Livingwise with 5th Graders

For participating schools, 5th grade students receive a kit that includes the following:
- High Efficiency Showerhead
- 13 Watt Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (equivalent to 60 watts)
- Limelight® Night Light
- Filtertone® Alarm
- Kitchen Aerator
- Digital Thermometer
- Mini Tape Measure

Background: In conjunction with the LivingWise Activity Kits, both a Teachers Book and Student Guides are provided to 5th grade classrooms in Holy Cross Energy’s service territory.  The focus of the LivingWise Program is to teach students life-long lessons about energy and water, how each is used in our daily lives, and ways to conserve.
Curriculum: Through an interactive approach, students learn the importance of water, energy, and other related environmental issues.  The curriculum is divided into six (6) distinct sections as follows:
1)    Natural Resources
2)    Water
3)    Natural Gas
4)    Energy
5)    Conservation
6)    Conservation at Home
Within each section, a specific objective is identified for the student. Use of charts, diagrams, hand-outs, posters, and new vocabulary words further reinforce the concept.  Discussion questions provide the opportunity for student participation.
A series of classroom hands-on activities foster a creative environment where students have fun exploring and experimenting with concepts relevant to the section topic.  The program is capped off with the distribution of the LivingWise Activity Kit during Section 6 “Conservation at Home”.  

Finally, students are encouraged to complete an evaluation form.  If 80% of the forms are returned by a specified date, classes are rewarded with a gift card for the purchase of classroom materials.

If your 5th grade classroom is interested in participating in the LivingWise Program, please contact Stephen B. Casey, Member Services and Marketing Administrator, Holy Cross Energy, by phone at (970) 947-5430 or e-mail at scasey@holycross.com.