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Aterazawa's kids and hydroelectricity
Students gather around their "Exploration for Wisdom" bulletin board. 99.11.24/ Temperature: 4C/ Weather: Overcast, light showers/ Wind Direction: NW
Current Location: Aterazawa, Oemachi /Latitude: 38 21 29 N / Longitude: 140 10 54 E
Distance Traveled: 0 km (Children's Point)Today was a barrage of new experiences for both the students of Aterazawa Elementary School and I. (For a detailed update, we will all have to wait for their activity report.) Invited to participate in their environmental learning adventures, I joined them early this morning. Our first stop was the oldest operating hydroelectric plant in Yamagata Prefecture.
The 6th grade students have approached the theme of energy with a challenging question. "Is nuclear power necessary?" In order to become more familiar with issues concerning energy, they arranged to visit several hydroelectric power plants in their own community. Spending the entire morning at various power facilities, students became aware of several important aspects of energy which may aid their studies.
Guide explains the function of the Shiraiwa Hydroelectric Power Plant. As we all received an explanation about the hydroelectric power plant, students listened carefully to their guide. Their pens moved quickly over their note pads jotting down information of interest. One of the most challenging questions of the day was, "How do you think the people that created this power plant felt at the time the plant was built?" The students' chatter was silenced and running water was all that could be heard off in the distance. This idea requires a stretch of one's imagination if you've lived your entire life with electricity. Our guide gave us more information with which to do so.
Students carefully take notes on the hydroelectric plant. "Initially only 44 of the 400 households in Oemachi had access to power when the plant was built back in 1901. All of the supplies for the plant were transported by train, boat, and human power." Several students said, "Wow," surprised that electricity was such a luxury. When one considers the long history of man on earth, the 100 or so years since electricity was introduced into Yamagata seems very short. Trying to imagine what life would be like without electricity, students commented, "We couldn't watch TV. We'd have to go to sleep early because we'd have no light. There would be no heat. We couldn't make delicious foods." "I can't imagine it!" was the most frequent remark. This was a good opportunity for students to start thinking about energy by imagining what its pioneers had in mind.
In addition to returning to the reason and feeling with which electric pioneers brought energy to the countryside, students shared with me some of their unique ideas about power resources. "Do you think energy can be made from electric eel?" was one of their first questions. It was followed by questions about hamster wheels, reflective solar panels and creating energy by burning trash.
Students gather to see the most recently updated wisdom report I was impressed by their openness concerning energy issues. Considering what life is like without electricity, learning the basics of energy resources, and thinking of creative new alternatives may be key to seeing the energy issue clearly. We should all watch closely to see how today's activities influenced their thoughts.
How about the rest of you: can you imagine life without electricity?
Greg
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