Primary School challenges others to Earth Hour

The lights will go out at Stephenville Primary School later this week in an effort to teach students about the importance of energy conservation.

For the third year, the school will participate in Earth Hour, a worldwide event organized by the World Wildlife Fund themed with bringing attention to climate change.

"Teachers and children will participate by shutting off all lights and electronic equipment for one hour or more. Last year some teachers kept their lights off all day," says Jill Benoit, teacher and organizer.

"During the day, school staff will participate in activities that will help them think about the reasons for Earth Hour, such as global warming, helping the environment, and conservation."

Children will do this through stories, games, art or other activities.

Ms. Benoit says the hope is that children will learn that conserving energy is important and the impacts of energy conservation on the earth.

"The children are really good at understanding that they have to take care of the earth and this is one way to do it, get more people to start thinking about it."

The Primary School has issued a challenge to other area schools to also participate in Earth Hour, as a precursor to the Saturday event.

"Then hopefully this will filter into their homes on the Saturday," she says. "This will hopefully get more people to start thinking about why we need to conserve energy... not just today, but everyday."

Ms. Benoit says changes in the environment can be noticed right here at home, especially this winter.

"This winter is a good reason to start thinking about this, especially when it comes to water conservation. We haven't had much snow or rain so there could be shortages in our future."

The world wide Earth Hour is set for 8:30 p.m. this Saturday. The school will observe the event on Friday.

reporter@thegeorgian.ca