This Saturday, May 2, more than 200 fifth and sixth graders from schools across Martha's Vineyard will gather at the Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club in Edgartown. They'll bring their custom-designed solar-powered cars to race in the sixth annual Speed of Light Model Solar Car Race, co-sponsored by Cape Light Compact and the Vineyard Energy Project.
The race was created to adapt to the fifth and sixth grade science curriculum; students learn about renewable energy, design, engineering, measurements, simple machines, planning, and teamwork in the weeks leading up to the race.
Tisbury School students Derek Rogers and Alyssa Cimeno use reflectors to give their cars added boost as they prepare for the sixth annual Speed of Light Model Solar Car Race. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Starting with kits donated by the co-sponsors, students are guided by their teachers and by Vineyard Energy Project's Education Coordinator Kara Gelinas to apply their knowledge and imagination to the fabrication of small solar-powered cars.
"They love it!" exclaims Ms. Gelinas. "It's a hand-on way to make a connection between what they do and the larger renewable energy picture."
Armed with one solar panel, a motor, a variety of gears, wheels and axles, students work in teams of two or three to create solar-powered cars that are aerodynamic, fast and durable. The basic components are the balsa wood base, gears, axles, solar panel and motor - everything else "is negotiable," according to Lynn Gatchell, a fifth and sixth grade science teacher at the Tisbury School.
"We see cars made from Styrofoam, soda bottles, milk jugs, you name it," she says.
Dennis Rose of Tisbury makes adjustments to "Night Rider," one the cars racing at the Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club on Saturday.
Students compete against other teams from their own schools. The 10 judges will score each team on technical merit, knowledge, and design. Prizes are awarded in those three categories as well as for the fastest three cars.
Although this year's Tisbury School cars are being built only by sixth graders, students from fifth and seventh grades are drawn in as part of the enthusiastic entourage.
Ms. Gatchell says that her fifth grade students serve as supportive onlookers during the construction phase and that many seventh grade students stop by to watch and lend their expertise as well.
"The kids all get so excited about the process," Ms. Gatchell explains. "The first time their car goes across the room you hear a loud cry, 'It works!'"
Anna Cotton, a fifth and sixth grade math and science teacher at the Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School, also reports a remarkable level of collaboration at her school. Her students participate in the program for two years, pooling their ideas and working together to demonstrate their new understanding of technology and engineering. They also document their progress in a guided journal.
"They learn about the advantages and disadvantages of different options in technology, design, engineering, and energy. I think the most important aspects they take away from the project are the ability to weigh different choices and the realization that there is no perfect solution to a problem," Ms. Cotton says.
Tim Roberts, 12, a sixth grader at the West Tisbury School, is confident that he and his partner Erin Hickey have developed the right formula to capture both solar power and speed: "Other kids have tried to make their cars longer," he explains, "but we used cardboard to make ours wider. It gave us a better place to put our solar panel - up front right in the sun."
Tim says that he's been surprised to learn how much money people can save on electricity bills if they add solar panels to their homes. "I'm trying to talk my mom into it because it would pay for itself and our electricity bill would go down a lot." As for winning a prize? "Winning would be nice," he admits, "but it's been really fun just learning and building the cars."
Developed as a spin-off of the National Junior Solar Sprint, the Speed of Light event was conceived by Nan Doty, a former teacher on Martha's Vineyard. She approached the Vineyard Energy Project and Cape Light Compact to establish a partnership that has continued to this day.
Speed of Light Solar Car Race, 12 noon, Saturday, May 2, Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club, Edgartown. Registration and judging beings at 10:15 am. The rain date is Sunday, May 3.
Karla Araujo is a regular contributor to The Martha's Vineyard Times.
