Pupils about wind power

Pupils of Bergkvara School in the county of Kalmar are writing a schoolbook about wind power. Project "S-Vindel med Barnkraft" is collaboration with the Regional Council in Kalmar County for pupils, 10 to 12 years old, at Bergkvara School. The 18 pupils have followed the development of the offshore wind power expansion at Utgrunden, situated a few kilometers from the school by Kalmarsund, a part of the Baltic Sea. - By the project, which lasts through school year 2005-06, we have been given the opportunity to develop a training guide on wind power for children of ages 6-9, say the two teachers responsible at the school, Carina Gyllerfelt and Kristina Fransén. - This we have done through fact finding, writing material, creating paintings, photography and uncovering interesting information. Everything to be able to offer a book that is fantasy Thlled and contains informative facts on wind power.

To collect information for the book the children have arranged two seminars at Bergkvara Wind Power Exhibition.

- We have invited our schoolmates to listen to the lecturers - a pupil says. - They have told us about different types of energy, how wind forms, research around birds and wind power, plants and life around the wind farm in the Baltic Sea, history of wind power, how to create fantasy filled teaching material and how they do when researching different areas.

The pupils have carried out study visits in order to be able to understand the coherence they are going to write texts about. Thus they increase their understanding on how wind power works. They have visited the research station Utblicken and the wind farm Utgrunden in Kalmarsund, a wind power unite on land, a service station for wind power in Bergkvara harbor, a transformer station for the electricity grid and a printing office. The pupils will also pay a visit by the graphic arts designer, who will do the layout work on their book.

- With our project we want to increase other children's knowledge and curiosity. The aim of the book is also to inform, develop thoughts and create awareness about a better and durable community. At the same time we want to give the pupils the opportunity to learn how to work in project forms and to fulfill their responsibilities in the group.

by Mr Bo Lundquist