STEM Learning Really Gets Around in Pottstown

Submitted Photos

Pottstown High School students in Andrew Bachman's engineering class check out the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle built by Montgomery County Community College students.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

Students in the Pottstown School District from elementary to high school know that we need to protect our environment and not waste our energy. 

And so teachers in the school district focused students attention on cleaner ways to get around.

Jennifer McGraw, a fourth grade teacher at Franklin Elementary organized a school-wide solar car project that had students designing and building solar powered model cars which they raced at a school wide assembly held on the school playground. 

Franklin fourth grader Luke Grace with 

his solar-powered car.

The race was held on National Day of STEM. 

As an introduction to solar energy Pre-K through second grade students used a basic kit to build their entry.

 More sophisticated models that required design planing were build by third and fourth graders. 

"This was a great hands on learning experience for our students that included learning about,solar energy, renewable vs nonrenewable resources, aerodynamics and streamlining," said McGraw. 

Going from hand size solar cars to a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Urban Concept Vehicle was just a matter of going to Pottstown High and Mr. Andy Bachman's Engineering class.

There, the students enjoyed a demonstration by Montgomery County Community College professor William Brownlowe and students of Team INNOVA who built the Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon competition for alternative fuel concepts. 

 The team, which has won a number of awards for the design and operation of their vehicles, were on hand to give a demonstration in the school parking lot. 

"This is a unique experience for our students to not only see the vehicle in operation but to be able to talk to and ask questions of the designers and builder," said Bachman. 

His students are no strangers to design and building. Last year they designed and build an operational hovercraft. 

Energy was well spend by students as they renewed a valuable resource, their knowledge.