Paul Guinea wants to make learning fun. When kids are laughing, engaged and working together, he says, they become enthusiastic about their learning and take pride in their work.
“I like to build relationships with the kids,” Guinea says. “I try to create curriculum that gets them to enjoy learning and each other.”
He was excited when Portland General Electric sent its “Green Machine” drama presentation to North Gresham Grade School, where Guinea teaches third grade. Green Machine is a new, two-person play PGE commissioned with a local theater-based education group. Its focus: energy conservation and alternative energy sources such as wind, hydropower and geothermal energy.
The play, part of our company’s community education commitment, is one of several PGE-sponsored performances at hundreds of local schools each year. These live presentations educate kids about safety, the science of electricity and, in the case of the newest production, renewable energy. PGE also provides books, teachers’ guides and other classroom materials on these topics free of charge.
A high-energy, high-demand production
Since it premiered in 2008, Green Machine has been in high demand, says Carol Reed of PGE Community Affairs. “It’s an entertaining way to teach kids about energy resources that will help all of us build a sustainable future.”
As the two actors performed at North Gresham, the school’s third, fourth and fifth graders were rapt. Guinea recommends it to other teachers. “It gave kids great exposure to alternative energy sources, which most of them aren’t familiar with.”
He suggests teachers schedule it when it fits in with the material they’re teaching. “That way you can take the enthusiasm they had in the auditorium, go back into the classroom and have fun with it.”
To request a free live performance for your school, complete our Request a Speaker form.