Welcome Power Pals!
We are the Cooperative Gang, and we’ve created the perfect place for you to explore electricity, science, safety, and the amazing world of electric cooperatives. Together, we’ll spark your curiosity and power up your knowledge.
Join us to discover how electricity powers our lives. Along the way, we’ll share kid-friendly facts, fun games, hands-on activities, and other tools to keep your learning going, whether you’re at home, at school, or on the go. Thanks for visiting! We can’t wait to light up your imagination!
Looking for more? The Cooperative Gang is here with powerful and fun resources just for you. You’ll find coloring sheets, puzzles, crossword games, exciting experiments, and more to make learning about electricity extra fun.
FAST FACTS:
Lightning Power
Lightning is like nature’s electricity! A single bolt can heat the air around it up to 66,000°F. That’s hotter than the surface of the sun!
Super Fast Electricity
Electricity moves as fast as light — about 186,000 miles per second! If you had a lamp on the moon connected to a switch at your house, it would turn on in just about 1 second!
AC vs. DC
Electricity can move in two ways: AC (Alternating Current): The electrons move back and forth, switching direction. DC (Direct Current): The electrons move in one direction only.
What is Electricity
Electricity is a type of energy. Energy makes things move, light up, make sounds, or give off heat.
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a super-smart inventor who helped create the technology that powers radios, TVs, and even smartphones!
First Power Plant
The first big U.S. power plant was called Pearl Street Station in Manhattan, built in 1882. It served just 85 customers!
Biggest Energy User
The country that uses the most electricity is Iceland! Believe it or not, they use about 23% more electricity than the U.S.
Wind Energy Leaders
The U.S. makes more wind energy than any country in the world except China.
Giant Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are HUGE! Their blades can be 260 feet long and the towers can be over 328 feet tall. That’s taller than the Statue of Liberty!
Your Power Company
What’s the name of the electric company or cooperative that powers your home? (Ask your family - it’s fun to know!)
Thomas Edison’s Big Ideas
Famous inventor Thomas Edison wanted to make electricity from the sun, wind, and water. He even built little models of wind turbines to try it out!
Electric Meter Trick
An electric meter (the thing outside that measures how much energy your house uses) is read right to left instead of left to right, like a book. If the arrow is between two numbers, you always choose the smaller number.
Brought to you by Cooperative Energy Member Systems