Renewable Energy Project: Wind, Water, Solar

6th Grade, Orchard View Middle School

Students examined the feasibility and impact of various alternative, sustainable energy sources in the city of Muskegon.

The Renewable Energy project engages students in exploring sustainable energy technologies through hands-on learning with local solar and wind company partnerships, examining both benefits and drawbacks of renewable power sources. Students apply their knowledge by building functional prototypes that demonstrate how sustainable energy can power small devices like lightbulbs, fans, and mini-cars, connecting theoretical concepts to practical applications. Students will explore energy sources and alternative energy systems at local (Muskegon/West Michigan), national (US maps and data), and global (international comparisons and UN Sustainable Development Goals) levels through research, mapping activities, and cost-benefit analysis. This connects energy production to population patterns, environmental impact, and policy decisions while having students reflect on their learning and connect it to previous design projects.

Resources

Guiding Presentation

Community Partners

  • Consumer Energy

Standards Alignment

Science

MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.

MS-ESS3-4 Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.

Social Studies

G.6.5.1 Environment and Society: Humans and the Environment

C.6.1.1 Purposes of Government: Nature of Civic Life, Politics, and Government Structure and Functions of Government

C.6.4.3 Relationship of United States to Other Nations and World Affairs: Conflict and Cooperation Between and Among Nations

English

RI 6.3 Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

W 6.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. (Supported by W 6.4, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8)

L 6.6 Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

Math

6.EE.B.5/7 Writing and Solving one step equations and inequalities

6.SP.B.4/5 Displaying and Analyzing Numerical Data

Student Reflections

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The Third Coast Learning Collaborative is a collective project of Orchard View Schools, Reeths-Puffer Schools, Human Restoration Project & Open Way Learning. This work is independently evaluated by RAND.

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‍The contents of this website are developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government. This grant is 100% directly funded through federal funding totaling $3,995,537 beyond in-kind matching funds. All involved parties will contribute in-kind time to make the project a success at an in-kind rate of $429,173.