Tom Price and a student from Reno, enacting 'Kilowatts and Climate Change'

Black Rock Solar has developed a fun, interactive play that teaches students about renewable energy, climate change, conservation, and energy efficiency.  “Kilowatts and Climate Change” is available for K-12 students and the play engages everyone in the audience.  Using humor, hands on activities, and constant student participation, this age appropriate unit can be produced and shared with any sized classroom or auditorium.

Excerpt from “Kilowatts and Climate Change”

* An interactive play for teaching students about energy and the environment *

Written by Rosalie Fay Barnes with Tom Price and Marnee Benson

Excerpt from “Kilowatts and Climate Change:”

Narrator takes out some black hooded sweatshirts from BLACK ROCK SOLAR. A student volunteer is on the stage.

NARRATOR: The Earth here is already used to having carbon in its atmosphere. There is a perfect amount of carbon in our atmosphere to keep the temperature on Earth just right so that all the people, animal and plants can live comfortably. In fact, each year 6 billion tons of carbon can cycle naturally cycle through our waters, land, plants and atmosphere. Let’s pretend that this sweatshirt is the 6 billion tons of carbon that’s naturally in our atmosphere, keeping the Earth nice and cozy for everyone living on it.

Narrator places one hoodie on the Earth.

NARRATOR: But with the large scale burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of jungles and forests that has been going on for the last 150 years or so, we’ve got more carbon than ever in our atmosphere.

Narrator places another hoodie on the Earth.

NARRATOR: Can anyone tell me what’s so special about the last 150 years that we’re producing so much carbon? What are we doing differently now than we did for the rest of human history? I’ll give you a hint: VROOM, VROOM.

Audience Answers: Cars, planes, trains, ships, factories, etc. The Industrial Revolution!

Narrator places another hoodie on the Earth.

NARRATOR: More ideas! What sorts of things do we have now that we didn’t before that use up energy?

Audience Answers: Cell phones, microwaves, computers, dishwashers, irons, printers, elevators, televisions, DVD players, blenders, washing machines, hair dryers, etc.

Narrator places another hoodie on the Earth.

NARRATOR: Good job. All these things we use are powered by fossil fuels. And every time we use fossil fuels, we put more carbon into the atmosphere, making the earth a little bit hotter.

Narrator adds two more hoodies to the Earth.

NARRATOR: And every single year, we add billions more tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Narrator adds four more sweatshirts to the Earth, completely covering the students head and face on all sides.

NARRATOR: Carbon dioxide levels on Earth are rising due to the burning of fossil fuels from industry and everyone else. And as a result of increased carbon dioxide, the Earth’s temperature is changing, getting warmer in many places, just like this student is getting warmer. How are you doing in there?! This is called global warming or climate change. And the oceans and the forests that usually clean the carbon from the air, over millions of years, are getting overwhelmed and can’t keep up.

Boo sign is held up.

NARRATOR: Now we’re going to talk about some solutions to our carbon clogged situation.

END OF ACT 2

“Kilowatts and Climate Change” is a great way for kids to learn about renewable energy and ways they can conserve energy. It teaches them about climate change and environmental stewardship while giving them a chance to actively participate in the learning process. Black Rock Solar would be happy to provide this play to your school, just  drop us a line.