Going above and beyond the textbook to provide hands-on, relevant experiences for students is what makes an ordinary teacher extraordinary.  When it comes to energy education, teachers might find it challenging to establish that essential connection between the student and the material, for much of what constitutes energy is invisible to the naked eye.  The issue of bringing energy education to life and putting it in the hands of students—to discover, manipulate, hypothesize, and test—is often times missing in the classroom because of its abstractness and corresponding teaching challenges.  The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education established the K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) in 1995 to address this exact issue. 

Focusing on teacher empowerment and the need to increase and improve energy education in Wisconsin classrooms, KEEP provides professional development for teachers through a variety of means: courses introducing teaching practices, energy efficiency and renewable energy education; activity guides and hands-on resources for classroom implementation in any discipline or grade; essential networking with a bi-annual newsletter and monthly online bulletin for up-to-date energy information.  KEEP also provides the students with involvement opportunities that expand upon their existing knowledge of energy related topics; the Bright Idea Fundraiser, Annual Bookmark Contest, and Student-Build Homes Support Program are three of these programs offered by KEEP. 

Energizing both teachers’ and students’ interest in the world of energy is part of KEEP’s overall mission.  Issues surrounding energy will only increase throughout a student’s lifetime, making a sound and effective energy education even more critical.