Oh my. Jamie Fraser, Outlander
My family and I have recently been watching Outlander. It’s about a woman happily living in the 1940s who is unwittingly flung back in time and finds herself amongst the Mackenzie clan in Scotland in the 18th century. She has to readjust to this time immediately or risk being murdered or burned at the stake. It’s compelling stuff, with lashes of intrigue, sword fighting, magic and also features THE sexiest Scottish man (even better than Sean Connery) that I’ve ever had the pleasure of drooling over watching. Oh the accents! If you can, grab a copy of this programme, or better still, read the book.
The premise of the show has led to some interesting conversations in our home. What would you take with you if you found yourself in the same situation? Pencillin and antiseptic would top my list. Grace thought she’d take her dog Blossom and a packet of matches. My husband opted for a toothbrush and some Colgate. Angus said he’d take his mobile phone and a charger. Um. This led to another conversation about what forms of energy became available when, and just who he expected would answer his call in the 1700s. Some of the questions were tricky; some of the answers guesswork.
Children today generally have no clue a) what energy actually is, b) who provides it and c) the forms it can take. It is just there. A little like the carton of milk in the fridge.
So it’s really encouraging to see a major energy supplier, in this case Origin Energy, running a programme throughout schools in Victoria, NSW, QLD and the ACT that makes learning about energy fun, creative and interactive. It’s called Energy Made Fresh in Schools and as the name implies, the programme encourages students to try and make their own energy (by running, jumping, dancing and riding bikes) and then measuring it. Half the value of the energy they make can be used by to the school to spend on a school project or activity. The other half is donated to a community charity of the schools choice. Clever and generous huh? I also love that the initiative gets the kids moving.
This is the 11th year that Origin Energy has worked within schools to educate kids about energy. It is free for schools to participate ~ so why not encourage your child’s school to do so? Even if they decide not to participate, the Origin Energy website provides lots of engaging information which you and your children can take a look at. Conveniently, it’s broken down into age groups. My daughter (11) found it really interesting but younger children will too.
I applaud Origin Energy for taking a subject that could be considered a bit dull and making it engaging and accessible. But even better than that, they’ve given me an iPad mini to give away to one reader. Simply tell me what you’d take with you if you found yourself smack bang in the middle of 1750. Winner will be chosen by my son for the creativity of the answer on Wednesday 29 October*. So be quick!
THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO JUDITH WHOSE SUGGESTION OF TAKING NUTELLA BACK INTO THE 1750’S WON THE HEART OF MY SON.
Until next time…
THIS IS A SPONSORED POST
*Australian entrants only. This is a game of skill and entries will be judged based on creativity and originality. Entries close 5pm Wednesday 29 October, 2014.
I never thought of teaching about energy sources in my classroom!!! This is a great idea! I am sure kids will benefit from it greatly!
Nose Plugs . . . with no indoor plumbing or sanitation this would be my must! phew!!!!
Oh my, I am so glad you’re loving Outlander too C. I can’t wait until the second season. Squeee!
Luckily, I’m good at nature craft, so I’d craft a weapon (so I didn’t get found out that I’m from the future) to keep me safe. I’d also take some flint to make a fire. I’ll eat cooked rabbit in style!
Heading over to the Origin Energy website now and pinning and exploring because the content sounds so helpful. I love that big companies are investing in education, and in a way that’s so clear, useful and fun. Thanks for sharing Caro.
As for what I’d take with me if I found myself smack bang in the middle of 1750? Ummm… my prayers??? I would have NO IDEA how to do life without my iPhone/iPad/iMac… and this thing called the Internet.
The urge to take soap, medicine, mouthwash
would be hard to resist,
But the bottom lines is,
toilet paper would be top of my list!
My ventolin would be top of my list! But otherwise some matches, camera and water bottle. And we are loving Outlander too!
Wow that sounds like an awesome energy activity for kids, my daughter would love it! Heading back to 1700 I think I’d be wanting a notebook and pen to record in a journal all of the incredible things you’d see, and a manual SLR camera with lots of spare rolls of film since my beloved digital one would run out of battery pretty quick.
What a fabulous programme being run in schools! Well done to Origin for being so proactive in educating kids about energy.
It’s difficult to know what I’d take with me to 1750. Obviously medicine and fresh water would be very high on the list, but I think I’d take a video camera so I could record all that I saw and how different life is to current day. I’m sure people would struggle to believe me when I’d show them the footage, especially children. 🙂
If I was to go back to 1750, and obviously knew that I was going, I would take my family. All of them, my kids, my grandkids, I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving them behind as they light up my life each and every day. Of course, I would also take some matches, clean underwear and my favourite pillow.
