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 Motn« 230 HOu»«» lo< H«nt Hi AptV'Du[>!#»•» HO Ouadi 2 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