Energy Challenge (EC) projects can be found all around us, as energy is all around us. We use it daily through electricity, heating and cooling our homes, cooking, driving, and much more. The energy we use comes from different sources – solar, coal, wood, wind, natural gas, oil, water, and geothermal to name a few. EC gives middle and high school students a chance to learn about energy and to create a solution for their home and their community. EC uses a two-part process.
Part One
All of those pieces will be submitted as a Project Proposal by March 18, 2022. Your proposal will be reviewed by EC judges either in the middle school (6th to 8th grade) category or the high school (9th to 12th grade) category. If you are selected, you will move onto Part Two.
Part Two
All of those pieces will be presented as a Project Report at the 2022 AISES National Conference in October. Your report will be reviewed by judges again in either the middle school (6th to 8th grade) category or the high school (9th to 12th grade) category, and winners will be announced at the awards ceremony.
Are you excited? Are you ready to start an Energy Challenge project?
AISES is here to help you start your project! Here are a few ways to start:
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You can start on your own by scrolling down to "Self Starting Activities"
- You can drop in during evening Work Session times, Tuesdays 4-6pm MT (see below)
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For teachers, request presentations for classrooms either during or after-school (see below)
SELF STARTING ACTIVITIES
Find Your Topic (30 minute activity)
Let us begin with things that we wonder about when it comes to energy. Here are some thoughts to get us started:
- I wonder if there are any energy sources near my home or in my community?
- I wonder if I can generate energy from my home?
- I wonder how energy is used in my home?
- I wonder what uses the most energy in my home?
Now, it is your turn. Download this worksheet and fill it out. This worksheet will lead you to identify an energy problem, then to a solution to address it.
Plan Your Project (45 minute activity)
Now that you have your EC problem and solution, let's do a little planning to test whether our solution works or not. Download this worksheet and start planning your project.
Create a Budget (15 minute activity)
As you were planning, you probably noticed that creating and testing your solution will require some materials. Download this worksheet to start making a list of those materials, where you will get them, and how much they will cost. Energy Challenge will fund winning project proposals up to $2,000. This budget should include a limited amount (around 20% of total) for unknown problems that may come up.
ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT
Drop-In Work Sessions: sign up here
- Tuesdays 4p Mountain
Class Presentations: email rhowell@aises.org
If you would like to sign up for assistance outside of this timeslot, would like a class presentation, or have questions, please contact Rennea Howell at rhowell@aises.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Use the Engineering Design Process for the Energy Challenge
Learn more about the Energy Challenge, Energy Concepts, and the Engineering Design Process. Dive into the first step of the Engineering Design Process with a hands-on activity.
What is Research?
Learn more about the second step in the Engineering Design Process - Research.
Create Energy Solutions!
Learn about developing solutions and start creating energy solutions.
Q&A with Former Energy Challenge Winner
Engineering Design Process with Energy Challenge Winner, Jake Uyechi. Learn about his project and process.