$15,000 in Grants to Help Princeton Public Schools With New Energy Initiative

Princeton Public Schools have received two grants totaling $15,000 to support implementation of energy curricula in grades K-12, the school district said Tuesday morning.

Sustainable Jersey awarded a $10,000 grant to the district. It is funded by the Gardinier Environmental Fund.

BASF Corporation awarded a $5,000 Science Education Grant to the district.

The two grants help support the Energy Avengers project, which marks the launch of an important district-wide initiative to enhance the way sustainability is taught in the science curriculum and in interdisciplinary project-based learning activities.

The project includes professional training for teachers in developing energy use lessons to meet Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and in planning new topically relevant themes.

The district’s new science supervisor, Edward Cohen, will work with consultants in providing a full-day workshop for teaching staff.

“Investment in local energy projects will help us make progress toward the goal of a more sustainable and resilient New Jersey,” Randall Solomon, who co-directs Sustainable Jersey with Donna Drewes, said. “Congratulations to the forward-thinking school districts and municipalities that developed these projects.”

Sustainable Jersey’s grant will fund the purchase of energy tool kits for classroom use by elementary science specialists and middle school science teachers, as well as training on the use of energy data for problem-based activities.

The “Green Team” tool kits will allow students in grades K-8 to collect real-time data about their energy use and consumption.

The BASF grant provides support for purchase of the tool kits and for professional development specifically at John Witherspoon Middle School.

“The Energy Avengers project will teach Princeton’s youngest citizens new habits about how to live sustainably,” Mayor Liz Lempert wrote in a letter of support. “As Mayor, I welcome the prospect of energy-literate students applying their newfound understanding of the role of energy in the world and daily life to solve challenges in our community.”

The attached image was provided by the Princeton Public School District: Pictured from left to right: Ed Cohen, district science supervisor, and Robin Rotenberg, vice president of corporate communications for BASF in North America. Cohen accepted the award on behalf of the district at a reception held at the company’s North American headquarters in Menlo Park, NJ.