The Charger Teen Science Cafe recently welcomed Mr. Joel Donelan, the Green Team Environmental Education Coordinator, for an exciting hands-on activity focused on building solar homes. Students were provided with a variety of pre-portioned materials, including bubble wrap, cardboard, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil, to unleash their creativity in constructing their own solar homes.
Each design challenge required the homes to feature at least four walls, a door measuring a minimum of 2x6 inches, and four windows at least 1x1 inch. After completing their structures, students measured the internal temperature of their homes multiple times. Most homes maintained an internal temperature around 60 degrees, but two standout designs achieved impressive temperatures exceeding 80 degrees! This was particularly remarkable given that the outside temperature was only about 50 degrees.
The Charger Teen Science Cafe provided a fantastic opportunity for students to explore concepts of solar radiation, insulation, and innovative building techniques using everyday materials. It was a memorable experience that encouraged creativity and teamwork in STEM.
