Kelly Kroesen, Vanessa Russell, Melissa Postma, and Lisa Feldner

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “Bee STEM Solar Sprint,” is a solar car competition that challenges seventh-grade students to design, build and race solar electric vehicles using hands-on engineering skills and principles of science and math. The teachers say that a majority of the state standards for this age level are focused on energy, and the program is designed to support the instruction of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) in categories such as solar energy, engineering design, electricity, and mechanics. Students in the program will draw on multi-disciplinary skills as they collaborate with their peers, the community and local professionals in a fun and real-world learning experience. They will build simple circuits to investigate how electricity works, model light waves with virtual labs, and explore gears and mechanical energy. With encouragement for innovation and creativity, each team will sketch their initial vehicle design and then build their vehicles. Testing, redesign and the use of technology will be emphasized and encouraged throughout this engineering project.