CE partnered with East TN STEM Hub at the University of Tenessee to deliver a hands-on teacher training to 3rd-12th grade teachers from across the Alcoa/Knoxville region in the summer of 2023. This training was the first time the program had delivered a project in the state, and was intended to lay a foundation for much deeper work with Clean Energy Coaches or other teacher leaders in the future. The content in the training emphasized architecture and solar energy project design, intending to set teachers up with individual classroom kits that could support the integration of engineering... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Gum Springs/Arkadelphia, Arkansas in Spring 2016. This workshop was hosted by the Henderson State University STEM Center. The STEM center, alongside numerous others throughout the state, acts as a resource provision entity for teachers in the Central-Southwest portion of the state.  Beginning with recruiting nearly all 6th-12th grade science teachers from the immediate Arkadelphia region area, the STEM center then branched out to enroll teachers from areas as far... Read full project narrative >>

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Evansville has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  As it is the second round of delivery for this region, a focus on expanding the initial impact was made and the workshop was extended to two days.  CE co-planned with workshop with the district to get a sense of how the initial workshop had impacted their curriculum and hands-on... Read full project narrative >>

Made possible through funding from the Arconic Foundation, this workshop focused on bringing hybrid or at-home STEM learning opportunities to students during the COVID-19 pandemic that focused on hands-on, customized curriculum. CE worked through a Clean Energy Coach model, working with teacher leaders to develop new learning experiences for students that meet the needs of a pandemic schooling environment. In this particular instance, CE worked with Clean Energy Coach Chris Like, STEAM Coordinator for Bettendorf Community Schools, to build new 4th grade science curriculum focusing on... Read full project narrative >>

In August of 2022, CE collaborated with Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit in Bloomsburg, PA to co-design training focusing on clean energy topics aligned to best practices in Ambitious Science Teaching. Working with a Clean Energy Coach, CE identified activities that aligned with STEELS standards being implemented across the state. These included middle and high school activities examining circuitry and power grid principles as well as Elementary lessons using Storytime STEM packs to link literacy with engineering. 28 teachers attended the training from across the IU's service area,... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Kawneer facility in Bloomsburg, PA. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) hosted a “Solar Energy Inquiry and Engineering” workshop for 6^th – 12^th grade teachers from area school districts. CSIU, alongside numerous others throughout the state, acts as an educational resource provider for schools in this region.  The IU was responsible for reaching out to local districts, having each district nominate a few teachers that they would like to send to the... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Branford, CT in January 2018. Thirteen educators from five schools across four districts convened to participate in a Regional Renewable Energy Inquiry & Engineering workshop hosted at Francis Walsh Intermediate School. Workshop facilitators collaborated with the host to create a custom workshop opportunity geared towards middle school educators. Teachers engaged in hands on activities that focused on expanding their knowledge and application of the NGSS... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Canton, OH in October 2017. Twenty-four educators from 12 school districts all came together at the R. G. Drage Career Technical Center in Massillon, OH to engage in a renewable energy educator workshop. The subjects taught by teachers at this training crossed many disciplines, including: science, robotics, social studies, math, agriculture, ELA, and natural resources. Participants were excited to engage in the topic of renewable energy and wanted to gain... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Chandler, Arizona in Spring 2016. The Solar 4R Schools team had an opportunity to work intimately with the East Valley Chapter of the organization Engineering for Kids. Educators spent time designing the heating compartment for a solar oven (even overheating leftover pizza) and enjoyed tremendously the time spent designing and redesigning solar cars to work in the bright Arizona sun! East Valley Engineering for Kids expects to reach 150+ students over the course... Read full project narrative >>

