Time to brainstorm!
I'm an educator and bike advocate in Santa Cruz whose avocation and day job are to get high school students to use bikes for transportation. Along with all the numerous personal benefits, I do a presentation on Peak Oil and try to get them to understand that they will be much better prepared for future changes if they don't set up their lives around car usage. It's never the most fun presentation, but I am looking to make it more experiential and am having a hard time coming up with any ideas!
What I am hoping is that there are some people who have come up with some experiential activities to help youth understand Peak oil, how it relates to them, anything. Basically, I am seeking any hands-on curriculum, ideas for activities, stuff you have done... I already do a powerpoint and sometimes use video (though I prefer not to).
I would be very grateful for any ideas! Thank you!!!!
Hmmmm, when I was in high school I was busy trying to stay awake, quietly passing notes to my friends and trying to avoid the older boys who were quite insistent I go out for a 'drive' with them (all of them said the backseat of their cars were quite comfortable). I know this kinda sounds out there, but the
Fallout game series has part peak oil, part results of a nuclear war zone to it. But, if you want to get them to feel it, once they get into class, get them to put any electronic device they have in a basket (iPod, phones, gaming devices) and instead of having them sit at desks (if your doing this via desk), get them to stand in a circle and ask them what THEY think the future will be like. Let them get into groups, or do it solo, but get that organization, and get them to answer, 'no matter how stupid they may think it sounds' (be blunt, bluntness helps). Once they've answered (futuristic world, blah blah blah), ask them to take the considerations into account like there being no gas stations, or limited resources, then ask them again what they think the future will be like (again, going into groups, but different groups this time).
I think, by the end of the class, or series of classes, that will give them something to hold think about... at least until they go for the next class
Now if you want to encourage them to bike ride, get a competition going, and what I mean by that is whoever bicycles during the semester (if there's a grouping), enter their name into a hat and gets a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for iTunes or a Nintendo Wii. I'd bike for those prizes
Lastly, get rid of the powerpoint and videos. I know it's technology they're more used to, but you need to bring 'em back to the physical real world.
Good luck!
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