MURFREESBORO — It is private detective Jimmy Ruff’s toughest case yet: discovering the perfect energy source for generating electricity.
During the 2011-12 academic year, fourth- through eighth-grade students at 30 schools across the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation’s service area will help Ruff solve the case during the fast-paced, educational theatre presentation, “The Energy Detective.”
The students will get into the action as they help Ruff, played by professional actor Neil Spencer, explore the positive and negative aspects of five different electrical energy sources: fossil fuels, solar power, water power, nuclear energy and wind power. Along the way, the students will also learn valuable lessons about how to use energy more efficiently.
“I play the suspects and the detective,”
Spencer said. “Each suspect gives his take on why he is the perfect energy source. The students help with demonstrations after each suspect presents his case.”
By the time the presentation is over, all five energy sources have provided a good picture of both their positives and negatives.
“There is also a section about how we can save energy and use it in an efficient way,” Spencer said.
The play lasts about an hour.
“Then he does a classroom workshop that lasts from 45 minutes to an hour after the presentation,” said Cathy Mitchell, MTEMC community relations coordinator.
MTEMC will team up with Spencer and the Educational Touring Theatre to bring The Energy Detective to schools in MTEMC’s service area during the school year. The two groups have worked together for the past six years with the MTEMC sponsorship of Giants of Electrical Science.
Even though 30 schools have already been booked for 2011-12, a waiting list has been established for the 2012-13 school year. In addition, some of the programs scheduled for the current school year might be postponed or canceled by schools, opening up opportunities for others.
Mitchell explained why her company helps to defray the costs of the educational program.
“As a cooperative, we have principles,” said she said. “One of those principles is education. We get great feedback from the community when we have programs such as ‘The Giants of Electrical Science.’ We felt like this was another opportunity to bring topics such as this to this area.”
Schools hosting “The Energy Detective” performance will also have an opportunity to participate in a hands-on Energy Casebook workshop that allows students to become energy detectives and search for clues of energy efficiency and energy waste. Students discover the role of electricity in their everyday lives and how they can help the environment by using electricity safely and efficiently.
Following the goals and standards of the Tennessee Department of Education, “The Energy Detective” was created by the Educational Touring Theatre in partnership with the Duck River Electric Membership Corporation. For the past three years, the program has been presented at schools in the DREMC region.
Now, it is MTEMC’s turn to crack the case.
The play plus two workshops normally costs $450. But, with MTEMC’s support, schools pay $75 for the play and two workshops.
Schools can learn more about the presentations by contacting the Educational Touring Theatre at edtheatre@aol.com.
Spencer is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association, and has been doing school programs for about 30 years.
“I really enjoy the fact I am teaching something that is going to be used by the students. They go along with what the students are doing in the classroom,” he said.
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