Alaska Wind for Schools Educational Program
As part of the Alaska Wind for Schools program your school will be able to have access to fantastic educational resources. The focus of the program will be on: WIND! However, Wind energy is a very interdisplinary activity. Using Wind energy as a keystone, students will learn about energy science, energy sources, climate change, physics, mathematics, engineering, and (did we say it already?) ENERGY.
Our program revolves around bringing Wind energy into the classroom using actual Skystream turbines, installed at the school, or wind turbine kits, which allow students to proactively learn and engage in wind turbine design. These hands on activities are balanced with lesson plans developed by Windwise and NEED. Students very interested in wind turbine design are encouraged to form a team and sign up for the upcoming KidWind Competition (see below).
Alaska-Specific Energy Curriculum
A new energy efficiency curriculum for K-12 classrooms has been launched across the state. Created by UAF’s Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP), Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC), this curriculum is designed with Alaska-specific content and focuses students on measures they can take to conserve energy at home and at school.
All lessons are aligned to Alaska’s state education standards and national education standards and are designed to allow teachers to choose just a few lessons, or adopt the entire age-specific curriculum. Each lesson comes with step-by-step instructions on how to easily incorporate this new content into your school.
Lesson plans are now available online at www.akenergysmart.org. Teacher trainings were held throughout the state from April- November 2012, introducing educators to the lesson plans and content. For more information about this curriculum, please contact Melody Moen, Outreach Coordinator for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at melody.moen@alaska.edu.
Windwise Education
Grades 6-12
WindWise is a comprehensive curriculum that includes a set of interdisciplinary lessons in an easy-to-use format with attractive, understandable graphics. Every lesson has an inquiry-based introduction to encourage creative thinking and a hands-on activity to develop analytical skills. Throughout the curriculum, case studies and profiles of professionals are featured to provide students with real-life examples from the wind energy sector.
www.windwiseeducation.org
Kid Wind Design Challenge - JANUARY-APRIL 2013
All Grades
Go to www.uaf.edu/acep/kidwind.
This design competition seeks students interested in testing their engineering and scientific prowess as they build the most powerful and elegant student wind turbines.
www.kidwind.org
Afterschool Wind Club
Power of the Wind
Wind for Schools is encouraging the development of after school wind clubs. The clubs will be supported by the National 4H's Power of the Wind materials as well as the Alaska Chapter of Women of the Wind (Little Women of the Wind). Events will be scheduled on a monthly basis by WiDAC to support the Wind Clubs and to provide ongoing educational opportunities for the Wind Club participants.
Wind Week
All Grades
School wide interactive activities with UA students, inquiry-based centers, construction of wind turbine models, etc.
NEED Youth Project For Energy Achievement
All Grades
Some schools will have student leaders who extend these energy based activities into their communities. To recognize outstanding achievement and reward student leadership, the NEED Project conducts the National Youth Awards Program for Energy Achievement. This program combines academic competition with recognition to acknowledge everyone involved in NEED during the year - and to recognize those who achieve excellence in energy education in their schools and communities. Participating students and teachers set goals and objectives, and keep a record of their activities.
www.need.org
