Finding Energy All Around Us
Students will develop a deep understanding of energy and how energy is stored in different energy sources we use every day. An investigation into wind and solar power as renewable energy sources will be conducted. Students will discover how we use energy sources (oil, gas, wind, solar) to generate the electricity we need for our homes, businesses, schools, and factories.
Students will participate in a “Junkyard Challenge” to kick-off this expedition and become more familiar with engineering practices and the design process. Students are continually engaged throughout the expedition with both the scientific and design processes through the use of multiple design challenges (inquiry labs) as a way to deliver critical science content on energy transfer and electricity. Students will build and test their own wind turbines and solar cars in addition to whole class demonstrations using a solar oven and solar bags. Through the use of a non-fiction anchor text, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind inspired by the story of William Kamkwamba, and first-hand accounts of access to education and electricity in East Africa provided by their science teacher, students will uncover themes to both the global and local community. Based on their knowledge from the anchor text, students will create interdisciplinary products (based on student interest) to demonstrate the many global and local connections to community provided by the text. In addition, students will conduct a dance fundraiser (Giving Ball) to create a school fee scholarship fund for St. Peter’s College Amusala, a secondary school in Uganda, Africa. Providing the opportunity for African students to gain an education and impact their own communities much like William did.
Students will then bridge a local connection with their own home energy use through the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Powerhouse Program. This program is in partnership with CMP (Central Maine Power) through the use of Energy Manager and smart meters. Students will conduct independent energy investigations in their homes in which they collect energy data and engage in the local community through the Powerhouse interface. Through their independent findings, students will generate a plan for reducing their homes energy use by 5%. Students will culminate the expedition by creating video PSA’s (public service announcements) for Central Maine Power and GMRI Powerhouse on why it’s important to be mindful of our energy use. The finished PSA’s will be presented to and selected by a panel of representatives from CMP and GMRI Powerhouse to be showcase on the GMRI Powerhouse website and as part of CMP’s public outreach campaign for promoting energy manager.
Students will participate in a “Junkyard Challenge” to kick-off this expedition and become more familiar with engineering practices and the design process. Students are continually engaged throughout the expedition with both the scientific and design processes through the use of multiple design challenges (inquiry labs) as a way to deliver critical science content on energy transfer and electricity. Students will build and test their own wind turbines and solar cars in addition to whole class demonstrations using a solar oven and solar bags. Through the use of a non-fiction anchor text, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind inspired by the story of William Kamkwamba, and first-hand accounts of access to education and electricity in East Africa provided by their science teacher, students will uncover themes to both the global and local community. Based on their knowledge from the anchor text, students will create interdisciplinary products (based on student interest) to demonstrate the many global and local connections to community provided by the text. In addition, students will conduct a dance fundraiser (Giving Ball) to create a school fee scholarship fund for St. Peter’s College Amusala, a secondary school in Uganda, Africa. Providing the opportunity for African students to gain an education and impact their own communities much like William did.
Students will then bridge a local connection with their own home energy use through the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Powerhouse Program. This program is in partnership with CMP (Central Maine Power) through the use of Energy Manager and smart meters. Students will conduct independent energy investigations in their homes in which they collect energy data and engage in the local community through the Powerhouse interface. Through their independent findings, students will generate a plan for reducing their homes energy use by 5%. Students will culminate the expedition by creating video PSA’s (public service announcements) for Central Maine Power and GMRI Powerhouse on why it’s important to be mindful of our energy use. The finished PSA’s will be presented to and selected by a panel of representatives from CMP and GMRI Powerhouse to be showcase on the GMRI Powerhouse website and as part of CMP’s public outreach campaign for promoting energy manager.