home Energy Surveys. That way, everyone can send the surveys in!
Q. Teacher Questionnaire: What is this for?
A. The Teacher Questionnaire is a seven-question document used to gather feedback from teachers on Get Energy Smart. Answers to the questionnaire will help Scholastic and Duke Energy to understand the program's effectiveness in the classroom. The first fifty teachers who return the completed questionnaire will receive a class set of books and a Magic School Bus science kit free from Scholastic.
Q. Cardboard Pop-out Magic School Bus: What is this for?
A. The cardboard pop-out Magic School Bus and characters are to be displayed in your classroom and can even be hung as a mobile.
Q. Energy-saving tools: What items are included and how are they used?
A.:
- CFL bulb: A compact fluorescent lamp uses less energy than a standard incandescent light bulb, and boasts a longer lifespan.
- Low-flow faucet aerator: An energy-efficient addition to standard sink faucets that can reduce water consumption by as much as 50%, and reduce water-heating costs by as much as 50%.
- Electrical outlet sealer: Installed easily behind an outlet's faceplate, this can reduce the potential loss of heat and cool air by as much as 20%.
- Light switch sealer: Installed easily behind a light switch faceplate, this can also reduce the potential loss of heat and cool air by as much as 20%.
Q. Why should families complete the Home Energy Survey?
A. Answers to the thirty questions will generate a comprehensive, personalized energy report created by Duke Energy, which will be delivered directly to participating families. Additionally, each family will receive an Energy Efficiency Kit from Duke Energy, with energy-saving tools, tips, and a fun toy for their child.
Q. What can teachers win for participating in the program?
A. Prizes for teachers include a trip for two to New York City, a visit from the Traveling Magic School Bus, and a class set of books from Scholastic.
Q. How do families become eligible for the sweepstakes prizes?
A. Any family that completes and submits the Home Energy Survey is automatically entered into the sweepstakes to win a brand-new laptop. For details on how to enter, click here now.
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