The NYC DOE Office of Sustainability and Solar One are partnering for the 9th annual NYC Solar Schools Education Program. This program is FREE for interested teachers; all costs are covered by the DOE through funding from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).
Program Benefits
- Virtual and in-person professional learning program for 3-12th grade teachers
- Access to full GDL curriculum including lesson plans that align with the NYSSLS and NYS Science Regents
- NEW interdisciplinary remote learning curriculum resources
- Place-based and hands-on activities that can compliment Amplify curriculum and support students to investigate local phenomena
- Strategies for incorporating climate change and renewable energy content into curriculum
- Free classroom materials including multimeters, mini solar panels, and circuit supplies
- Opportunities to apply for free classroom visits and 1-on-1 lesson planning with a Solar One educator (limited availability)
- Best practices from a community of teachers leading sustainability education in NYC schools!
- Eligibility to be selected to receive a Demonstration Solar system for your school’s campus
About the NYC Solar Schools Education Program
The NYC DOE is working with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Division of Energy Management (DCAS DEM) on a mayoral initiative to install 100 MW of solar on City-owned buildings by 2025. In order to connect solar installations to classroom education, the NYC DOE Office of Sustainability, STEM Department, and Solar One developed the Solar Schools Education Program. Connecting solar installations on school buildings to curriculum allows teachers to use solar as a tool for students to learn about renewable energy and sustainability, and as a catalyst for STEM learning.
The NYC Solar Schools Education Program includes professional learning training opportunities for teachers, in-school classroom residencies with students, and a Career and Technical education program. The GDL curriculum explored during the training includes a combination of hands-on activities that give context for why solar is important – such as an introduction to power plants, fossil fuels, and climate change – and explores the science and applications of solar energy through building mini-solar systems, field studies, and experiments.
Read an in-depth case study on the NYC Solar Schools Education Program written by the Building Energy Exchange HERE
Learn more about how solar is being implemented on DOE school rooftops in Generation 180’s Brighter Future Report
NYC Solar Interest Form
Interested in participating during the 2022-2023 school year? Please email us at education@solar1.org if you have any questions, and we will be in touch soon with more information.