While the main focus of SOLS is significantly reducing the school district's fossil fuel reliance, our group remains committed to educational projects as well. Enhancing renewable energy learning opportunities for students invites them to participate in transitioning our communities to clean, viable energy sources.
SOLS volunteers presented the School District of La Crosse with a donation of two solar ovens, insulated cookware, and lesson plan materials. These portable solar ovens give La Crosse School District teachers new tools to demonstrate the power of the sun, engage students of all ages, and enrich science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) lessons. The hands-on, experiential learning offered by using and experimenting with solar ovens can spur students’ imaginations and demonstrate how renewable solar energy can be used.
The donation was made during a Winter SOLStice Press Conference at Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori and Prinicipal Nicki Pope accepted the donation on behalf of the district. The solar oven learning materials will be stored at Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori but are available to teachers and students across the district.
SOLS purchased the solar oven materials from SolCook and more information about the ovens, including purchase information, is available at www.allseasonsolarcooker.com. The ovens themselves fold flat for storage and can be repeatedly assembled and disassembled without issue. Included with the solar oven learning materials are two sun sights tools. These wooden tools, consisting of a wooden block and pin, can be used with the sun to teach students all about solar focus using light and shadows.
The solar ovens are the second set of solar learning tools to be donated to the district by SOLS. We marked last year’s winter solstice with the donation of a portable solar generator and folding solar panel that make hands-on solar energy lessons possible at any school in the district, even if their school hasn’t added solar energy yet!
Media coverage of the Winter SOLStice Press Conference and donation of the solar oven learning materials includes: