Botelle students engaged in an all school mini unit on clean energy during the months of March and April.
With films, books, and and dicussion students learned about the effects of fossil fuel energy on our environment and our dependence on energy, that some day, will run out.
The clean energy school-wide mini unit was supported by a grant from the Norfolk committee of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund to build awareness amongst the town youngest citizens about the importance of using clean renwable energy.
Helping students to learn about renewable energy, Norfolk artist/ inventor John Thew was enagaged to create art with students that uses the earth's natural energy, (i.e. sun and wind.)
Mr. Thew is a craftsman of beautiful weather vanes. He taught our students that weather vanes and wind energy helped to predict weather long before television and radio told us what the weather was going to be.
He shared his work and his knowledge of wind facts with students at a special assembly.
In several art class sessions, Mr. Thew worked with art teacher Susan Rood and students to create wind mills, whirly-gigs, and other wind inspired projects.
He also demonstrated a solar cooker of his design and a solar powered motor which uses small photovoltaic panels to spin a propellor.
All the student art will be displayed at the Norfolk Library during the month of April with an opening reception on April 1 from 4-6 p.m.