At Collingwood School, we believe the passions of our students will help build a better world. That’s why we emphasizes authentic, real-world educational experiences and a personalized approach to learning for all students.

An excellent example of this approach occurred this past year during an innovative science project at our Junior School. One of the big ideas explored in Gr. 4 science is the concept that energy can be transformed. Student inquiry examines some of the most important sustainability questions we all face. Why is clean, affordable energy important? Where does the energy we use in our everyday lives come from? And what devices are needed to transform this energy?

To engage students, Gr. 4 teachers Mr. Dowd and Ms. Forbes devised an exciting, hands-on way for students to show what they learned about hydroelectricity. Students were tasked with designing and building a simple water wheel that could be used to demonstrate how energy is captured from running water. Students then went out to the Wentworth campus creek to test the efficacy of their hydroelectric devices.

“The process of designing and testing water wheels is an opportunity for students to apply their learning and demonstrate understanding,” says Mr. Dowd. “In this sense, the water wheel serves as a way of showing their knowledge in a creative way.”

The Gr. 4 science energy unit also included an in-depth examination of the UN’s Sustainable Development goal of ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. This provided students with the framework to reflect on the environmental implications of both our individual and collective actions.