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Renewing our Future

School: The College School

City/State: St. Louis, MO

Grade(s): 7

Format(s): Calendar

Subject(s): English Language Arts, Science and Technology, Visual Arts

Project Overview

Seventh grade students at Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School in Maplewood, MO created this renewable energy calendar. 

To create their calendar, each of the four 7th grade science classes studied a source of renewable energy including solar, wind, hydropower and biomass. The students completed research and field-work during trips to the Bagnell Dam at the Lake of the Ozarks, Washington University’s Tyson Research Center, Midwest Biodiesel Products and The College School to learn about their WindSpire. Students also completed lab work with volunteers from Washington University.

Following their research, students organized and assigned themselves to the various tasks needed to produce this calendar, including taking photographs and editing. 

Money from the sale of the calendar went to fund the school’s sustainability efforts. 

How This Project Can Be Useful

  • Exemplary model of a professional quality calendar produced by students
  • A genuinely useful product that has an authentic audience
  • The final product demonstrates the integration of scientific research and graphic design into a single, high-quality representation of their work
  • Connects school studies with real life work

Common Core State Standards

Standard Long Term Learning Target
W.7.4
  • I can produce clear and coherent writing that is appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
L.7.1
  • I can use correct grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.7.2
  • I can use correct capitalization, punctuation and spelling to send a clear message to my reader.
L.7.6
  • I can use resources to build my vocabulary.
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