CE delivered this in-person hands-on renewable energy training to Quad Cities teachers in April of 2023, leveraging existing and newly developed curriculum built by teacher leaders to train new educators around these highly effective tools. CE has partnered with schools in the region since 2017, cultivating deeply collaborative relationships and in the process supporting the development of elementary curriculum in 2021 using individual STEM packs of circuitry materials. CE continued this relationship in 2023 by collaborating with a Clean Energy Coach to co-design curriculum at the high... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators that teach students in districts surrounding their facilities in Davenport, IA. Pleasant Valley Administration Center hosted the Regional Renewable Energy Inquiry and Engineering professional development day to learn more about about local technical and energy-related jobs through hands-on activities by Solar 4R Schools and engaging local presentations from representatives at Arconic and MidAmerican Energy. Teachers modeled MidAmerican’s vision of a future with a 100% renewable energy grid by building and... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Denton, Texas in Spring 2016. BEF’s Solar 4R Schools program and the City of Denton’s Sustainable Schools partnered to provide a STEM teacher training that enabled renewable energy programming to reach 10 educators from 9 schools across the District with substantial science kits – which are now available to teachers through a lending library hosted through Denton Sustainable Schools. The City of Denton, Denton Municipal Electric, and Denton Independent School... Read full project narrative >>

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Evansville has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  As it is the second round of delivery for this region, a focus on expanding the initial impact was made and the workshop was extended to two days.  CE co-planned with workshop with the district to get a sense of how the initial workshop had impacted their curriculum and hands-on... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Evansville, Indiana in Spring 2016. Solar 4R Schools partnered with I-STEM and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) to bring this workshop in May of 2016 to schools lacking access to some of the curricular materials available to many schools throughout Indiana.

Thirteen middle school teachers from four EVSC schools spent the day collaborating, planning, and building solar cars to help people “survive a zombie apocalypse.” The materials... Read full project narrative >>

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Evansville has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  CE co-planned with workshop with Hampton City Schools in order to align with their new 2018 Virginia Science Standards of Learning and provide a launchpad for their summer curriculum planning.

Two separate groups of teachers attended on June 17 and June 18, 2019. The first day of... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding an Arconic facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Intermediate Unit (IU) 13, a regional education resources agency for the Lancaster-Lebanon area, hosted this workshop at their conference center.  IU 13 works closely with regional districts and was able to pinpoint outreach through district leaders to the immediate Lancaster area and to the most high need schools.  All of the 14 participating teachers from seven schools from the School District of Lancaster, as well as their science... Read full project narrative >>

In 2021, CE collaborated with the School District of Lancaster in Lancaster, PA to deliver a hybrid STEM training focusing on K-2 literacy linkages to STEM topics. This training used Storytime STEM Packs, a tool developed by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit that engages students in stories to launch engineering design activities. Kits used in this training specifically used the stories of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and My Papi Has a Motorcycle to guide students through the process of building energy transformation solutions.  CE delivered this training virtually, sending the kits to... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators that teach students in districts surrounding their facilities in LaPorte, IN. LaPorte Community School Corporation and Michigan City Area Schools worked together to host a renewable energy teacher workshop at Boston High School in spring 2017.

Teachers chose to conduct this day of professional development for their first day of summer and enjoyed talking through the obstacles of what it would take to store solar energy as thermal energy. At lunchtime, representatives from the local utility NIPSCO spoke... Read full project narrative >>

CE partnered with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, Georgia Green & Healthy Schools, Green Cell Atlanta, Gwinnett School District, and Georgia Gwinnett College to deliver a regional teacher training in the summer of 2023 focused on renewable energy and engineering topics. Collaborating with this diverse range of partners, CE aligned with local standards and activity needs to provide a training that facilitated quick and easy usage of new hands-on materials and STEM activities. The workshop also included pre-service teachers from the university. This workshop laid the foundation for... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Pittsburgh, New Kensington, and Cranberry Township in Pennsylvania.  This workshop was conducted with a partnership between Solar 4R Schools and ASSET Stem Inc.  The partnership was developed as a method of combining curricular resources and collaborating on new hands-on content for the workshop itself.  Specifically, workshop activities were reworked in order to be more inquiry driven and include formative assessment pieces that are effective for usage during... Read full project narrative >>

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Pittsburgh has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  As it is the second round of delivery for this region, a focus on expanding the initial impact was made and the workshop was extended to two days.  CE co-planned with workshop with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit to get a sense of how the initial workshop had impacted their curriculum and... Read full project narrative >>

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Pittsburgh has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  CE co-planned with workshop with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit to get a sense of how the initial workshop had impacted their curriculum and hands-on instruction.

