On Tuesday a team of Greenwich High School Innovation Lab students ventured to back country to visit Whitby School. Arriving with a solar panel and a solar powered car, the team visited with the youngest Whitby students to talk about their project.
Innovation Lab, noted for its project-based learning approach, is nearing the end of its pilot year. With help from Greenwich Alliance for Education, the school-within-a-school has become a hub of collaboration, community connections and hands-on learning. And the solar powered car was a great example.
Inn Lab teachers Brian Walach and Sarah Golden accompanied the students – Annie, Zaire, Siobhan and Grayson – but took care that the show belonged to the students.
“Do you know what a solar powered panel does?” Annie asked. “This panel collects sunlight, and converts sunlight to energy. That can power lots of things.”
After Annie explained the how-to of the solar powered battery and placed it within the car, the children headed outdoors to take turns at the wheel.
Siobhan demonstrated how to place the solar charged battery inside the car, and after a brief pause for anticipation, she ran the motor for all the children to behold.
“Whenever the sun collects sunlight, it goes right into the battery and charges it,” Annie said.
“If the car runs out of battery, we have to plug it right back in,” Siobhan said.
See also:
Project-Based Learning at GHS Innovation Lab Culminates in Bruce Museum Exhibition
Innovation Lab at Greenwich High School: We May Have Stumbled into a Moment of Brilliance
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