I ADORED reading the Outlander books when a friend loaned them to me about … gosh… 15 years ago! I never thought I’d go for ‘romance’ or ‘sci fi’ let alone the two together, but the writing style of Diana Gabaldon won me over completely. I must get my hands on this series 🙂 As for who I’d take with me on my time travels…penicillin! Claire taught me well.
I’d download lots of books on a solar E-Reader like ‘History of The British Isles in the 1800’s’ so that I could get genned up on all the Kings, Politics, Historical Events etc that I’d be expected to know about and so that I would know what’s ahead. I’d just have to hope that it wouldn’t be discovered or I’d end up in the ducking pond!
I would need a bottle of hand sanitizer and a supply of instant coffee! Maybe some chocolate or lollies to trade for other things I need!
A modern mountain bike, I could travel all over the country and see a lot more of it, I could outrun a highwayman and get a paper round, everyone would think the bike was cool, so I’d build a factory, and start building more bikes and make a fortune
I would take my best mate Chevy my dog. I would
Have protection, she would catch my food, keep
Me warm at night, love me, lick my wounds, bring
Me bark for a fire, light up my life, paw water in my cup,
Growl at our enemies, dig a cave to live in, gnaw through
Any restraints we had, crawl into caves, catch rabbits,
Round up sheep and cattle, find bones to make
Tools, sniff out danger and keep me safe. Love
My K9 wouldn’t go if she wasn’t by my side.
A hammock, insect repellent, a bicycle, hunting knife, mirror, matches, rope, hiking boots, bucket, a rainwater tank and chocolates 🙂
I’d take my Fraser tartan kilt, cause that is our clan crest in the photo, NOT the Mackenzie crest.
A Batman costume, the 1700’s are not going to know what hits them! I’ll tackle crime and injustice and begin a new origin take myself. Plus it would be so much fun!
What a great concept from Origin…I’m definitely going to look up the webpage resources to use with my Family Day Care Children so thanks for letting me know. Sustainability and using our resources wisely is very important to our learning program.
As for what I would take….hmmm i think a good book and some nice leaf tea because I might actually get to read a book and have a hot cup of tea back in time. Of course penicillan and toilet paper might be useful too 😉
I would take my pushbike; the power comes from my legs! So lack of fuel would be irrelevant. Times were harsh in 1750. With a pushbike I could easily ride away from angry mobs wanting to burn me for being a witch/warlock. Even if the tires popped I could still ride on the rims, although with a little bit more difficulty. Also, to travel in 1750 you needed a horse, and only rich people had horses because of the expense of feeding and maintaining them. With a bike I could travel as much as I liked to anywhere I needed to go and this would help me prosper in 1750. I’m sure the mechanics of the bike would inspire anyone who saw it to create machines and devices to help in everyday life and so it might even end up starting the industrial revolution early.
A portable generator with lots of fuel so I could charge my iPad, camera and all those other things I can’t do without!
I will bring my movie camera and some spare batteries so I can make video and capture all shots how’s the life looks like in 1970.and then I will pass that to my kids and all generation to know about the life how facilitate life is now a days.
I love the premise of this story and your idea of sharing this concept with your children to get them thinking out of the box, I’d take with me jewels easy to sell trade or barter with, a pair of boots or decent shoes to roam the moors with you have to be comfortable and since I’ve had all my shots tools to create electrical circuits that could be used to create power sources to manufacture items and hopefully store energy.
A modern first aid kit, a jar of Nutella, and a solar-powered LED lamp so I can find a spoon to eat it with!
I would bring some penicillin, and a very detailed book of medicine!
I would take a good, strong pocket knife. Maybe something like this …
https://www.boker.de/us/pocket-knife/boker-plus/classic-pocket-knife/01BO028DAM.html
I would take a good, strong, durable and very sharp pocket knife to help me open boxes, carve any wagon wheels, and any kid-proof plastic packaging that existed in this day.
I’m pretty lazy today and probably still would be back in 1750. I would take a foldable camping chair, so I could sit down wherever and whenever I wanted. There would be a shortage of chairs in churches, bars, community halls because the machinery and woodwork wasn’t as developed. Doesn’t phase me, I have this handy fold out chair.
Do we know who won this comp?.
Yes Susan. I’m very sorry but it wasn’t you this time around. I’m just waiting to hear back from the winner before I announce. If I can’t get hold of them, I’ll get my son to choose another winner! Stay tuned….
Was it me that won? I think the emails were going to my junk email folder :'(
Sorry, no it wasn’t but you got a “highly commended” from my son. He loved your pushbike idea and the thought of bringing forward the industrial revolution!