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| Ms. Bensen`s Science Class
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| Photo: Allan Baer |
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Barre, Vermont •• April 12, 2000 •• SolarQuest® iNet News Service ••
Students in Ms. Bensen's sixth grade science class at Barre City Elementary and Middle School, Barre City, Vermont, are building solar collectors and learning about the principles of heat transfer. The Solar Challenge: Use the Sun to Heat Water; Boil it if You Can. With the assistance of Andy Shapiro and Fran Barhydt of the Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP), design teams consisting of two or three students work collaboratively while competing against other teams to solve a real world problem: how to boil 12 ounces of water using only the light of the sun. The teams are also competing against each other to excel in three categories: highest temperature, highest temperature per square foot of solar collector, and cost efficiency.'This science unit requires extensive preparation,' comments Ms. Bensen 'but it is worth it.' The students are required to conduct several experiments to solve problems related to the design of their solar collectors. Students Emma M. and Kristi D. learned through experiments that sunlight travels in predictable angles. Using math problems learned in class, they calculated the appropriate angle to construct their solar collector. 'We are building our solar collector to achieve cost efficiency,' says Kristi D. 'So we are calculating how to get the most heat value out of low cost materials.' In this multi-disciplinary science class, students learn more than math and science. They learn practical lessons about life as well. 'We don't have to use electricity for everything,' comments Tamara. 'With solar energy, perhaps we can control gas prices. Keep it from going up.' And the information they get in class comes from other ources as well as an extensive, standards-based curriculum prepared by the VEEP. At the beginning of class the students discussed a newspaper article about global warming and talked about our reliance on fossil fuels to meet energy needs. 'This is one of the showcase units in our school,' stated Mr. Batchelder, a co-principal at the school. 'This is a real hands-on project where kids learn more than science. They are learning about how to solve problems they will face in the future and building the skills they will need to solve them. They are learning skills for new jobs and becoming more aware as consumers about the importance of non-polluting energy technologies.' Dustin S. explains the hands-on process: 'First we build a mock-up to test the reflective quality of our design. Our team tried several designs, then we decided on a final design as a team.' Students designed collectors of all sizes and shapes -- square, triangular, and parabolic. They carefully measure the amount of materials they use and calculate the costs. But still, with all the emphasis on science, the students are quick to state their wonder at solar energy. 'I am amazed that light from the sun can heat water over 200 degrees,' says Rory F. This is the fifth year the VEEP program has been taught at the Barre City Elementary and Middle School. And from the genuine learning experience that is evident from the quality of student work, this showpiece program will continue for years to come. To learn more about educating with solar energy, contact: Andy Shapiro
ashapiro@together.net
802.229.5676. Fran Barhydt
veep@together.net
802.626.8346.
The Barre Solar Challenge is made possible by an education partnership
of the Vermont Energy Education Program, Vermont Public Service
Department, Central Vermont School-to-Work Collaborative, Vermont
Energy Investment Corp., and the Barre School District.
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