Guy McClure (standing), former science teacher
at Athens High School, reviews support material
for for teachers in the PACERS Solar Project.

Teachers, principals, and community members from nine schools/communities participating in the Solar Science project met in Prattville on January 17th to review lesson plans, set the project schedule for the spring, and make preparations for the PACERS Annual conference (April 30th). Guy McClure, retired science teacher from Athens HS, introduced lesson plans and workbook he has prepared for use with the project’s “living lab”, a passive solar water heater designed by John Walker with assistance from other present and former NASA-related engineers. The workbook will be expanded to include options for elementary and middle school students. At a summer workshop, tentatively scheduled for the second week in July, teachers and scientists involved in the project will develop additional teaching materials to extend the capacity of math and science teachers to use the “living lab” to provide interesting and challenging instructional opportunities correlated to the state’s course of study.

John and Dorsey Walker outlined their spring schedule for assessing locations for building teaching units and greenhouses (schedule to be posted later). Their first meeting was the following day at Edward Bell High School where they met with the Tallapoosa County Superintendent and board members, and the principal, teachers, and students at the school to assess solar applications. The project at Edward Bell is headed up by Renata Rives, high school science teacher.

Plans were made to set up the living lab at the conference with the possible option of students assembling the batch water heaters that will be made at participating schools and communities for local use. Demonstrations will be given by students on how the solar units are used for instruction and for energy savings.

Participating schools and communities were: Edward Bell HS/Camp Hill, Sand Rock HS/Sand Rock, Collinsville HS/Collinsville; Section HS/Section; Florala HS/Florala; Florala Middle School/Florala; Harlan Elementary School/Lockhart; Spring Garden HS/Spring Garden; Monroe Intermediate School/Packer’s Bend.

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