Solar Energy in STEM Education for a Sustainable Future
Solar energy in STEM education gives students direct exposure to one of the most relevant clean energy technologies available today.
Through hands-on learning with solar panels, solar cars, and solar energy kits, students develop real problem-solving skills tied to how the world actually works.
This article covers what GreenSTEM is, why solar power fits naturally into STEM education, and why solar schools are on the rise across the country.
What Is GreenSTEM? And How Solar Energy in STEM Education Helps Your Institution
Education saw a serious upgrade with the introduction of STEM in 2001. With an intense focus on teaching our nation’s youngest minds the importance and attainability of science, technology, engineering, and math, STEM gave children the possibility of literally changing their world.
As with any great idea, STEM continues to this day to be iterated on. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, and was developed as a method for bringing culture to the STEM approach.
Another popular education methodology is GreenSTEM. As it sounds, GreenSTEM seeks to marry the ecosystem of our world with the innovations STEM encourages.
One area that we’re excited to support is the idea that renewable energy, which for us is solar power, is an excellent method of teaching and engaging students in GreenSTEM learning.
GreenSTEM: STEM’s Older, More Responsible Brother
What exactly is GreenSTEM? According to greenSTEM.org, GreenSTEM:
creates programs that add unique value to a student’s career at school, and appreciation of place and ecology: to enrich both [students’] lives and well-being and contribute to the school community.
provides training, site-specific garden management, and problem-solving opportunities that enable teachers and students to enjoy going outdoors to learn.
Wow. Using agriculture, in combination with high-tech and mechanical principals, GreenSTEM seeks to make deeper connections for students about their environments, the impacts of the human race, and sustainability.
But are there any schools using GreenSTEM locally? Yes! Many organizations and schools are bringing GreenSTEM and its ideals to many schools here in the Northeast.
Take, for example, Ben Franklin Elementary School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Or Unity Charter School in Morristown, New Jersey – the first school in New Jersey to win a Green Award.
Why Solar Power Belongs in STEM Curriculum
Solar power connects directly to science, technology, engineering, and math. It gives students real-world applications they can explore in the classroom and beyond.
When students learn how solar energy works — from electricity generation through photovoltaic cells to distribution across a power grid — they engage with physics, chemistry, and systems thinking all at once.
Renewable energy education builds more than comprehension. It develops critical thinking. Students learn to ask questions, run experiments, and evaluate solutions.
They work with data on energy output, compare solar panels to other sustainable energy sources like wind turbines and fuel cells, and begin to understand tradeoffs in clean energy systems.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar technology is one of the fastest-growing energy sectors in the country. Bringing that into the classroom makes STEM education relevant to the world students are entering.
Solar Power is the Father of Sustainability - Case Study
While this is great for our children (and our future), how does this actually relate to solar power?
Solar power is the father of sustainability. As our culture continues to work toward higher awareness of the impact that the human race has on our ecosystem, solar has led the way in providing a real solution that can be implemented by virtually anyone and has proven to reduce the carbon footprints of hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses, and schools.
Take, for example, a school that we’re proud to have partnered with: Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Millersville reduced its carbon footprint by 170 tons of CO2 per year!
Students are being given unprecedented access to knowledge, tools, support, and teachers to help them imagine a world smarter about all aspects of life, including energy.
Solar energy should be a main curriculum and study focus for any school offering STEM, STEAM, or GreenSTEM now or in their future.
Hands-On Learning With Solar Energy Kits and Projects
Hands-on experiences are among the most effective ways young learners retain knowledge. Solar energy kits give students direct access to solar technology. They can build working models, test how solar panels respond to light and angles, and track electricity generation in real time.
Project ideas include:
Solar cars: Students explore how solar power converts to mechanical energy. These projects build engineering and collaboration skills while showing how solar energy works in everyday lives.
Solar-powered water pumps: A project that combines environmental education with real-world engineering challenges.
Energy audits: Students measure power consumption across the school and calculate how solar panels could offset that use. This ties into sustainability, math, and science simultaneously.
When districts install solar panels for schools and universities, they turn the campus itself into a living laboratory. Hands-on learning through these projects supports inquiry-based learning.
Students experiment with clean energy instead of just reading about it. Teachers can add these tools to science, math, and engineering lessons, and families can use take-home kits to get involved at home.
A sustainable future is attainable when the younger generation is involved.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed curriculum resources that help educators build renewable energy education into STEM classrooms from the ground up.
How Solar Energy Teaches Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
How solar energy gets from sunlight to electricity is not a simple process. It involves photons, semiconductors, current, voltage, and grid connection. Walking students through each step builds comprehension and exposes them to real engineering challenges.
Young people who explore energy systems start asking bigger questions:
What happens when the sun doesn't shine?
How do we store power?
How do wind turbines compare to solar panels as sustainable energy sources?
These questions drive critical thinking and collaborative problem solving. Both core skills in STEM education.
Inquiry-based learning models put students in the role of investigators. They form hypotheses, collect data, analyze results, and build new knowledge on top of prior knowledge.
Solar and renewable energy fit this model because the subject generates genuine questions with measurable, testable answers.
A 2020 report from the American Institute of Physics showed that students with hands-on STEM exposure are more likely to pursue science and engineering careers. Continuing education in these areas starts in the classroom.
Why Going Green Pays
The bottom-line benefits of choosing to move your school to a solar power energy system are impressive alone – even without the environmental benefits.
Reducing your dependence on crude-oil energy sources creates an opportunity for dramatic cost-savings in simply powering your school.
Grants are being created and offered to aid in offsetting the initial costs of going solar for schools – making this choice even more attractive for charter school boards and even public-school officials.
TerraSol Energies works with schools across the Tri-State Area to install solar panels and support the kind of renewable energy education that makes a difference.
We see solar as being so much more than just a cool modern-day technology. We see it as the future, pioneering sustainable adaptability; and when we can partner with schools who are committed to raising the eco-responsibility level of their students, we help set a green example for the leaders of tomorrow.
Want to learn more about how solar power can make a difference in your organization? Contact us today to learn how solar energy in STEM education can work for your school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should schools include solar energy in their STEM curriculum?
Solar energy connects core STEM subjects to real-world applications. When students study solar power, they engage with physics, chemistry, and systems thinking by learning how photovoltaic cells generate electricity and distribute it across a power grid. It also introduces them to a growing job sector.
What are the financial benefits of schools switching to solar energy?
Switching to solar power cuts down a school's dependence on traditional energy sources, which lowers electricity bills. Schools can also use grants to offset the upfront installation costs, resulting in long-term budget savings.
How does learning about solar energy build critical thinking skills?
Solar energy involves technical steps like managing photons, semiconductors, current, and voltage. Figuring out how these components work together forces students to problem-solve. It leads them to ask questions about energy storage, weather limitations, and how solar compares to other renewable sources.
