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Neosho Middle School CIA (Creative Intelligence Agency) students have been studying about alternative energy as part of their science studies this year.
Recently, Julie Hulley, CIA instructor, arranged for a study trip to Crowder College to visit with Daniel Boyt, MARET-Wind and his colleagues, Joel Lamson, MARET-Solar and Rebekah Starkweather, MARET-Biofuel who presented lessons in their expertise, then Lamson and Boyt gave students a tour of the two solar houses and the wind turbine.
“We took the trip to Crowder so students could see alternative energy actually being used,” she said. “It’s fortunate to have resources like Crowder so close, so students can actually see that alternative energy is not just something to read about but is an energy source being used in our community.”
The Neosho Daily News asked a series of questions to some of the students who attended.
Q. What did you think about the recent trip to Crowder alternative energy trip?
Ryan Nix, fifth grader: “The trip was very informative. We learned that there are different types of solar cells: hybrid, thin film, crystal. Also, we learned about how ethanol is produced from corn. This is good because there’s no waste, as some of it converted into ethanol, while the rest is used for livestock feed.”
Q. What did you learn from the trip?
Josh Larson, seventh grader: “We toured the solar houses and learned how the sun provided the houses with energy.”
Ashley Weems, fifth grader: “It was cool when we got to go into a college classroom and learn about energy from three college teachers, Mr. Boyt, Mr. Lamson, and Ms. Starkweather.”
Q. From the trip, what sticks out in your mind?
Christy Russow, seventh grader: “Ms. Rebekah Starkweather presented a lesson on ethanol. We watched a video that showed corn being mashed and turned into ethanol. We did an experiment with yeast, sugar, and water to show the process of making ethanol. I thought it was cool to watch the mixture releasing tiny, white bubbles of carbon dioxide.”
Tori Frazier, fifth grader: “I liked going into the 2005 solar house that my Uncle Sean helped make. Going into the wind turbine and seeing the chambers and the propellers moving was awesome.”
Q. Was the trip fun and exciting, especially the wind turbine?
Dylan Boice, seventh grader: “The wind turbine was huge! When you leaned backward and looked up at the turbine with the clouds swirling, the turbine appeared to be falling.”
Josie Pennington, seventh grader: “I didn’t understand much about wind energy, until the trip. After going into the turbine and seeing it firsthand, it made a big difference.”
Danielle Tillman, seventh grader: “It was a good experience going into the wind turbine. We’re some of the few people who have been inside a wind turbine.”
About CIA
The purpose of C.I.A. (Creative Intelligence Agency) talented and gifted program is to provide students an educational opportunity to study topics not covered in the general classroom or more in-depth than in the general classroom.
Neosho Middle School CIA (Creative Intelligence Agency) students have been studying about alternative energy as part of their science studies this year.
Recently, Julie Hulley, CIA instructor, arranged for a study trip to Crowder College to visit with Daniel Boyt, MARET-Wind and his colleagues, Joel Lamson, MARET-Solar and Rebekah Starkweather, MARET-Biofuel who presented lessons in their expertise, then Lamson and Boyt gave students a tour of the two solar houses and the wind turbine.
“We took the trip to Crowder so students could see alternative energy actually being used,” she said. “It’s fortunate to have resources like Crowder so close, so students can actually see that alternative energy is not just something to read about but is an energy source being used in our community.”
The Neosho Daily News asked a series of questions to some of the students who attended.
Q. What did you think about the recent trip to Crowder alternative energy trip?
Ryan Nix, fifth grader: “The trip was very informative. We learned that there are different types of solar cells: hybrid, thin film, crystal. Also, we learned about how ethanol is produced from corn. This is good because there’s no waste, as some of it converted into ethanol, while the rest is used for livestock feed.”
Q. What did you learn from the trip?
Josh Larson, seventh grader: “We toured the solar houses and learned how the sun provided the houses with energy.”
Ashley Weems, fifth grader: “It was cool when we got to go into a college classroom and learn about energy from three college teachers, Mr. Boyt, Mr. Lamson, and Ms. Starkweather.”
Q. From the trip, what sticks out in your mind?
Christy Russow, seventh grader: “Ms. Rebekah Starkweather presented a lesson on ethanol. We watched a video that showed corn being mashed and turned into ethanol. We did an experiment with yeast, sugar, and water to show the process of making ethanol. I thought it was cool to watch the mixture releasing tiny, white bubbles of carbon dioxide.”
Tori Frazier, fifth grader: “I liked going into the 2005 solar house that my Uncle Sean helped make. Going into the wind turbine and seeing the chambers and the propellers moving was awesome.”
Q. Was the trip fun and exciting, especially the wind turbine?
Dylan Boice, seventh grader: “The wind turbine was huge! When you leaned backward and looked up at the turbine with the clouds swirling, the turbine appeared to be falling.”
Josie Pennington, seventh grader: “I didn’t understand much about wind energy, until the trip. After going into the turbine and seeing it firsthand, it made a big difference.”
Danielle Tillman, seventh grader: “It was a good experience going into the wind turbine. We’re some of the few people who have been inside a wind turbine.”
About CIA
The purpose of C.I.A. (Creative Intelligence Agency) talented and gifted program is to provide students an educational opportunity to study topics not covered in the general classroom or more in-depth than in the general classroom.
