Renewable Energy Engineering and Climate Action: From Wind Turbines to Community Clean-Up

Project Summary

Students at Newhalen School engaged in hands-on renewable energy engineering by building and testing model wind turbines and hydropower turbines, created Public Service Announcement videos about climate change, and participated in community clean-up activities to address local environmental challenges.

Detailed Story

Students at Newhalen School in Alaska participated in a comprehensive climate action project that combined engineering, media creation, and community service. The project began with students learning about the importance of renewable energy and climate change impacts both globally and locally. Using hands-on engineering approaches, students designed, built, and tested model wind turbines and hydropower turbines under various conditions, turning the learning into friendly competitions to see who could generate the most power. The engineering component was enhanced by scientific observation and measurement tools, including microscopes for detailed analysis of materials and components. Students then channeled their learning into climate advocacy by creating Public Service Announcement videos warning people about climate change and encouraging action. These videos featured not only students but also family members and school staff, demonstrating the community-wide engagement the project generated. To complement their learning and advocacy work, students participated in a village-wide community clean-up, applying their environmental knowledge to direct local action. The project successfully integrated multiple learning modalities – engineering design, scientific investigation, media production, and community service – while addressing both global climate issues and local environmental stewardship.

Impact Statement

Students gained practical engineering skills in renewable energy systems. Created competitive learning environment that motivated students to work beyond class time. Produced climate advocacy videos featuring community members. Completed village clean-up contributing to local environmental health. Demonstrated integration of global climate knowledge with local environmental action.