Ramona Students Might Solve World Energy Crisis All By Themselves

December 9, 2009
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ABC Entertainment Reporter George Pennacchio with Ramona teachers and grant winners, xx, on left, and Margaret Rasmussen.

ABC Television Entertainment Reporter George Pennacchio with Ramona teachers and grant winners, Alison Reedy, on left, and Margaret Rasmussen.

BP Global has awarded three Ramona Middle School science teachers each a grant of $10,000 to fuel their students’ participation in alternative energy projects featuring biomass, wind and hydrogen cell energy.

 

Alison Reedy was awarded her grant to teach students about alternative energy sources. The project, called “Gard-en-ergy,” will feature student-guided inquiry activities that focus on harvesting energy from organic matter. The project will allow students to research biomass energy using newly purchased classroom laptop computers, grow crops in the school garden, and perform lab activities to harvest the energy.

 

Margaret Rasmussen was awarded her grant to teach students wind energy as an alternative energy source. The project is called “Windsday.” State standards are reinforced as force and motion concepts are taught during the Physics unit using wind-powered cars. Students will explore wind energy through groups performing many lab experiments, including tracking and recording wind speed at Ramona, building alternative energy models, and manipulating small windmills to achieve maximum power. Students will also use newly purchased laptops to research all alternative energy resources available.

 

Kala Buck was awarded her grant to teach students about hydrogen cell energy, entitled “Hydrogen-ergy.” The curriculum focus is during the 8th grade chemistry unit and will enrich the content by increasing the students’ hands-on learning and application of their textbook knowledge. The project focuses on molecular interactions, splitting of atoms, and hydrogen as an additional source for energy and fuel for cars. In addition, classroom laptops will enable students to use new computer programs that will engage them in more critical thinking strategies.

 

As a final showcase for each of the projects, students will design ways to communicate their results with the community at Ramona’s Open House in April 2010.

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