Winter 06 Renewable Energy workshops free to teachers, Harwich MA
Submitted by Joan Muller
2005-12-05 16:49:37
Charge Up your Curriculum with Renewable Energy!
ALERT! We're postponing starting the Renewable Energy class to allow more people to sign up (before the holidays is a difficult time to get people's attention). Instead of starting this week, we will be starting next week, Jan. 12. Here is the modified schedule. So, let your colleagues know there is still time to sign up for a great class (2 credits for only $110 or free PDPs, great topics and speakers, tours of renewable energy installations, activities, a $100.00 stipend for classroom materials all relating to the Massachusetts Frameworks - how can you beat it?)
<em>Original Announcement, with corrections:</em>
Charge Up your Curriculum with Renewable Energy!
Location: Cape Cod Technical High School, Harwich, MA
Target audience: Teachers in grades 6-10...Teachers of other grades are welcome to take the course and adapt it for their own classrooms.
Credit: Two graduate credits or 45 PDPs for 18 hours of class time plus field trip and assignments. Credit is optional, granted through Framingham State College, and costs $110.
Meeting time: Six 4-hour sessions, Thursday evenings 4-8, Jan. 12 to Feb 16, 2006 (See below for details.)
Course Description: This course will focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy (photovoltaic electricity, solar thermal and wind energy), and climate change; it will also include information about fossil fuels which dominate our current energy sources. Each week will feature a guest lecturer/specialist who will present content through hands-on teaching activities for their topic. Although the course is based on MA Frameworks for grades 6-10, other teachers are welcome to take the course and adapt it for their own classrooms.
<em>Registration is required. There is no charge for these workshops.</em>
Contact Joan Muller for more information 508-457-0495 x107 <a href="mailto:joan.muller@state.ma.us">joan.muller@state.ma.us</a>
<a href="http://www.waquoitbayreserve.org/">http://www.waquoitbayreserve.org/</a>
Course details:
...Sessions can be taken separately or together as a course.
...Thursday evenings, 4 to 8 pm (please bring a bag supper, drinks and dessert provided)
...Meet at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, MA
...Classroom teachers are eligible for $100.00 grants to buy materials to implement curriculum.
<b>Jan. 12: Non-Renewable Energy Sources. Debbie Fitton and Cape Light Compact (CLC) staff)</b>
Recent events have brought the importance of fossil fuels to the forefront. This session will serve as an introduction to current sources of energy including oil, coal and natural gas with an emphasis on the situation in southeastern Massachusetts. Participants will learn about the electric grid and other basic concepts like energy supply and cost. Activities will be suitable for math, science and social studies.
<b>Jan. 19: Heat From the Sun: Look on the Sunny Side Debbie Fitton, CLC and Joan Muller, WBNERR</b>
During this session we will try activities to illustrate the principles of radiation, conduction and convection. We'll explore several easy to make devices that capture the energy of the sun and discuss the applications of these concepts with real life examples. We'll also design and test a scale model of an energy efficient house.
<b>Jan. 26: Wind Energy. Megan Amsler, Cape and Islands Self-Reliance and Joan Muller, WBNERR</b>
For this session, we'll focus on integrating the study of weather, math, and geography into the study of wind power. In addition to activities you can do in the classroom or at your own school, we'll tour a wind turbine which is currently generating some of the Tech School's electricity on site.
<b>Feb. 2: Ready for Renewable Energy. Megan Amsler, Cape and Islands Self-Reliance and Joan Muller, WBNERR</b>
Many renewable energy technologies are coming to the forefront, either for the first time or as updated versions of traditional technologies. During this session we'll focus on fuel cells, biodiesel and photovoltaic solar electric panels and touch upon some other technologies. Teachers will have the opportunity to handle demonstration models of fuel cells and tour a solar electric installation at the school, as well as brew up some biodiesel.
<b>February 9: School Energy Audit and Sharing Session. Debbie Fitton, CLC, Joan Muller, WBNERR</b>
With guidance from Kevin Galligan of the Cape Light Compact, teachers will conduct an energy audit that can be replicated at their own school. We will also visit a local residence which is super insulated and has features such as a masonry stove and solar panels for hot water. In addition, teachers will have a chance to present their curriculum ideas and receive feedback from the instructor and other teachers.
<b>Feb 16 (New Date!): Climate Change, Global and Local. Pat Harcourt, Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR)</b>
After introducing terms and concepts related to climate change, we will try out activities on the greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle, climate changes in the past, and local impacts of climate change, We will consider the scientific evidence for climate change and end with an inspiring activity on solutions.