March 6, 2024 •Sandra Cipriani, Manager of Curriculum Development
International Women’s Day
When learning about topics that are difficult to engage student interest, adding information about people and sharing their stories can add significance and impact to any lesson. Most students can identify well-known scientists, engineers and inventors like Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla.
In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, let’s look at women who not only made advancements in their fields of study, but did so while breaking down gender barriers. Learn more about scientists, mathematicians, and inventors like Annie Easley, Esther Sans Takeuchi, Olga Gonzalez-Sanabria, and Stephanie Kwolek at the resources below. Then, weave their stories into your lessons throughout the year.
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (2020) - A list of women scientists, mathematicians, and inventors
Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (2022) - A list that continues from the 2020 list above
Oak Ridge National Laboratory - A list of female scientists working in clean energy solutions, including a short video
Female Scientists - Information on several women scientists, presented in a fun story format, from Google Arts & Culture
Women in Energy - Women who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, presented monthly by the United States Energy Association (USEA)
Spring begins on March 20
Ready or not, spring is on the way! As the coldest days of winter come to an end and warmer temperatures arrive, it’s a good time to consider ways to conserve energy and money. Share these tips with students to encourage behavioral energy changes at home and at school.
Open the windows. Take advantage of cool breezes and “air out” your house after a season spent fully enclosed. Opening windows can reduce utility bills, lower carbon dioxide levels for better sleep, and reduce odors and air pollutants.
Let there be sunshine. For those that endure long, dark winters, there is nothing better than gaining more daylight and embracing the sunlight when spring arrives. Turn off the artificial lights and open the blinds to the let the light shine in.
Use the ceiling fans. Not everyone has cold winters, but often the humidity is lower and allows for the use of ceiling fans rather than air conditioning. Take advantage of the milder temperatures and cool your house and reduce energy consumption at the same time.
Check for air leaks. Winter weather can be tough on caulking and weatherstripping. Add caulking and sealing ducts to your spring-cleaning tasks to save even more energy and money.
Set the thermostat. The temperature fluctuations of spring can lead to a roller-coaster ride for any heating and cooling system. Make a habit of programming the settings on the thermostat to avoid heating and cooling an empty house. Better yet: install a smart thermostat!
Source: Department of Energy
World Water Day (Marcy 22)
Friday, March 22 celebrates World Water Day, highlighting the importance of freshwater and advocating for the responsible management of this finite resource. Since 1993, the United Nations has held this observance to raise awareness for access to safe water. This year’s theme—"Leveraging Water for Peace”—focuses on collaboration and a dedication to making water a catalyst for a more peaceful world.
As part of this theme, UN-Water is offering classrooms of children of all ages with an activation kit, which includes activities, a fact sheet, and posters in multiple languages, among other resources.
Other helpful links to plan your classroom activities:
Science is Elementary: A list of education resources for World Water Day
WaterAid: Fundraising activities and water challenge ideas
Teacher Planet: World Water Day activities, lesson plans, coloring pages, and more
Temple University-Ambler Campus: Links for activities, other resources, and a great series of FunScienceDemos videos
EPA: Water trivia facts and links to other games and activities
Water Footprint Calculator: A fantastic interactive site for students to learn about water and to calculate their water footprint