The Pod, EDF Energy’s Programme for Greener Schools is an interactive online resource for teachers of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 children. All activities are specifically designed to help schools progress through the Eco-Schools programme and to help schools make real and measurable improvement to their energy use and carbon output.

The Pod currently covers five of the Eco-Schools' nine topics; energy, water, transport, biodiversity and waste. They also cover climate science which can be used to put all of the Eco-Schools topics into context.

By joining the Pod schools will benefit from:

• Eco-School proofed activities - a range of Eco-Schools accredited activities to help embed environmental issues into school life
• Curriculum linked resources - the Pod's activities and lesson plans can support teaching across the curriculum
• Whole school campaigns – a great, inclusive way to bring the whole school,  parents and the wider community together
• Energy savings - practical ways to save money and reduce energy use
• Measurement - a way of measuring and tracking the impact that the green projects have
• Reward and recognition – schools win medals and certificates for each activity they complete and can see their position on the medal table of all Pod schools
• Pupil interaction - games, blogs and a gallery where schools can share photos of their green projects

For teachers the Pod has information sheets, resource packs, lesson plans with curriculum links, assemblies and activities as well as lots of useful templates. More than one teacher at each school can register, so the activities can be used across the curriculum.

For students it has great games, blogs, an interactive comic and media gallery where photos and films can be posted so that students can share their ideas and help inspire each other.

For parents the Pod provides a place where they can see some of the projects their children have been taking part in. They can read the blogs, see photos and films on the gallery, track the savings the school is making on the ‘podometers’ and see the eco-code and medals on the schools home page.

So join the Pod today by registering at www.jointhepod.org

If you would like to know more about using the Pod in Eco-Schools, visit our
Eco-Schools & the Pod page or watch our "using the Pod to deliver Eco-Schools" webinar.