Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Solar Roofs With Gardens Might Become Part Of NYC School Curriculum
336

Solar Roofs With Gardens Might Become Part Of NYC School Curriculum

ADVERTISEMENT

Solar-panels on NYC public school roofs are giving students the opportunity to get hands on with science. Teacher Vicki Sando founded PS 41’s roof garden in 2003; 2 million dollars and 10 years later, they had a solar array installed.

“We made connections between plant study,” Sando told Capital New York. “Plants are little solar cells. I had my fifth graders take apart a solar calculator and show them how it worked. We don’t have a stand-alone curriculum on solar, but we’ll do projects where we’ll fold it into it.”

According to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, 23 million dollars will bring solar panels to 24 public schools by the summer of 2016. In the meantime, Sando’s students will continue gardening and learning about the world through their roof-top green-space.

More info: builttolast (h/t: inhabitots)

RELATED:

    Teacher Vicki Sando started a roof-top garden in 2003

    Image credits: Megan Westervelt

    10 years and 2 million dollars later, the school had a solar array

    Image credits: Pam Seltzer, Vicki Sando

    “We made connections between plant study. Plants are little solar cells”

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Carla Brown

    This “allows students to see first hand what cleaner energy looks and feels like, which will be increasingly important as these grade schoolers grow up”

    Image credits: Jes­sica Bruah

    Image credits: mbbarch.com

    “They’re an invaluable teaching tool for lessons on climate change and other environmental concerns”

    Image credits: Pam Seltzer, Vicki Sando (left) | mbbarch.com (right)

    “The generations of kids now, especially in elementary school, they’re going to have a really hard time”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Pam Seltzer, Vicki Sando

    “If they don’t have that interest or exposure to our environment, they’re in trouble”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Vicki Sando

    “You want to present it so they’re not scared, but you want to empower them”

    Image credits: Pam Seltzer, Vicki Sando

    24 NYC public schools will have solar arrays by the summer of 2016

    Image credits: chicagotribune.com

    Image credits: mbbarch.com

    Share on Facebook
    Julija Nėjė

    Julija Nėjė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I joined Bored Panda as an image editor back in 2014, during its early stages. It's been quite a journey since then! Over time, I transitioned through different roles until I eventually became the Content Lead. In this position, I now oversee the creation of the viral content published here on Bored Panda. While my primary focus lies in raising awareness about important social issues like gender and race equality, as well as mental health topics, I also enjoy sharing lighter content, such as memes, cat images and intriguing world curiosities. Outside of work, you'll likely find me engaged in one of five activities: planning a vacation, browsing thrift stores, experimenting in the kitchen, watching movies, or spending quality time with my two cats.

    Read less »
    Julija Nėjė

    Julija Nėjė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I joined Bored Panda as an image editor back in 2014, during its early stages. It's been quite a journey since then! Over time, I transitioned through different roles until I eventually became the Content Lead. In this position, I now oversee the creation of the viral content published here on Bored Panda. While my primary focus lies in raising awareness about important social issues like gender and race equality, as well as mental health topics, I also enjoy sharing lighter content, such as memes, cat images and intriguing world curiosities. Outside of work, you'll likely find me engaged in one of five activities: planning a vacation, browsing thrift stores, experimenting in the kitchen, watching movies, or spending quality time with my two cats.

    What do you think ?
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda