A Powerful Lesson in Energy, Thanks to Chelan County PUD

Students in Todd Gaytley's Lincoln Elementary 4th class generate electricity the hard way (and fun way), converting mechanical power into electrical energy.

In the Rocky Reach Dam Museum, have you ever tried to to illuminate the light bulb by sheer muscle, turning the crank that looks so easy when someone else is doing it? Wenatchee fourth graders gave their light-producing muscles a workout this week learning all things hydropower at Rocky Reach Dam. Chelan County PUD hosts the activities to students in a hands-on, activity-filled day called “River of Power.”

Along with the museum activities, students engineer and build a dam, learn about hydropower and power generation, tour the dam and learn about water temperature and salmon, salmon habitat and sampling, hydropower generation and transmission, along with local history. 

For the engineering project, students took part in a simulation where they found themselves in a new community called Dark City, Washington. Dark City is located on the Dismal River, and the city has a problem. Energy costs are very high for people who live in Dark City and the mayor wants to lower power costs and reduce pollution.
 
After meeting the mayor of their new city, the kids were transformed from fourth graders into engineers. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work designing and building a dam to harness the renewable energy of the Dismal River. Their task was to build a dam to hold back water while allowing water to flow through; to simulate a turbine; and also build a dam that allows fish to pass through. Students then tested their projects, discovered their dam’s shortcomings, and went back to the drawing board to re-engineer.

“It is definitely a good experience for the kids,” said Todd Gaytley, Lincoln Elementary 4th grade teacher. “They get to see in person all the concepts we've been talking about. And then to push toward fifth grade science standards by doing the Engineering Design Challenge outside and hands-on.  So, just a great culminating science effect for the year.
 
More than 1,000 fourth-graders from schools throughout the greater Wenatchee region attend River of Power. The River of Power program is sponsored by Chelan County PUD, Douglas County PUD, Grant County PUD, Okanogan County PUD, and North Central ESD. This program is based on the River of Power unit originally developed by Chelan County PUD in conjunction with Wenatchee School District.