RCEA Education Boxes

Humboldt State University

Engineering 215 Projects

Spring 2010

"The Redwood Coast Energy Authority’s (RCEA) purpose is to develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient and renewable resources available in the region"

Students in Introduction to Design, at Humboldt State University, worked with the Redwood Coast Energy Authority to build energy education boxes for classrooms in Humboldt County. These boxes are designed for different K-12 grade ranges and cover one of three topics: energy conservation, renewable energy or climate change.

Each Kit:

* Includes instructions for teachers

* Is designed for 1 day to 1 week

* Was tested with students

* Meets CA state standards

* Is housed, maintained and repaired by the RCEA

* Contains supporting and adaptable materials

Renewable Energy

Grade K-4

Energy Conservation

Climate Change

Grade K-4

http://www.appropedia.org/RCEA_educational_boxes

Redwood Coast Energy Authority

Educational Boxes

Design Your Future

Weather Warnings educates 3rd and 4th grade students, in one period, about climate change through a movie, three stations (ice melt, CO2 and a sea level rise map), and a worksheet.

The Rad Triad is designed to teach grades K-4 about conserving energy through a Chutes and Ladder like board game, a popup book and a sing-a-long song.

The Power of Wind is a one hour lesson plan designed to educate fourth grade students on the basics of wind power. The students learn about the basics of wind, how wind turbines operate, and how wind power transfers electricity.

Bust-A-Watt educates middle school students through a weeklong curriculum about energy conservation through hands on activities, interactive discussions, home assessment assignments, and  a reflective art assignment.

Grade 5-8

The Seas of Change educates fifth through eighth grade students about the polar ice caps melting effects of climate change through a hands-on model.

Modeling Renewable Energy is a three period lesson plan designed to educate sixth grade students on many types of renewable energy including wind, hydro, solar, wave, biomass. Lesson one is a hypothetical situation, Lesson two is a model landscape, Lesson three is a class debate.

Grade 5-8

High School

The Energy In A Cinch kit is designed to teach High School students about renewable energy through the use of a Windbelt. The kit contains a powerpoint presentation on RE and Wind, and material to build five complete Windbelts of various sizes.

The Climate Connection educates high school students about climate change through a few class periods. This three-part box includes an informative powerpoint lecture, a Cap-and-Trade game and a model greenhouse gas experiment.

CAN YOU WorKIT is designed to teach high school student about conservation of energy. In one or two class periods students assemble and operate a hand crank electrical generators in order to understand the connection between work and energy. An activity worksheet helps students observe the amount of work that goes into powering every day appliances.