EPB's Dr. Shock and Dr. Kilowatt complete an electrical circuit with Hamilton County 4-H Club home schooled students during a celebration of Thomas Edison's Birthday. Click to enlarge.
photo by EPB
For the past four months, Janetta Reed, Volunteer Leader of 4-H, has been searching for activities to enhance the home schooled students' study of electricity. Most recently, her diligent search has been successful, as Ms. Reed and her committee located several interesting facts about Thomas Edison.
Not only did they find that their students would be fascinated by the inventions of Edison but they also felt the students would be intrigued by the fact that Edison was also home schooled. For these reasons, Ms. Reed and her committee decided to celebrate Edison's birthday.
While planning the birthday party, Ms. Reed realized it was imperative
to have practical electrical experiments that would captivate the
students. She contacted EPB for assistance and Dr. Shock came to her
aid. Dr. Shock informed her of EPB's The Power is Yours electrical safety program, which is designed to give students a comprehensive look at the concept of electricity and cautionary tips on how to stay safe when around electrical wires.
After Dr. Shock informed her that he could customize his performance for any grade level, Ms. Reed provided him with science curriculum as well as several textbooks. He used these reference tools to develop a performance that will consist of electrical circuits, power generation
and distribution experiments.
EPB's Dr. Shock and his sidekicks have captivated audiences around the City for the past six years, and this free performance is offered to educate students about the concepts of electricity and the importance of playing it safe around electricity. This is the first time that Dr. Shock has performed for the 4-H Club.
"I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to perform The Powers Is Yours program for the Hamilton County 4-H Club and to celebrate the birthday of Thomas Edison with the students," said Hosea Pierce, EPB's Community Relations Specialist. "This is a great opportunity to spread the word about electric power safety. Our involvement with area schools is one of the most rewarding services EPB offers our local community."
Not only will the birthday include a shocking performance by Dr. Shock, but it will also include a trivia contest, birthday cake and ice cream.
"Birthday parties are a great way to educate and introduce students to prominent historical figures," said Janetta Reed. "The more memorable the activity, the greater the retention of information. We are certain that this party will be memorable to both the students and their parents," continued Reed.
Educators teaching at the private, public or home school level interested in scheduling a program can reach Dr. Shock at (423) 648-1481, or at pierceh@epb.net. A wide range of educational resources and important electrical safety tips can be found on EPB's interactive website-www.epb.net-by clicking on the "Community" link and then the "Louie the Lightning Bug" picture.