Science Alive

K-12 Teacher Professional Development and Curriculum

Science Alive works to improve STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, prepare students for STEM careers, reduce energy usage among teachers, students, and schools, and reduce the environmental impacts from energy and water consumption. The Science Alive program also provides educator trainings, Green Boxes, school support, field trips, and a speaker series for pre-K-12 educators with an emphasis on energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and related topics.

Curriculum and Resources

The Green Box program offers several energy efficiency and conservation focused curriculum boxes for use by Nevada educators. Available for a range of grades, each box helps students uncover how humans produce energy and learn strategies to reduce energy and water consumption in their daily lives. Interested in using an EnergySmart green box in your classroom? Visit our Green Box page.

The contents of a Science Alive Green Box

Each Green Box is a self-contained teaching kit that provides educators with a unit of lesson plans along with all of the necessary supplies.

Participating Schools and Organizations

Over half of the participating schools are designated as Title I, in which more than 50% of the campus student population is eligible for the federal Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) program, a reliable indicator of poverty. Additionally, among the schools served in the current year by the EnergySmart program, 10 percent of the student population at the schools served are designated as Limited English Proficiency. See a current map of our EnergySmart School across Nevada.

Map of schools and organizations participating in the EnergySmart program

Professional Development

Our last EnergySmart Education Workshop was held virtually this Fall 2020. Participants got a chance to interact with a DRI climate scientist, explore clean energy solutions and learn about available classroom resources. Not able to attend? Watch the workshop series on our YouTube channel!

EnergySmart teacher training

Home Energy

Because we know students take home what they learn at school, we’ve developed tools to enhance energy education at home. Families can find home energy savings; NV Energy and Southwest Gas.

The classroom Energysmart program will be conducted virtually for the 2020-2021 school year. Fall presentations have concluded, but presentations will resume virtually this coming Spring, 2021.

For questions, contact Emma, the STEM Education and Outreach Coordinator, at emma.beach@dri.edu

Calling ALL 4th Grade Teachers in areas served by Southwest Gas – A virtual EnergySmart presentation is available to you!

Receive free Take Action Kits, educational activities, and qualifying teachers will be entered into a raffle to win a $100 Amazon gift card.

Fourth grade teachers and administrators may register by clicking here. After school eligibility is determined, you will be contacted to schedule the virtual classroom visit and set up deliveries of teacher materials and the student Take Action Kits.

Teacher Rewards

Post-presentation, teachers must submit 70% or more of students’ Home Energy Worksheets online, by the specified deadline, to be entered to win a $100 Amazon giftcard.

Program Documents and Resources

Energysmart Program Flyer (Download)
Energysmart Parent Letter English (Download)
Energysmart parent letter Spanish (Download)
Energysmart Welcome Letter (Download)

EnergySmart PSA

Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are videos created to raise awareness and change public attitudes and behavior toward a social issue. Effective PSAs often have a powerful message that sticks with the viewer, sometimes becoming part of a society’s collective norm. We host a yearly EnergySmart PSA contest for middle school aged students to help us create awareness around energy conservation and efficiency.

This year’s PSA contest has ended and we have chosen the winners! Watch the winners by clicking the links below!

1st – Decatur’s EnergySmart PSA

2nd – Esther’s EnergySmart PSA

3rd – Jett’s EnergySmart PSA

Questions? Email Emma, our STEM Education Outreach Coordinator!

Emma.Beach@dri.edu

The EnergySmart Theater Troupe is a musical theater presentation for elementary classrooms in Nevada, sponsored by the Southwest Gas Corporation. Sing along with Lazy Lou the energy waster and a group of energy scientists as they learn about easy energy and water conservation techniques we can all implement. Prepare to have energy songs stuck in your head all day!

Virtual presentations will resume this Spring, 2021!

For questions about the program, contact Craig Rosen at craig.rosen@dri.edu

All Nevadans are encouraged to view and use our Rewewable Energy Spotlight highlighting the various renewable energy resources in Nevada. Click the links below to learn about the energy companies, watch virtual tours and informative video clips, and explore all of the benefits of using each renewable energy source.