On May 7 the Western Development Museum (WDM) and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society were recognized for a joint venture to educate Saskatchewan students about sustainable buildings, past and present. The Smarter Science Better Buildings program for Grade 7 was recognized at the 6th RCE Saskatchewan Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Recognition Event at Government House in Regina.
RCE Saskatchewan (Regional Centre for Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development) provides recognition to innovative projects, research, and other activities promoting Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the prairie region. Her Honour Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield was in attendance.
In 2011, the Western Development Museum and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, with the assistance of VerEco Homes, Saskatoon Public Schools and Sunridge Residential Inc., began a partnership to create a program for Grade 7 students about sustainable buildings. The Smarter Science Better Buildings program linked the science of building sustainable homes with historical examples of energy efficiency.
The first program was offered at the Saskatoon WDM in 2013 and, starting in 2014, is also offered at WDM locations in Moose Jaw, North Battleford, and Yorkton. Students around the province have the opportunity to learn about energy efficient buildings in an educational and entertaining way.
The Smarter Science Better Buildings program is made up of two components. The first component is made up of six hands-on workstations that encourage students to think and talk about energy efficiency and sustainable living. The second component is a Museum gallery tour. This tour allows students to look at historical examples of energy efficiency and inefficiency. Students are asked to answer questions about these exhibits and to think about how buildings were designed in the past and how we can learn from them.
"The Western Development Museum is honoured to receive this award with our partners at the Saskatchewan Environmental Society," says WDM Director of Education, Corinne Daelick. "We thank them for sharing their expertise and knowledge. We also wish to recognize our volunteers who played a huge role in the construction of the program workstations."
For more information about RCE Saskatchewan: www.saskrce.ca
