Switch... to sustainable energy solutions

Make the Change

Sustainable energy is about using energy wisely without wasting it, and making sure we have enough energy to use today and in the future without damaging the planet.

One important step is to switch to using renewable energy sources. There are some great alternatives to burning fossil fuels to create energy. Renewable energy comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and the heat from the earth. Renewable energy sources are all around us and however much we use these sources they won’t run out. Every day people are finding creative new ways to capture and use renewable energy. Use the activities in this section to explore the possibilities of renewable energy and come up with your own sustainable energy invention!

ACTIVITIES

Choose any two

1 Fuel-free fun

YOUNGER

List your favourite games and activities that require electricity or fuel. Remember that even making products, like paper or pens, uses energy. What could you do instead that does not need any resources? Can you think of games that just need you and a few friends to play them? Try some out.

Take it Further! Try making toys that use sustainable energy sources, such as pinwheel turbines (see the pattern on page XXX), wind up cars, elastic band propellers or kites. Research different toys and experiment with their designs; can you use recycled materials to make them?

2 CELEBRATE World Thinking Day on the Air

Take part in this global meet-up of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts using the power of radio! Use a solar powered or wind-up radio to make contact and tell Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world about how you are contributing to MDG 7 and celebrating World Thinking Day www.guides-on-the-air.co.uk.

3 Catch the wind

Make a colourful windsock to decorate your home and learn more about how windy your area is. You will need: wire/wire coat hanger/pipe cleaners, rectangle of fabric roughly the size you want your windsock, lengths of ribbon, needle, thread, pins.

You can make your windsock any size, but check that the long edge of your fabric rectangle is about the same length as your piece of wire.

Lay out your fabric with the back of the fabric facing youFold over one of the long edges by about two centimetres and pin downSew down the folded edge to make a seam, and feed your wire through itFold over the other long edge in the same way and pin downPin ribbons along the second seam, their long tails facing away from the fabric. You can use as many as you want, at whatever length you wantSew along the second seam, sewing over the ribbons to hold them in placeFold your windsock in half with the back of the fabric facing outward and pin the short edges together then sew down the short edgesBend your wire to shape the windsock into a circleCut one more ribbon to make a handle. Sew the ends to either side of the top of your windsock (the edge with the wire)Turn the windsock inside out – it’s ready to fly!

Put your windsock somewhere high outside and observe how it moves at different times of the day. Keep a diary of the direction and force of the wind by checking your windsock.

4 Under the Sun

OLDER

In many countries with long hours of sunshine, solar cooking can save time and energy. Instead of having to gather wood every day or breathe in smoky air, families can use the power of the sun to cook their food; a safer, cleaner alternative that is also good for the environment as it does not release carbon dioxide into the air. Even if you have an electric or gas cooker, why not try cooking with the sun on a hot day? There are lots of different ways to make a solar cooker. See page XXX for instructions to make one of the more popular designs.

Build a Rocket Stove OLDER

There are lots of different designs for more efficient, low smoke cooking stoves. Try building your own rocket stove, one of the simplest designs that can be made out of recycled materials. Rocket stoves burn wood at the tip and draw air into the chimney, giving a very hot and low smoke fire.

5 Solar S’mores

Try making s’mores using only the power of the sun. You will need: pizza box/similar shallow cardboard box, aluminium foil, thick sheet of clear plastic, scissors/craft knife, glue, black paper, sticky tape, a stick to hold the lid up.

Measure three centimetres in from the edge of the box lid all the way round and draw a square.Cut the top and sides of the square to make a flap, fold upwards along the uncut side.Glue aluminium foil, shiny side out, to the bottom side of the flap, smoothing out any wrinklesGlue another piece of foil inside the bottom of the box and up the sidesTape black paper on top of the foilTape the clear plastic to the underneath of the lid to seal the hole made by the flapPut your crackers inside the box and top half with a square of chocolate, half with a marshmallowPut your mini oven in direct sunlight, shut the clear lid tightly and use the stick to prop the flap open toward the sunLeave in the sun until the chocolate is melted and the marshmallows are gooey.Scoop out the sticky treat, sandwich between two sweet crackers and enjoy!

YOUNGER You can also try making solar s’mores using a glass dish with a glass lid.

6 How green is your packaging?

Save some examples of packaging and bring to your group meeting. Examine the packaging and discuss with your group what are the most energy intensive types of packaging to produce, what alternatives could be used and think of actions you could take to encourage retailers to reduce the packaging of their products.

Take it Further! Design your own eco-friendly packaging for one item and make a sample.

7 Green Inventor Challenge

Can you invent something that could change the world? Set up an invention competition for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in your area. Invite the Girl Guides/Girl Scouts to form small teams and come up with a new invention based on sustainable energy solutions, or an idea for making the world a bit greener. Organize a panel of judges and hold a competition evening when each team can pitch their ideas.

Take it Further! Set up an environmentally friendly business based on your learning!

8 Light it Up

Using energy saving light bulbs is a simple and effective way to save energy and money. It should not be too hard to persuade your family to use energy saving bulbs to replace old ones when they stop working. So what’s next?

A

Design a poster to promote switching to energy saving light bulbs and display in your meeting place and local community. Email your poster design to your friends to encourage them to start using energy saving light bulbs too.

9 Sustainable Party

CELEBRATE

Organize a special evening, event or camp to celebrate World Thinking Day, and consider how you can minimise the environmental impact of the celebrations and use sustainable energy solutions where possible. Tell other Girl Guides and Girl Scouts about your activities through the World Thinking Day website.

10 Baden-Powell Cookout

PAX LODGE ACTIVITY

Pax Lodge, the WAGGGS’ World Centre inLondon, is a great place to visit if you want to see where the Movement all began. One favourite activity for Pax Lodge guests is visitingBrownseaIsland, where the first ever Scout camp took place. Lord Baden-Powell taught his Scouts how to survive in the wild, so try this activity to reconnect with your Girl Guide/Girl Scout roots! Cook a meal with your group using only natural materials as utensils – that means no washing up and no paper plates being thrown away! Experiment with what you can find in your natural environment that is safe to use when preparing food such as coconuts, banana leaves, shells, sticks and stones. Check with your group leader that what you find is safe as some plants are poisonous or not safe to use in food preparation. If in doubt, do not use it.

11 Ways with Water

What if you do not have water on tap? Water is one of the most precious resources in the world, but it is not always easy to find. Try some of these methods for collecting and filtering water.

INSERT DIAGRAMS AND INSTRUCTIONS x3 HERE (SOLAR STILL, BEACH WELL, CONDENSATION METHOD)

Once you have collected water, you must purify it before drinking as many dangerous bacteria can live in water. First, try this homemade water filter to clean the water, then purify either by boiling for at least ten minutes or using a purification tablet. If you are not sure about the quality of the water, do not drink it.

INSERT WATER FILTER DIAGRAM AND INSTRUCTIONS HERE

A

Measure how much water you can gather using these methods.

B

If you were relying on water collection methods like these, how would it change your life? Produce a leaflet or diary extract exploring how your life would be different.

12 Crowdsourcing

OLDER

Find out about crowdsourcing – a method of asking millions of online users to help with research projects and see if there is an environmental project you can contribute to. Research the pros and cons of crowdsourcing and prepare a talk for your group.