renewable energy: powering the planet | FREE virtual field trip and resources

I absolutely am over-the-moon thrilled and dance-around-the-kitchen excited about this virtual field trip. I can hardly stand the wait.

Maddy, my sixth grader, has been learning all about renewable energy in science this quarter, so you better believe the minute I heard about this trip, I forwarded the information to her awesome teacher.

I mean–how cool is it that in this day and age, students, parents, teachers–anyone!–can be transported across the world on a virtual field trip, without ever having to leave their home or classroom?!

And how totally amazing that this virtual adventure is totally and completely free?

And the lesson plan resources are free?

And the student handout is totally free?

And the lesson plan resources are Common Core aligned?

And all of this awesomeness is really and truly top-notch, fabulous?

It’s incredible. It all makes me so very, very happy.

This month, my friends, with thanks to The Nature Conservancy’s Nature Works Everywhere, students can take a virtual field trip across the country and far into the Pacific Ocean to learn about how we can power the planet with renewable energy.

May 20th. 1pm ET.

You’re invited! You’re all invited.

Here’s the skinny. . .

Renewable Energy: Powering the Planet | FREE Virtual Field Trip and Resources

Mark your calendars friends, share this post with your child’s teacher.

Forward this link to your school’s administration so that they can share the link with staff.

Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy is the latest in a series aimed to build students’ knowledge of and emotional connection to environmental issues that are at the heart of The Nature Conservancy’s mission.

Here are the details:

Who: teachers, students, parents, anyone. The field trip is geared toward students in grades 3-8, but anyone is welcome!

What: a virtual field trip! Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy free virtual field trip and learning resources hosted by scientist, Alex Wegmann.

On this journey, we’ll visit the Palmyra Atoll, a wildly remote cluster of islands atop coral reefs and teeming with animal life. Scientists there have developed ways to power the entire island almost exclusively through renewable energy sources. We’ll also journey to the scorching Mojave Desert, home to rattlesnakes, tortoises, bats, and coyotes, to check out massive solar panel installations that are working to power large cities. We’ll learn about innovative methods for capturing energy that are safe, sustainable, and can change the destiny of life on our planet. May 20, 2016 at 1:00 pm (ET). Length: 45 minutes.

Why: to explore a compelling question: How can we get the energy we need without harming nature? By harnessing renewable sources of energy, such as sunlight and wind, scientists are finding ways to do just that.

photos from: Palmyra Atoll photo gallery

photos from:Mohave Desert solar photo gallery

Where: whatever works for you–

you can watch the virtual field trip live as a Google Hangout On Air once you register for the event
watch it later, once the video is optimized put on the site and hosted on Vimeo
HOW cool is that??

When: May 20th 2016 at 1 pm ET

How: sign up to take part in the virtual field trip here: bit.ly/TNCvirtualfieldtrip

Don’t forget: grab these free renewable energy lesson plans!

JOIN US!

But before you watch, start with a little bit o’ background information. . .

(Hint: Use the information below as a background knowledge builder for the upcoming field trip!)

Nature Works – To Make Clean Energy from The Nature Conservancy on Vimeo.

And more: Check out these supplementary resources to really make your kids–or students–renewable energy experts!

Renewable Energy Lesson Plans
Information about and images of the Palmyra Atoll
Information about and images of the Mohave Desert

The Nature Conservancy provides tons of resources that bring learning to life.

And we can experience so many cool things thanks to Nature Works Everywhere.

I have been in awe of the work that The Nature Conservancy’s Nature Works Everywhere has been doing to bring learning to life.

The kids and I loved the Wild Biome Virtual field trip last year, and we went nuts over the Coral Reefs virtual field trip as well. To get a sense of what these virtual field trips are like, you can click on the images below.

Want to check out a past Virtual Field trip from The Nature Conservancy?

Though they won’t be live, the videos and resources are still available:

Again, huge thanks goes to great organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Nature Works Everywhere, for their work to make learning and resources hands-on, accessible, and meaningful.

If you are online and would like to follow The Nature Conservancy, connect with them–they’d love it!

on Twitter: @nature_org / #natureworkseverywhere
on Faecbook: TheNatureConservancy
on Pinterest: @nature_org / #natureworkseverywhere

fyi: This post was written as part of a partnership with The Nature Conservancy and We Are Teachers; as always, my opinions are all my own, influenced only by my experience as a parent and educator.