What is the Learning Curve?

“The Learning Curve” is designed to fit seamlessly into the existing curriculum, with carefully defined learning objectives, for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Thousands of pupils have already taken part in the three-hour sessions, either making use of our interactive classrooms and the live renewable technology in our showrooms, or by using the option to teach the topic within a school environment, conducted by your own staff.  We can supply booklets, lesson plans and the loan of the required equipment.

The award-winning programme, which has been running since 2011, allows pupils to look at overall energy use, whilst focusing on solar energy, heat pump technology (utilising air source energy) and the themes of “reduce, reuse and recycle”.  A workbook is provided for each child containing information on the topics covered and includes space to record findings from experiments and offer tips for the reduction of energy consumption at home. 

What can you do?

If you are a teacher, a business or one of our partners and you would like to take part in a Learning Curve session then please get in touch with us. If you are a parent, please pass our website onto a teacher or group leader and have them contact us on your behalf. 

 

Can't get to us?

If you can't get to one of our centres, why not use one of our self-teach boxes?  These boxes contain lesson plans, equipment, workbooks and presentations.  They are free to borrow and we will even arrange delivery and collection to your school.  Get in touch to book a box.


Contact the Learning Curve
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The Programme

The Learning Curve offers a fun packed and educational day for pupils and teachers alike. The children use a specially designed workbook (complete with stickers) and purpose-built experiments to discover how renewable technologies work. They learn about the importance of helping to build a sustainable future and how to reduce water wastage, how a solar panel works and how a heat pump works.

The event lasts for approximately three hours

Introduction to renewable energy

The students start with a session where they are taught about fossil fuels and why we need to move away from them. We discuss energy use and how we can all make changes to reduce how much we use.

We then move on to look at renewable energy sources and the technology available.

How to reduce water wastage

Students take part in an experiment to find out how much water can be saved from turning the tap off when brushing their teeth and the importance of reducing water wastage.

How does a solar panel work?

Students learn about the value of solar panels and renewable energy sources, and take part in an experiment to understand how they work.

Discovering how a heat pump works

Students learn how a heat pump works and take part in an interactive experiment to further understand the concept.

Overall learning objective

To give the children an understanding of renewable energy sources.

we envisage that

ALL children will leave with an understanding of what renewable energy is

MOST children will be able to share what they have learnt with others

SOME children will be able to explain how the renewable energy technology works

 

 

The Noticeboard

2019 Earth Day theme was ‘Protect our Species’

We try to do our bit to protect the Earth's species.  We are keen to promote our ecology so at Hatfield, Manchester and Reigate we have incorporated such things as beehives, wormeries, bug hotels and a wild meadow. However, around the world our bees and insects are in danger. Thirty five UK bee species are under threat of extinction, and all species continue to face serious threats.

It is easy to forget that this decline will have serious impacts on such things as our food crops as bees pollinate much of the food that we consume. Insects are just as important, like bees they also pollinate plants and flowers. They are a vital part of the food chain providing a source of nutrition for thousands of other species and humans, without them the global ecosystem would collapse.

So what can YOU do to help?

  • Plant bee-friendly flowers in your garden, we have a range of these flowers planted here in our wild meadow at Hatfield
  • Let weeds grow to allow insect larvae to thrive
  • Don't use chemicals and pesticides, find bee-friendly alternatives instead
  • Being a bee is thirsty work, so place a small basin of water outside and change regularly
  • Make a bug hotel, a bit of 5 star luxury for our winged friends

 These may seem like small changes, but they can make a big difference!

2016 Eco School of the year challenge

In 2016 we ran an exciting competition which helped children to understand the issues that we're facing and encourage them to take positive steps to make a difference. The was a prize fund of £2,000 in environmental resources to be won by the winners!

We weren't necessarily looking for the “greenest” school, more so the school that embraced the challenge whole-heartedly and was passionate about making a difference. We wanted to see real engagement from the children and staff and see findings, reports and photographs of the things they had been doing. 

The competition asked schools to examine six key areas; Waste; energy; bio-diversity; travel; water; and health, and then invited the children to take the 'Green Invention Challenge'.

For Self-Run Sessions you can now borrow the kit!

 

Whilst the experience of an off-site visit is a valuable one, we appreciate this is not always possible, and therefore we can offer support for this topic to be taught within your school environment by your own staff. 

We supply booklets, lesson plans and the loan of the required equipment.  We will deliver and collect all of this to you FREE of charge.

Format

It works well for the class to be split into three groups and rotate round the sessions.  This allows for a more hands on experience and keeps their attention as they move from one environment to another.

You will need to supply:

  • IT Equipment / presentation facilities
  • A coat / jumper
  • Pencil for each child
  • Ice (Eco-heating)
  • Warm water (Eco-heating)

Your pack will contain items for the children to use and keep:

  • A workbook & stickers
  • A certificate
  • A souvenir pen

Request the kit

The children said this was the best school trips they had ever been on and I would agree. Not only have Mitsubishi Electric tailored the day to match the curriculum but they also left the children with plenty to think about.

Rowans Primary School

They've bought so much more biodiversity awareness to the school

Camp school

I would thoroughly recommend the visit. The children were rapt, they learnt something close to my heart (as a true environmentalist!)… I was also particularly impressed by the Mitsubishi staff. They certainly put some effort and resources into the morning”.

TSG Building Services PLC

Mitsubishi were really creative in the activities that were provided and got really involved with the session. We loved part which showed the difference they can make by how they travel to school, its a really good and simple way to see the changes that can be made by everyone.

Swallow Dell Primary School

I've learnt not not to leave my Xbox on overnight anymore because its bad for the planet!

Student from Rowans Primary School

Great to see that the board games being used were made out of recycled materials.

Camp School
Award winner

Training Excellence category of The National Heat Pump Awards (First Prize)

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Mitsubishi Electric is a world-leading supplier of energy efficient equipment that will cool, heat, ventilate and control buildings.

We supply not only the equipment but continued support throughout the lifecycle of all products whether that is in commercial and industrial properties or homes.


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