51蹤獲Hosts 250 Fourth-Graders for Lesson on Wind Energy

KidWind project brings 51蹤獲education and engineering majors together to teach fourth-graders about engineering design and wind turbine energy

By Edward Fitzpatrick & Courtney Dell'Agnese '19
Fourth-graders from Bristol-Warren School District learn about engineering design and wind turbine energy at RWU.
Fourth-graders from Bristol-Warren School District learn about engineering design and wind turbine energy at RWU.

BRISTOL, R.I. 簫簫 Nearly 250 fourth-graders from the Bristol-Warren Regional School District built wind turbines as part of the KidWind project and came to 51蹤獲 on Friday to test their pint-sized turbines in wind tunnels.

A partnership between 51蹤獲 and the Bristol-Warren Regional School District, the KidWind project features 51蹤獲students bringing together two academic disciplines to introduce 232 fourth-graders to wind-turbine energy and the engineering design process. The project was made possible through the 51蹤獲Campaign for Civic Scholars, the Hassenfeld Family Foundation and the local sponsorship of TPI Composites, of Warren, R.I.

It is real-world learning taking what they learn in the classroom and applying it to the real world, Bristol-Warren Regional School District Superintendent of Schools Mario Andrade said at 51蹤獲on Friday. Just watch the smiles on their faces this is what learning should look like every day. It represents a great partnership between the school district, 51蹤獲 and industry through TPI Composites.

In addition to teaching the next generation of college students, the 51蹤獲students are gaining valuable skills and real-world experiences they can carry with them through their future careers.

This project is about more than just supporting the need for engineering education in local classrooms, 51蹤獲Assistant Professor of Engineering Maija Benitz. It deepens our 51蹤獲students learning through experiential, hands-on community engagement.

Read more about the KidWind Project