Explore some of the many energy options we have through storytelling, books, crafts and games. Our Global Goal book club storyteller tells the story of the rat that wished to be powerful. The story explores different types and influences of power. Discussing the story will be a fun way to look at: solar, wind, wave and geothermal energies. It also introduces how they are interconnected and interact. (Suitable for infants to 6th class).
Suggested questions to ask a class after listening to the story:
Q: Why do most people not like rats? Is it because they are seen as dirty and can carry disease? But whose waste and littering habits do they thrive on?
FACT: It is estimated there are around 7 billion rats in the world. Almost one per person!
Q: Imagine yourself as one of the characters/elements, which do you choose and why? What would it be like? (Suggested creative writing exercise.)
Q: There is no perfect solution to our need to produce energy. List out the pros and cons of the different energy sources. Can you see why a mix of energy sources is beneficial? In addition, what are the pros and cons of rats and kings?
Taking the discussion of sustainability further, the rat in the story could be a representation of low input and minimal impact living. Which it could be argued is the most important energy development/societal change needed to achieve meaningful Sustainability. Short animation created by kids:
FACT: Still in Ireland today 50% of waste food is put in the wrong bin and so is not composted. More education and awareness is needed!
FACT: Still in Ireland today 50% of waste food is put in the wrong bin and so is not composted. More education and awareness is needed!
Age Group: Infants to 2nd class
Create colourful paper streamers to play with the wind:
Age Group: 1st to 6th class
The ‘Power Game’, an adaptation of the classic Paper, Rock and Scissors game. Get the class to create hand motions to signify as many of the characters and elements in the story as they wish: Waves, Wind, Sun, Volcano, King and Rat. Let them have fun trying to work out the rules and who/what beats who/what. Allow for inventiveness, imagination and chaos! However, here are two working examples:
Play: Waves, Wind, Volcano;
Wind beats Waves, (by pushing them around)
Volcano beats Wind (by blocking it)
Waves beat Volcano (by cooling lava)
Play: Sun, King, Rat;
King beats Rat (by being more popular)
Sun beats King (by being more powerful)
Rat beats Sun (by hiding & coming out at night)
Age Group: Junior and Senior Primary
Hello and welcome back to Green-Schools Global Goals Book Club! Our third book is Iqbal and his ingenious Idea by Elizabeth Suneby. It’s a fantastic story about a boy from Bangladesh who tried to help his family with a great idea. This week we will be linking to Global Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. You can watch a reading of the story here, in the video below and fill out the character profile sheet when you are done. Have a look at the glossary too, it will help explain some terms in the book you might not be familiar with. We hope you enjoy the story and take part in the fun activities we have planned for the week.
Age Group: Senior Primary
We want you to put yourselves in Iqbal’s shoes, pretend that you are at his school science fair. How would convince the principal and judges that your solar cooker should win the competition. Use your powers of persuasion in the activity below. Here are some facts that might help your argument. Did you know that:
Age Group: Senior Primary and Secondary
Check out our home made Solar Cooker. It’s very easy to make and uses items that you probably have at home already! On the next hot sunny day this year, this is a great activity, we really enjoyed the yummy s’mores too!
Age Group: Senior Primary
We are going to see how the story of Iqbal links to Global Goal 7, Clean and Affordable Energy for all. We are going to explore how important access to energy is in helping achieve Goal 1: No Poverty.
You will be looking at how energy is important for everyone and how we might even say it is one of the basic human rights! First we want you to think about all the things you do in your home and school that use energy and write them down in the activity sheet below. Now have a look at the following video and see what you think, maybe it reminded you of other things you do that use energy? Add them to your list.
We would like you to have a look at this video and learn about what human rights are.
Do you think that clean and affordable energy should be on the list of basic human rights? And do you think that having access to clean and affordable energy would help reduce poverty? Take our short quiz here to tell us what you think!
Age Group: All
We’d like to show you the work of an organisation who are helping families in Latin America, much like Iqbal, this company has invented eco friendly stoves which use much less firewood and produce far less smoke. Have a look at the video clip and find out more about the work of Stove Team international by clicking the green button below.
So we can see from the book that even when there is plenty of food available you may not be able to access it because of not being able to afford to buy it, because of poverty (Goal 1; No Poverty.)
Green-Schools, An Taisce Environmental Education Unit. Registered Charity Number: CHY 4741 / CRA No: 20006358 / Company No: 12469