COMMUNITY
Elementary students become Watt Watchers
bpacesmp story
encourages kids
to monitor energy
By June Russell
Emerald Reporter
He begins with a story.
“This spaceship is called the II T
Karr. John Hezelj tells the class of fifth
graders at River Road Elementary “It
has enough food, water and air for ev
eryone on board, but each of its systems
must be used carefully because there is
no extra food, water or air
"Hut one group of astronauts, the
Uoys. are using up tin* resources of ev
eryone else, eating ali the food and pol
luting the air." Hezelj continues “The
question is. what are you going to do
about it?”
The response from tile students is as
prompt as it is varied. Some suggest i
compost pile to recycle the food as ter
tilizer. Others want (he space police to
take the greedy lloys away Their ( lass
mates like the idea and take it one step
further. They want the Hoys lot ked in a
dungeon and tortured
Be/.elj listens to their suggestions ami
grins. He tells them ll«' res! of the storv
“The H.T Rae is planet Earth, and
the Hoys are you,” he tells the ( lass
“This story is to point out that human
beings are guilty of using more re
sources than they need.
“All of the air. water and soil we w ill
ever have is on the Earth now. We are
the astronauts on spaceship Earth. It's
up to us to take care of our resources.
“The question is." Hezelj tells the
class, “what are you going to do?”
Hezelj, energy conservation and re
cycling education coordinator for Eu
gene 4J School District, uses the “H T
Rae" story to train fourth and fifth grade
students at the elementary schools to tie
Watt Watchers, monitors of electricity
use and waste at their schools
The idea is not a new one.' but it is
one that works. Hezelj's predecessor
saw the success of the Watt Watchers
program in schools in Texas and Cali
fornia and decided to incorporate it into
the conservation program in her own
district schools
Armed with badges and clipboards.
Watt Watchers make periodic rounds to
lohn Hotelj reveals who the greedy ‘ltoys' really are to filth graders at River Road Elementary Si hool.
Pholn h» S*«n Hixlun
inspect how energy is being used They
leave notes of commendation or gentle
reminders to conserve energy in each
room.
The program is funded by a $20,000,
two-year grant from the Oregon Depart
ment of Energy Distric t Walt Watchers
have already seen a decrease of 2r> per
cent in energy costs in some schools
VI.| Goewev. fifth grade teacher at
River Road Elementary, found the Watt
Watchers program works well with her
own theme of helping our planet Earth
The idea is two-fold: to integrate stan
dard subjects, like writing or math into
exercises in conservation, and to incor
porate energy conservation and recycl
ing into daily prai tices at home Both
the students and their teacher are all for
it.
“It's more hands-on, more real life
that they can apply at home,” she said
"Texts are great, hut whenever a kid
(.an get involved in hands-on activities.
it sticks "
The students also prefer hands-on ac
tivities to tests As l.uke liiiliili. one ol
the students said, ''We like the fun
stuff. It's very cool, man."
Classmate August Mover agreed "It s
nn e to have someone come in and teach
us this stuff I like to recycle
f uture conservation awareness activi
ties will include the continuation of
Karth l.og. in which students apply con
servation suggestions at home and re
port on their findings Another activity
will tear h the children to read the kilo
watt meter at home and try to conserve
energy there as well.
“We're going to have the child be
their own Watt Watcher at home."
Me/.elj said. "It makes the child feel re
sponsible. and that's important. They
also save their family money on their
energy bills, and that's pretty neat.
“Can you imagine how much this
community can save using the sr bools
.ts ,i springboard'" Itr/.elj said "That's
tin' i urn apt uf tiiiv iug kuls lake the edu
cation home ami teat liing their parents
That's im idea of re.il education, il they
can apply it "
Since the inception of the district's
conservation and recycling program in
1985, the district has experienced in
creased public support, lowered fuel
costs, increased staff and student in
volvement in conservation efforts and
increased environmentally resjHinsible
operations.
Actual savings in reduced consump
tion of five utilities totaled %7H.227 dur
ing the 19H9-90 m hool year. Some
$19,559 went back to the schools, ill re
bates ranging from Sul to $1,789.
The students. He/elj said, are what
make the conservation program work.
"They're vital They're the whole
program." Iln/.elj said "You start the
kids out young and they grow up re
sponsible citizens."
r
Daily Emerald
Classified Advertising
Placement Order
HOW DO YOU REACH 45,000 READERS EVERY DAY?
JUST FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW!
Classifications
Available
TOO Connection*
105 Person*!*
110 Lost 4 Found
115 Typing Services
120 Tutoring
125 Instruction
130 For Sols Mi sc
135 Buy or Tr*d«
140 Pots
US Cars
150 Mot<vcycl««/Scoottrt
155 B<cyci«t
160 Auto Repair*
165 Compul«rs/El«CtfOA»ca
170 Sound Sy»t<Kn§
175 Inotrumonts
180 R*saJ« Clothing
185 Boom
190 S*i Equipment
195 Outdoor Roc nation
200 Travel
209 Weekend Getaways
210 Rides & Riders
215 Opportumties
220 Help Wanted
IK Worti Study Po»itk>n«
230 HOu»«» lo< H«nt
Hi AptV'Du[>!#»•»
HO Ouadi
2<iRoomi
250 Do'm Contract*
255 Roommi!•»
260 R««i Estat#
765 G*/*g«/Wovng Sal#*
270 CftH<3 Ctrt
2/5 Meei.ng*
260 E*«nts
265 An* &
290 Food 4 Drink
295 Health 6 Fitne**
300
305 CounMi'ng
310 5«rr»c#t
This section MUST BE COMPLETED betoie .id will be accepted
I * Iw OO* M ••Oy:
Phona (.
. (mutt bt ghmn)
Nama_
Today's
Oil*_
Address_____
Fill out belo« If paying with Credit Card/Purchase Order
Eiplratton date_/_PO 4
«P_
VISA
MCr'
Receipt mailed upon request.
Rates/Billing Amounts:
Total» ot lines._
1st day charge:_
2nd day charga:_
Payad by cath/check.
(for office use only)
. Etlra Charges..
. TOTAL COST:.
Ad placed at: BKS MO OOE
_cc_po_
SOX 12 on* day chugt
GREEK LETTERS 12 on# da? cha*ga
CAU
346-4343
PLEASE WRITE AD EXACTLY AS YOU WANT IT TO APPEAR1
001 CANNOT Bt HELD RFSPONSIBLF FOR lUFOIBLE HANDWRITING'
Mailing Addreta:
Room 300. EMU
P.O. Bo* 3159
Eugena, OR 97403
DE ADl «NE S
|M« Qiilty me ( h#»o»# 1pm <xv#
bv*«n*M <*•» P*<* »*>
0»p*»r *r.c«p*Nl bmierm I p m
1*0 bu**n»»% 4mr% prto* to
s
To place, cancel of
correct your art call
3464343
9am.-5p.ro. dally
ll heard it through the grapevine...
Advertise today!
In the Emerald Classifieds
•j