Renewable energy can be a theme that is embedded into different units of study, a theme that can drive student learning throughout an entire whole year if asked as an essential question, How can renewable energy benefit the environment?

In a physics class, renewable energy relates to the study of rotational kinetics of a wind turbine. In a chemistry class, students can address renewable energy as they explore the electrochemical reactions within a hydrogen fuel cell. In an environmental science class, students might consider the impact on global climate when studying the production and uses of ethanol fuel. In an economics class, students might consider the costs and benefits over time if solar energy is used in homes (Horizon Educational, 2020).

After-school STEM clubs that offer hands-on, student-driven opportunities for learning is another way to teach students about renewable energies. The KidWind.org wind and solar challenges engage students in exploring clean energy science through engineering activities. When completing wind turbine projects, students learn about wind energy, how wind turbines operate, and how they produce electricity. Students design, create and test out their own wind turbines projects to determine how much energy they produce. In the Kidwind.org solar challenges, students learn how solar cells turn light from the sun into electricity. The students design and create structures that use solar panels to produce electricity that is used to operate something such as turning on lights, operating a fan, or sounding a buzzer. Both challenges inform students about STEM and non-STEM related jobs (NRC, 2011, 2013). When working together throughout the KidWind challenges, students develop collaborative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Finally, STEM education initiatives promote economic innovation (Kuenzi, 2008). Industries such as AWEA, the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry, with over 800 member companies in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers support initiatives such as KidWind.org challenges by hosting the challenges at its annual AWEA WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition. In Virginia, KidWind-Virginia is supported by Dominion Energy, Orsted, and Enel among other industries. James Madison University’s CASE: Educator Network’s RePowering Schools initiative, designed to bring renewable energy technology to schools, hosts KidWind challenges in the spring of each year (RePowering Schools, 2021).

Resources

Horizon Education. (2020, May 25). Learn about renewable energy in a different way. Retrieved from https://www.horizoneducational.com/learn-about-renewable-energy-in-a-different-way/t1267.

Kuenzi, J. J. (2008). Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education: Background, federal policy, and legislative action. Congressional Research Service Reports. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=crsdocs.

National Research Council (NRC). (2011). Successful K-12 STEM education: Identifying effective approaches in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. National Academies Press: Washington, D.C.

National Research Council (NRC). (2013a). Monitoring progress toward successful K- 12 STEM education: A nation advancing? National Academies Press: Washington, D.C.

RePowering Schools program. (2021). CASE: Educator Network. James Madison University. https://www.repoweringschools.org