Siemens Energy has teamed up with its customer SSE Thermal to develop new educational resources aimed at Key Stage 2 (age 7 to 11) pupils as part of the 840MW Keadby 2 power station project in north Lincolnshire.
The materials, which have launched online, feature animated videos and printable worksheets, designed to spark young people’s curiosity in the world of energy generation and help parents and schools meet the curriculum when teaching about different energy sources.
Featuring two animated characters, KB2 and REG, the videos and printed materials discuss how power generation from natural gas and renewables work together to create the electricity we use every day. KB2 is a robot powered by a gas turbine and REG, short for Renewable Energy Generation, is a sunbeam who gets his power from the wind and the sun.
Safety is paramount for both Siemens Energy and SSE Thermal and to help children understand the importance of health, safety and well-being in the workplace, there is also an interactive online game to dress a person working on the Keadby 2 site in appropriate protective equipment, such as a hard hat.
There are seven worksheets covering topics such as, what electricity is and where it comes from, how you use electricity at home as well as helping teach about energy circuits. Each of the worksheets are clearly marked with the age group it is aimed at and all the materials have been mapped to the Key Stage 2 national curriculum.
Initially the resources were planned for use in schools close to the Keadby 2 construction site, so young people could understand the significance of the power station under construction and its neighbouring windfarm.
However, with many Key Stage 2 pupils across the country not able to return to school as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Siemens Energy and SSE Thermal have launched the material online for anyone across the country to use.
Steve Scrimshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Energy Ltd, said: “Starting education on science, technology, engineering and maths from an early age is important to spark an interest in these subjects. We wanted to create materials which not only met the needs of the curriculum but were a fun and creative way of helping children understand the relationships between the different energy sources they use every day. But, more importantly we want to spark the children’s curiosity of the world around them.”
Charlie Cryans, Director of Construction, SSE Thermal, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Siemens Energy to get children thinking about energy generation and the role it plays in our everyday lives. It’s important we find ways to engage young people with STEM subjects from an early age, inspiring a new generation of bright sparks to lead the way as we transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.”
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