FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY – Thursday, February 2, 2017
Fargo Public School District #1
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS SOLVE ENERGY CHALLENGE
Reducing energy consumption – it’s a big, complicated issue, with worldwide ramifications. Solutions, though, can be as
simple and easy as starting in your own school, or city. Just ask these fifth graders. They’ve got lots of real-world ideas.
WHAT:
WHEN:
WHERE:
CONTACT:
Energy Challenge
Friday, February 3, 2017 from 8:40 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.;
with Research and Expert Consultations from 10:20 to 11:30 a.m.
and Challenge Presentations from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.
Room 26, Lab, and Music Room;
Washington Elementary School, 1725 North Broadway, Fargo
Brenda Cain, Washington librarian, 701.446.5449 or [email protected] for more information.
Fifth graders at Washington Elementary will present original solutions to reduce energy consumption at their school
before a panel of judges on Friday, February 3. The students will spend the entire school day in competition with one
another to be the company “hired” by a panel of judges for their fix to this real-world problem as an authentic, projectbased learning opportunity. Students will have access to a panel of community experts (see schedule and following list)
as a resource for creating their solution.
Students are tasked with forming small companies, creating mission statements and logos, taking on specific business
roles, and providing a cost-effective, efficient, and viable solution to this energy issue. The students will be judged on
their use 21st Century Skills (Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Creativity) in their endeavors.
Challenge presentations will be given by the students to a panel of boardroom judges made up of community volunteers
(see following list). Judges will assess the students’ presentation, team organization, and originality, along with the
viability of their proposed solution to the energy challenge. The team selected by the judges will present their energy
reduction plan to the whole school for implementation, and will then go on to compete in the city’s eFargo Partnership
Energy Challenge tentatively scheduled for March (details TBA).
For more information about the eFargo Partnership, click www.ndsu.edu/news/banner_stories/efargopartnership/.
Schedule:
8:40 to 9:10 a.m.
9:10 to 9:15
9:15 to 9:25
10:20 to 11:30
11:30 to 11:35
11:35 to 12:15 p.m.
12:15 to 12:20
1:00 to 1:45
1:45 to 2:45
Continued…
Assign team roles, create team name and slogan
Self-Assessment: Communication
Plan research and review project handouts
Conduct research, consult with experts; Testing
Self-Assessment: Critical Thinking & Collaboration
Finish research; Form plan and begin preparing presentation
Self-Assessment: Collaboration & Creativity
Finish presentations and practice
Presentation Rotations in 3 Boardrooms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY – Thursday, February 2, 2017
Fargo Public School District #1
ELEMENTARY STUDENTS SOLVE ENERGY CHALLENGE, continued:
Panel of Experts, available for consultations with students from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 26:
Taylor Dahl – JLG Architects
Britany Dawson – JLG Architects
Jim Frueh – Fargo Public Schools Director of Maintenance and Operations
Bob Miller – Cass County Electric
Shannon Stumpf – Cass County Electric
Yao Yu – Professor of Engineering at NDSU
Challenge Judges, observing student presentations from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. in 3 locations:
Rodney Bischoff – USGBC North Dakota
Jim Frueh – Fargo Public Schools Director of Maintenance and Operations
Dinah Goldberg – Fargo School Board
Heather Jarski –John Deere Electronic Solutions Lab Manager
Rebecca Knuston – Fargo School Board
Heather Miller – Ben Franklin Middle School Librarian
Malini Srivastava – Architect and NDSU Professor and Leader for eFargo Partnership
Timothy Stone – RRHA Architects
Jodell Tieken – Fargo Public Schools Director of Standards-based Learning
Kristi Ulrich – Fargo School Board
Yao Yu – NDSU Professor of Engineering
[END]