Turning March Energy Lessons Into Meaningful Learning
Hi teachers,
If your classroom feels a little extra energized right now, you’re not imagining it. March tends to bring spring break anticipation, shifting schedules, and students who are ready to do something.
So this month, we’re leaning into hands-on learning: activities that channel that energy into engineering challenges, real-world problem-solving, and meaningful discussions about how energy systems actually work.
Everything below is classroom-ready and designed to make your planning a little easier.
What’s New This Month:
- St. Patrick’s Day Engineering Design Challenge (hands-on + festive)
- March Resource Drop
- Flinn Scientific Materials Now Available!
- Free Student Workshop (Houston)
- Teacher Advisory Council Application
St. Patrick’s Day Activity: Engineering Challenge
The pot of gold won’t lift itself!
Students build and test a wind-powered turbine to raise a 1-penny load 11 inches. Blade angle, torque, friction, and redesign all matter.
A little luck, a lot of engineering. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
March Resource Drop: Ready-to-Teach
Turn students into Energy Detectives as they track energy waste and compete to reduce electricity use in your school.
Bad Bunny put Puerto Rico’s grid in the spotlight. Use this lesson to teach how electricity systems really work.
Understand how smarter design reduces energy use, cost, and emissions through hands-on modeling and appliance comparisons.
Take efficiency deeper with calculations, data analysis, and a lab investigation to measure how efficient real devices are.
Now Featuring Flinn Scientific Kits
Some of your favorite lessons now feature optional Flinn Scientific materials kits!
That means:
- No scrambling for supplies
- No last-minute lab prep
- No piecing together materials from five different cabinets
Prefer DIY? We still include full supply lists so you can use what you already have. Flexibility = teacher win.
Women’s History Month: Classroom Resources
This month, highlight women shaping energy and environmental innovation:
Free Student Opportunity (Houston, Ages 15+)
Upcoming Events
Switch Classroom is on the road this month to meet educators, students, and families and share hands-on energy learning. Come say hello if you’re nearby!
- Wisconsin Society for Science Teachers (WSST)| March 12 – 14 | Appleton, WI
- Earth Science for Society (ESfS) | March 15 – 17 | Calgary, AB
- Discovery Green FUNomenal Spring Break | March 9-12 | Houston, TX
Join Our Teacher Advisory Council
Help shape future lessons. Pilot resources. Collaborate with educators nationwide.
Before You Go…
Switch Classroom is now reaching over 2.6 million students, thanks to educators like you. Know someone who would love these resources? We’d be grateful if you passed them along.
Thanks for all you do…here’s to growing energy literacy together!
— The Switch Classroom Team
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