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Baltimore Gas and Electric

For Teachers & Students

Every student should know how to use energy safely and responsibly. Explore ways to make energy lessons easy, effective and fun.

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  • Gas & Electric Safety Contests

    Elementary students in BGE's service area can enter contests to win prizes for their school.

    Elementary schools in BGE’s service area can enter to win up to $10,000 in each of two contests that run during the school year.
     
    BGE’s Wires Down Video Challenge asks elementary school classes to create their own versions of BGE’s iconic “Wires Down” electric safety commercial. The Adventures of Captain Mercaptan challenges classroom groups to use their natural gas safety knowledge to create comic book characters and stories. In less than five years, BGE has awarded more than $150,000 to 39 winning schools for enrichment projects.

  • Wires Down Video Challenge

    BGE's WDVC allows students the ability to learn about electric safety while entering a contest to win prizes for their school.

    Enter BGE’s Annual Wires Down Video Challenge to win prizes and money for your school.
     
    Elementary schools within the BGE service area are invited to create their own rendition of BGE’s “Wires Down” television commercial and compete to win up to $10,000 to fund a school enrichment project. The Wires Down Video Challenge presents an opportunity for kids to learn about electricity in a fun and creative way while also working as a team to generate school spirit.
       
    Awards Include:
    $10,000 Star Power Award 
    $5,000 Spotlight Award
    $3,000 Cast N Crew Award (best teamwork)
    $3,000 Director's Cut Award (most creative)
    $3,000 Golden Pipes Award (best rendition of song)
    $1,000 Screen Gem Award (best in each county)
    $500 Teacher Award (gift card for the teacher of the first place school)
     
    Teachers are encouraged to work with their class to make a creative 30-45 second video using the same lyrics as the original "Wires Down" commercial. Use a simple smartphone or create an elaborate production - it's up to you!
     
    Visit BGEvideochallenge.com for complete contest details and to download the entry kit. To receive updates about the video challenge, email videochallengeinfo@bge.com with “Sign Me Up” in the subject line.

  • ​The Adventures of Captain Mercaptan

    Captain Mercaptan is BGE's natural gas safety hero that teaches students about staying safe around natural gas.

    Captain MercaptanSM is BGE's natural gas safety hero that teaches students about natural gas safety.
           
    Captain Mercaptan takes his name from "mercaptan" the safety additive BGE and gas utilities put in natural gas to give it a rotten egg odor and make it easier to detect. Without mercaptan, natural gas is odorless. Captain Mercaptan and his two sidekicks, Sunny and Piper, were designed by kids for kids, through the BGE Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge.
     
    Each year the Captain Mercaptan Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge awards one winner from each grade (K-5) the $5,000 BGE Hero Award to be used for a school enrichment project. Of those six winners, one entry will be deemed the BGE Captain Mercaptan's Choice winner and will receive an additional $5,000 for being the best overall entry. A total of $35,000 is awarded to the six winning schools as part of The Adventures of Captain Mercaptan.

    Watch the natural gas safety video for kids and check out our natural gas safety hero, Captain Mercaptan

  • Educational Initiatives

    We provide tools to help educators in our service area teach young children important lessons about energy conservation and safety.

    At BGE, it is our job to provide tools to help educators in our service area teach young children important lessons about energy conservation and electrical and natural gas safety.

     

    BGE sponsors the following BGE Educational Initiatives:

    Curriculum-based Materials for the Classrooms

    BGE offers teachers and students various age-appropriate educational booklets and newsletters. The booklets were developed with the assistance of utility efficiency and safety experts, teachers, parents, and curriculum specialists. The materials meet state and national educational standards for science, health and safety.
     
    Learn more about our program and order booklets by going to: http://www.e-smartonline.net/bge/
    Classroom Presentations

    It is never too early to start educating students about how energy works and its importance in our everyday life. BGE safety experts will arrive in real utility bucket trucks or other service vehicles for a memorable presentation of important energy safety topics. All public and private elementary schools in the BGE service area are welcome to email our community affairs team to schedule a free presentation. To request a BGE speaker for your next curriculum topic, please complete the “Request a Classroom Presentation” form.

     e-Smartkids

    e-Smartkids is an online meeting place for ongoing energy education, including electrical and natural gas safety, energy efficiency and environmental awareness. It contains the latest information presented through interactive online technologies, including:
    • Safety World video
    • Electrical & Natural Gas Safety World website
    • Energy Efficiency World website
    • Downloadable teacher guides, worksheets and pre-post tests for each booklet
    • Downloadable current and past newsletters
    If you are a teacher or administrator with a comment or question, please contact us.

     

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