BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
Students at Lincoln Trail Elementary School got an inside look at energy conservation from electric and natural gas safety from Ameren Illinois earlier this month.
Each year, Ameren Illinois celebrates National Energy Awareness month by giving energy conservation presentations to fourth- and fifth-grade students throughout its service territory, although they have safety presentations for all ages.
After the presentation, students participated in a Halloween-themed STEM project where they powered a clock with energy from a pumpkin.
Using metal strips and pumpkins, students constructed a simple battery. Working as an electrochemical cell, the pumpkin converted the chemical energy stories in the metal strips into electrical energy.
“They were very surprised when their clocks turned on,” Ameren’s Community Relations Coordinator Karly Combest said.
“Hands-on experiments are so important because each student learns differently. They will definitely remember it and tell their family and friends about it. Plus, it’s fun.”
Combest said Ameren Illinois wants students to learn how to be energy conservationists. The students spent time learning about what to do if they see a downed power line or smell gas.
Ameren Illinois also has programs to teach students about energy professions.
“There is so much diversity in the energy fields,” Combest said. “We have everything from customer service, engineering, linemen, gas journeymen, accounting, clerical, etc. There is a lot of room to grow and advance.”
