Project

Project

Solar Schoolhouse Program Lets the Sun Shine In through Outdoor Education [July 2024]

/

Thanks to a grant from All Points North Foundation, Solar Schoolhouse materials and training are now available to California Outdoor Education Schools at no cost for the 2024-25 school year.  The year-long program will run from May 1, 2024 to May 1, 2025.

Solar Schoolhouse, a program of The Rahus Institute, has worked with the Outdoor Education community since 2003. We’re updating and re-energizing solar energy lessons specifically for the outdoor education setting this summer, ready to use for the Fall season.  Additionally, an Outdoor Education Teaching Solar Guide will be developed for naturalists to use going forward.

Included in this year’s program will be new narratives exploring human history of using the sun’s energy to heat, cool, and power our homes for 1000s of years and using nature-inspired design (biomimicry) to lead low environmental impact lives. The new narratives help clarify the role of solar energy in the outdoor education setting.  We’ll also provide several interactive and fun teaching tools for each participating outdoor education site, while supplies last.  We are now looking for outdoor ed school sites to partner with us to pilot these refreshed activities.

As part of this program, we will provide several FREE  interactive and fun teaching tools along with training for each participating outdoor education site. This includes: Solar Cell Classroom Set, Solar Fountain Sculpture Sets, Solar Spinart sets, Solar Journals, and more. 

To learn more and register this summer (2024) for Fall training and materials visit us at
solarschoolhouse.org/sshoe

Project

New Catalog February 2022

/

Long overdue, we’ve finally updated our SOLAR SCHOOLHOUSE CATALOG. 

The new SOLAR CELL CLASSROOM SET (SCS4) has more solar cells, motors, wheels & fans for exploration activities, but also is designed to be used for projects such as THE SOLAR CARNIVAL or SOLAR WHIRLYGIGS, and can be used for SOLAR SPINART projects as well.  Materials in the Classroom Set are intended to be reused each school year.

The SOLAR FOUNTAIN SCULPTURE SET has been updated to include a solar module on a binder for ease in orientation adjustments, and packaged in a clear plastic box that also serves as the water basin for the fountain.  A series of ENGINEERING SOLAR SOLUTIONS challenges accompany this engaging activity.

This past year, the SOLAR WHIRLYGIG project has been popular among students, with an opportunity to study solar circuits AND get creative. This a low-cost option for students to make and keep for themselves.

For the past 8 years we’ve made and distributed various versions of the SOLAR NOTEBOOK.  It’s now in our catalog!  The SOLAR NOTEBOOK is designed to charge cell phones or powerbanks, for emergency or routine use.  Some versions include a powerbank along with USB LED lightbulbs and lightsticks.  These are a great project not only for students, but for students to offer to your community.

Our New Poster – THE MAGIC OF SOLAR CELLS encourages students to study the many different ways we use photovoltaics (solar cells) around the world, helping to gain a greater perspective on the versatility of this amazing technology. Our Goal in offering Solar Educational kits is to encourage further exploration of solar energy technology and design, through hands-on and project-based strategies.

WE currently sell only to SCHOOLS or other EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
 Check out the new CATALOG and send us your requests.  

Call or email with any questions
Happy Winter Solstice!
Looking Forward,- Tor

Scroll to Top