This workshop was the second visit that CE has made to Pittsburgh as part of this cycle of funding from Arconic. Thus,... Read full project narrative >>

Made possible by the Arconic Foundation, this project focused on bringing STEM to life through storytelling for K-2 teachers. In partnership with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU), CE collaborated on the development of two Storytime STEM Packs. These Packs are curriculum and hands-on bundles that guide young students through the process of engineering design within the context of a specific story. The stories chosen for the new energy-focused curriculum used in this workshop were The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and My Papi Has a Motorcycle. Using culturally sustaining... Read full project narrative >>

Made possible through funding from the Arconic Foundation, this workshop focused on bringing hybrid or at-home STEM learning opportunities to students during the COVID-19 pandemic that focused on hands-on, customized curriculum. CE worked through a Clean Energy Coach model, working with teacher leaders to develop new learning experiences for students that meet the needs of a pandemic schooling environment. In this particular instance, CE worked with Clean Energy Coach Rhett Barrett, Instructional Facilitator for Springdale Public Schools, to build new middle school science curriculum... Read full project narrative >>

In 2022, CE collaborated with the Springdale School District in Springdale, PA to deliver a hybrid STEM training focusing on K-2 literacy linkages to STEM topics. This training used Storytime STEM Packs, a tool developed by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit that engages students in stories to launch engineering design activities. Kits used in this training specifically used the stories of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and My Papi Has a Motorcycle to guide students through the process of building energy transformation solutions.  CE delivered this training virtually, sending the kits to... Read full project narrative >>

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Evansville has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  As it is the second round of delivery for this region, a focus on expanding the initial impact was made and the workshop was extended to two days.  CE co-planned with workshop with the district to get a sense of how the initial workshop had impacted their curriculum and hands-on... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators that teach students in districts surrounding their facilities in Springdale AR. Springdale Public Schools and the University of Arkansas’ Center for Math and Science Education worked with Solar 4R Schools to host the workshop and recruit teachers.

Teachers attended this workshop on a school day, as many of their classrooms were conducting post-testing activities.  The overall workshop’s activities’ were fairly diverse and personalized to the needs of the educator community.  Important highlights to note... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Wadsworth, Ohio in July 2016. Partnerships were at the heart of bringing Solar 4R Schools’ education program to eight teachers across five schools in Wadsworth City Schools is expected to reach over 500 local students in the first year. Representatives at Solar 4R Schools connected with Wadsworth City Schools through the Alcoa Foundation, which is also supporting the district’s PRIME initiative (http://www.smeef.org/prime/... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Wenatchee, Washington in Summer 2016. Seven high school science teachers from Wenatchee High School and the River Academy gathered in August 2016 to incorporate solar and wind science into their curriculum while adding more data collection technology to their classroom science materials. The teachers anticipate providing renewable energy STEM education to over 500 students in the district in the first year.

Washington Green Schools also partnered with... Read full project narrative >>

On June 7, 2019 18 educators came together to explore renewable energy concepts through inquiry and hands on investigation. The workshop was hosted at Region 9 Education Service Center, where educators go for professional development and curricular resources. The day began with a brief presentation from an Arconic representative who provided an overview of Arconic, career connections, and opportunities available to Wichita Falls area teachers and youth, such as the TAME (Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering) Program. In total 18 educators from 15... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Wichita Falls, Texas in Spring 2016. Twenty-four teachers across 18 schools in 14 Districts participated in a professional development experience organized by their Educational Service Center (ESC) that included one day focusing on renewable energy education with Solar 4R Schools. ESC Region 9 hosted this workshop and Ward Scientific sponsored lunch and door prizes. Teachers from 4th-12th grade took home one science kit to share for every school that included... Read full project narrative >>

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Winsted, CT in September 2017. Thirteen educators from four different school districts met at The Gilbert School to engage in a training focusing on renewable energy education. Representatives from Arconic Power & Propulsion, CREC (Capitol Region Education Council), and Eversource Energy were present to participate in the training and share information about energy-related careers and local energy resources. This effort was part of Arconic Foundation’s... Read full project narrative >>