MGE's videos are available on a two-week loan basis. Return postage is paid by MGE through a postal merchandise return service.

Conservation and renewable energy titles

EE-I-EE-I-O, Grades K-3 (8 minutes)
In this animated fable, a doomsayer convinces a group of animal characters who have grown weary of pollution to turn their backs on technology. Without the civilized pleasures they are accustomed to, the animals feel cold, hungry and deprived. The group is persuaded that civilization needs energy and machines and wants to use them sensibly.

Pigopolis, Grades K-3 (10 minutes)
A young boy wanders absentmindedly through his house switching on electrical devices. He asks his father to read him the story of Pigopolis, a fictitious city of pigs in the middle of a vast forest where the inhabitants use wood fuel to create electricity. Believing that the forest "goes on forever," they have no incentive to use energy wisely. Then one day a parrot shows a little pig that the forest does have an end, and the pig and parrot spread the word among the citizens of Pigopolis who mend their ways.

Simple Things You Can Do to Save Energy in Your School, Grades 3-6 (15 minutes)
How many students does it take to change the use of a lightbulb? Lots. When it comes to using energy wisely, the more that are motivated, the better. Which is why schools will love this kids'-eye-view video. Join Mr. Musak as he "enlightens" kids about the benefits of efficient lighting and Nurse Comfort as she "finds the cure" for drafty windows. This video shows kids oodles of no-cost and low-cost ways to help their school stay smart about energy.

Simple Things You Can Do to Save Energy in Your Home, Grades 3-6 (15 minutes)
What do you get when you combine kids being blown away by hurricane-force drafts, lightbulbs that talk and energy-sucking beasts in a basement? You have a story that will hold a child's attention and provide valuable lessons about saving energy. Follow the adventures of 12-year-old Sarah as she takes viewers on a tour through an unusual home which gives kids lots of low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy.

Energy Savers, Grades 3-5 (13 minutes)
This Walt Disney favorite features Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Goofy and the whole gang of favorite animated friends who team up to teach young viewers how to save energy.

Current Events, Grades 3-8 (8 minutes)
Energy conservation is a topic of "current" importance. A cartoon character, minimal narration and mostly music combine to unforgettably illustrate the uses and abuses of electric energy and is an excellent discussion starter.

Living Without, Grades K-3 (13 minutes)
This videotape takes young children back to the 1800s for a look at the days of wood-fired cookstoves, iceboxes, oil lamps and hand-cranked clothes ringers. Two highly appealing puppet characters, Emily and Happy Scrap, visit a restored home to see and learn firsthand about living without electricity and natural gas.

The Last Day of Electricity, Grades 4-8 (15 minutes)
This film takes students on a journey with three teenagers who must prevent the last day of electricity from happening. They learn the importance of pursuing alternative energy sources including geothermal, biomass, wind, solar and fusion.

Why We Must Conserve Electricity: The Witch of the Great Black Pool, Grades K-3 (12 minutes)
This animated film teaches students that energy conservation can be fun. With help of the good witch of the Great Black Pool, the "Scatterpods" learn the importance of saving energy resources.

Powering Wisconsin: Renewable Energy for Jobs and the Environment, Grades 6-Adult (30 minutes)
Explore future energy resources in Wisconsin and learn the impacts our choices have on the environment. Wind; hydroelectric power; wood waste; energy crops (switchgrass, hybrid poplars); alcohol fuels from corn, whey, and other feedstocks; methane gas from industrial and municipal wastewater and municipal solid waste; and solar technologies are featured in this program.

A Day at the Wind Farm, Grades 4-8 (12 minutes)
Visit MGE's wind farm with middle-school students from Kewaunee County who participated in Conservation Day. Host Jim Jenson will take you on this fun-filled video tour of the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi River. Learn about the benefits of wind power and just what it took to build the turbines.

The Power of Wind, Grades 6-Adult (21 minutes)
Wind power is one of the fastest growing forms of renewable energy in the Midwest. This video highlights MGE's experience with building the largest wind farm east of the Mississippi River. Learn what economic, environmental, social and technological issues were addressed with this program.

