Students at the Northglenn, CO's STEM Magnet Lab School are challenged each day to associate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in every aspect of their academic and personal lives. For these students, STEM is less of a concept and more of a way of life, with Northglenn students encouaged to explore new and unique solutions to the issues we all face everyday. As part of GRID Alternatives' Solar Futures program to bring solar education to K-14 students, GRID Development Assistant Bobby Kirby and Volunteer Coordinator Leslie Proudfoot participated in Northglenn's annual Climate Challenge for 3rd and 8th grade classes.
The issue students faced during 2015's Climate Challenge is a very important one. 'How can we, as a student body, decrease our energy and garbage waste while becoming better advocates for our environment?' Prior to asking the 3rd and 8th grade students to share some of their best ideas, experts from environmental and efficiency organizations presented on ways we can all reduce our waste and protect our planet!
Here are some of the ideas the students came up with. Enjoy!
- "We should build a half solar, half rock-climbing wall with solar panels on the south side!"
- "Let's switch to LED lights. We'll use much less energy to light the same room."
- "I want to make a car out of solar panels... and the car will run on those solar panels... and there will be batteries so I can drive at night"
- "We can use less energy by turning off the lights if we're not going to come back into the room."
- "What about 'Chameleon Skins' to wrap our houses in that reflect heat in the summer but soak up heat in the winter"
Northglenn's Climate Challenge inspired these students to come up with inovative ways to become better stewards of our environment. There is no limit to how we can positively effect our planet and there is no idea too wacky...