Prince of Peace Catholic School eighth grade students recently participated in a “green engineering day” field trip to Southern Research‘s STEM Education Outreach Center in Birmingham. The visit complemented their current classroom studies about energy, and they were able to do hands-on applications of energy concepts.

The middle schoolers created their own circuit necklaces, complete with an LED light, studied the effects of angles and temperature changes on solar panels, and designed a turbine for a hydroelectric dam. They competed to create the most energy-efficient solar panels and the most powerful water turbines.

The students measured voltage and current of the turbines to determine whose design generated the most power. POP middle school science teacher Mary Elizabeth Sammis discovered this awesome learning opportunity through her network of local scientists.

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