NEED Loves its PEEPs!

Last week, NEED was happy to be back in Philly to help kick-off yet another awesome year of the PECO Energizing Education Program. This amazing program, funded in part by the Exelon Foundation and PECO, gives teachers and students in the greater Philadelphia region the opportunity to learn about energy and share their excitement with their communities.

PEEP United Way Afterschool Program
On Wednesday and Thursday, NEED teamed up with PECO and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey to begin the 5^th year of PEEP Afterschool programming. Leaders and teachers from six area afterschool programs came together to review energy concepts, try out new activities, participate in energy challenges, and plan their energy units.  Students in the afterschool setting learn about everything energy and then plan and carry out community outreach to share their energy knowledge and inspire positive change. Students come together at the end of the year to present their results to the other programs by performing skits, songs, dances, and creating videos. Their events and outreach projects have been truly amazing and impactful we can’t wait to see what this year holds at their year-end celebration in June! Plus, all of the kids look so cute on stage in their t-shirts!

PEEP for Schools
Friday took PEEP to The Franklin Institute, one of Philadelphia’s fantastic science museums. The Franklin Institute, PECO, and NEED teamed up to begin PEEP programming for schools in the Philadelphia region. In its eighth year, PEEP’s in-school programming has students learning about and exploring energy concepts and engaging in an energy-focused STEM challenge project. At the end of the program each school will submit a summary of their challenge(s), and students will present their results, projects, and designs at the Philadelphia Science Festival Carnival held on April 30^th.  The carnival will bring together students and learners of all ages to share in their passion for science.
To energize and prepare for teachers for the challenge projects in their own classrooms, we had our own challenges for the teachers. In small groups, PEEP teachers competed to create the best wind turbine, to generate the most electricity with their generator models, to bring oil to the surface quickly, and to build the most energy efficient homes.  They were having fun and learning too!   We are so excited to see the rock star projects our PEEPs create with their students!

We are so lucky to have great partners in PECO, TFI, and The United Way to continue this fantastic program and couldn’t be more proud of the students and teachers involved! Check back in May and June for updates on all of the amazing things the PECO Energizing Education Programs accomplish this year. Interested in learning more about PEEP?  Check it out: www.need.org/peco.