READING TO CHILDREN ABOUT MOTHER EARTH

SEDP modules on alternative energy and fuels featured in PDI Earth Day Read Along

Students leading the advocacy on using alternative fuels to reduce air pollution and siblings learning about alternative energy on their grandparents' farm were two of the feature stories read in the Philippine Daily Inquirer's special Read Along Session in celebration of Earth Month at the Robinsons Galleria last April 15, 2008.

Ms. Jocson wrote the story as a way for her to teach alternative energy and fuels to grade 1 students of Iloilo. The stories are part of her output in SEDP and DepEd Division of Iloilo City's activity to develop teaching modules on alternative energy and fuels.

SEDP's three short environmental plays, "Ecodefenders vs. Global Warming", "Hari ng Kalsada" and "Fuels for Life," were also staged after the Read Along Sessions.

April 20, 2008 01:29:00

Kate V. Pedroso
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Stories about nature and conserving Mother Earth took center stage at Friday’s special Inquirer Read-Along session in celebration of Earth Month.

Featured readers were United States Embassy Charge d’Affaires Paul Jones, sibling singers Nina and King, and Alitaptap storyteller Rich Rodriguez.

More than 60 children attended the session held in the cinema lobby of Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City. They listened to stories about alternative sources of energy and ways of caring for nature. Three environmental plays were staged.

Jones, who came with his wife Catherine and their two children Aleksandra and Hale, read “Felix and Fely,” a story of two siblings who learn about alternative energy sources, like the sun and wind, when they visit their grandparents’ farm.

“I think this is a terrific program because it promotes reading and it promotes protecting the environment,” said Jones. “When I open the newspaper and see the stories about this reading program, it reminds me to read to my children that day and I think it probably does that to a lot of parents.”

Nina and King, on the other hand, presented “Pupils Power,” a story about students who learn about the ill effects of vehicular pollution and later on prompt their parents to advocate the use of biofuels.

King noted that the children’s warm reception and active participation pushed his sister to go on despite feeling ill.

“We were happy about the children because they really listened,” Nina added. “Whenever we asked questions, they were all raising their hands energetically.”

Teaching modules

Both “Felix and Fely” and “Pupils Power” were written by Dymphna Leizel Jocson, head teacher at the Quintin Salas Elementary School in Jaro, Iloilo, as part of teaching modules on alternative energy developed for Grade 1 students of the Department of Education Division of Iloilo City.

The teaching modules were a product of the Sustainable Energy Module Development activity of the Sustainable Energy Development Program.

“When I first heard that we were supposed to do a lesson plan integrating the concepts of renewable energy and biofuels, I thought it would be really difficult because it would include a lot of technical terms,” said Jocson, who flew all the way from Iloilo to attend yesterday’s Read-Along.

“I believe children could be instrumental in educating their parents. We know they have their own convincing powers,” Jocson added.