Electric and natural gas safety titles

Electric Safety: A to Zap, Grades K-3 (10 minutes)
This humorous animated movie describes many uses of electric power and points out the potential dangers of using electricity carelessly. A cat and mouse chase emphasizes the message as the cat gets "zapped" repeatedly because of its misuse of electrical wiring and appliances.

Zap Rap, Grades 5-9 (15 minutes)
Rap-style lyrics sung by a group of teenagers are featured in this videotape that teaches a variety of electrical safety lessons. The tape illustrates the generation and transmission of electric current and describes a series of unsafe conditions including kite flying and tree climbing near power lines, installation of antennas, downed power lines and auto accidents involving energized wires.

Our Invisible Friend, Grades 6-Adult (17 minutes)
Using two clever models, a utility safety expert shows students how electricity systems work and where potential electrical danger lurks. This "real life" video presentation covers safety points such as how fuses work, why electricity can be dangerous, overloaded circuits, safety devices, grounding, polarized plugs and more.

Electrical Safety, Grades 6-8 (13 minutes)
This video provides students with specific information about how to avoid potential electric dangers. Topics covered include using appliances safely, the dangers of flying kites near power lines and what to do encountering a broken power line on the ground.

Wise and Safe Use of Natural Gas in the Home, Grades Preschool-3. Two-part series includes "The Three Bears Go for Safety" (11 minutes) and "The Three Little Pigs and the Big Cold Wolf" (9 minutes)
This two-part video teaches young children about natural gas and how we use it safely in our homes.

General energy titles

Where the Little Lightbulb Gets Its Juice, Grades K-3 (5 minutes)
This animated film helps to make the story of electricity fun and informative. The film makes children aware—many for the very first time—that electricity is generated and delivered to them by an electric utility. It explains generation and transmission in easy-to-understand terms.

What Energy Means, Grades 4-6 (18 minutes)
Thanks to a homework assignment, Josh learns through firsthand experience about some of the many forms of energy. An excellent introduction for any energy unit.

Energy: The Pulse of Life, Grades 8-Adult (28 minutes)
The science of energy is introduced by the Canadian rock band, Moxy Fruvous, who, in energetic fashion, sing the opening song whose theme is that energy is a concept that unites all natural phenomena and all branches of science. This video features Dr. John Polanyi, Canada's Nobel Laureate chemist, who introduces many energy concepts and who breaks down the traditional subject barriers of physics, math and chemistry to connect energy with the arts. Complete with teacher guide.

Physical science titles

Electricity and Magnetism, Grades 6-Adult (17 minutes)
The important relationship between electricity and magnetism is highlighted in this video. Animated demonstrations show how the interaction of magnets and electrical charges cause motion. Applications of this phenomenon are shown in motors, generators and transformers. The relationship of magnets and electricity with respect to the earth's magnetic field, Aurora Borealis and nuclear fusion are explored.

Electric Currents and Circuits, Grades 6-Adult (17 minutes)
Using "real life" applications, this film shows how energy is continuously transferred by electrical currents through circuits. From large circuits supplying whole communities with electricity to tiny computer chips relaying information, electric currents and circuits are everywhere. Concepts such as voltage, current, resistance wires and parallel circuits and power are discussed.

Heat and Energy Transfer, Grades 6-Adult (13 minutes)
Students learn that heat is a form of motion—a form of kinetic energy. Heat can also be converted to other forms of energy. The three methods of heat transfer—conduction, convection and radiation—are discussed.

Static and Current Electricity, Grades 6-Adult (16 minutes)
Carefully performed experiments and demonstrations help students develop a clear understanding of the causes, effects and application of "static" electricity and their relationship to "current" electricity. Beginning with the structure of an atom, students learn how positive and negative charges relate and interact to form static and current electricity.

Heat Temperature and the Properties of Matter, Grades 6-Adult (17 minutes)
The effects of heat on the properties of substances are explored using visually intriguing examples. Volume changes, changes in state and speed of reaction are shown in relation to heat. The film concludes by discussing the difference between heat and temperature and the relationships of the Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin scales.

For more information
Contact Jim Jenson at 252-7091 or e-mail eduservices@mge.com.