Background
There are several things that made the starting of this club possible.  The first important ingredient was support from the School Board for Project Green Machine.  Project Green Machine is a service-learning oriented program with the purpose of conserving environmental resources (energy, water, and materials).  This program includes a monetary incentive program based on shared energy savings.  The other important ingredient is Lake Weir Middle School's interest in providing enrichment activities for its students. 

Lake Weir Middle School was awarded $4,000 in SY 2002-2003 for its effort in reducing energy costs and promoting Project Green Machine aims.  In order to qualify for the incentive money they had to become a Project Green Machine Designated School.  This money allowed them to start an after-school tutering program for students needing extra help in their studies.  The money funded teachers' pay and buses to take the children home after the tutering session.  Since buses were available they decided to also conduct enrichment activities for students that didn't need extra help, but wanted to enrich their academic experience.  So, they started a book club and the Project Green Machine Club.  The school contacted Lake Weir High School to see if there were any high school students willing to help with these clubs.  They found several students.  The following actions occurred to initiate and establish the Project Green Machine Club.

Planning and Organizing
Lake Weir Middle School designated a member of the school staff has overall coordinator for the after school clubs, Mrs. Janice Tripp, Guidance Counselor.  She arranged with Lake Weir High for student support.  She contacted the District's Project Green Machine Coordinator, Rob Van Der Like, to begin the process of setting up the club.  Publicity flyers were designed and put up around the school and teachers were asked to make their students aware of these clubs. 

The first meeting conducted was between the PGM Coordinator, the Staff Sponsor, and the high school students to discuss how the club would operate and what their roles would be.  At the next meeting the first few Middle School students arrived.  Since there were only three students, we decided that more publicity was needed.  We needed to have a few more students to make a go at this.  More flyers were put up and information communicated to the student body.  At the next meeting we had 15 students from Lake Weir Middle. 

Meeting Activities

November 5, 2002 - Students were welcomed to the club.  The PGM Coordinator introduced himself and the High School students.  A brief overview of the club was given. 

1. Student Information Survey - Each student was asked to respond to 4 questions:

• What is your Name and what grade are you in?
• What do you enjoy doing (i.e. hobbies, sports, music, etc.)?
• What would you like to do in this club?
• What are your favorite school subjects?


2. Student Journal - Each student was given a journal to keep notes in.  Handouts can also be kept in the journal (a folder with pockets).  It has some blank paper, a calendar, and information about the club. 

3. Research Game - As an "ice-breaker" and mixer we played the research game.  The game consists of clipping a picture of some type of animal, bird, or fish to your back.  By asking only "yes" or "no" questions to other people who can see the picture your wearing, you have to figure out what it is.  Everyone gets a picture on their back.  On "go" everyone goes around asking questions to each other to try to be the first one to guess their picture. 
 

1. Create science fair-type projects
As many as four members of the club could do a science fair project that relates to "school energy efficiency." 

2. Make presentation on school energy efficiency
We could make as many as five presentations on school energy efficiency.  They could be made to the School District Energy Manager, the Principal, the PTA, the School SAC Committee, and the School Board. 

3. Teach other kids what the Club has learned about energy
We can make as many as six presentations to Science classes at the school. 

4. Develop energy information through the arts
We could do up to four songs, skits, dances, or poems that could be aired over the schools closed-circuit TV system during morning announcements. 

5. Create an educational display for the school
We could ask the principal for a special bulletin board somewhere on campus that we could maintain and put up posters about energy, water, and recycling thoughout the school year. 

6. Track monthly estimated energy savings
Several members of the club could take on the job of reading the school's five electric meters at least once per week, daily if possible.  The numbers would then be tallied and an overall number for the school would be calculated and noted on a chart.  This chart could be placed in a public place (perhaps on the PGM bulletin board).  The chart could be updated weekly.  It could show the comparison of past year's energy use with this year's. 

7. Promote energy saving tips at school
We could make up a school newsletter about conservation tips. 

8. Write an article for the local newpaper
We could write an article for the Star Banner or the South Marion Citizen about conservation tips or about the club. 

9. We could interview a local Energy Professional and publish it
We could invite a guest speaker to give a short presentation and answer questions at one of our club meetings.  Then we can write up an article on what was discussed for our school newsletter or local paper.

10. Create a survey
We could make up a survey of at least 10 questions on energy awareness and give to teachers and staff at our school.  We could do one survey very soon and another toward the end of the year to see what changes occur.  We will be able to see how much we made a difference on energy, water, and recycling awareness. 

11. Do a walk-through energy audit of the school
Walk through the school and observe what is consuming energy and develop a list of what could be done to conserve or optimize its use. 

12. Take home information about using energy efficiently 
Some of the club members could make up a brochure, or information sheet, about energy, water, or recycling conservation tips.  These could be printed up and sent home with all students at the school. 

13. Develop an energy efficiency manual for Lake Weir Middle School
We could use the information obtained from energy and water auditing to put in a manual that could be given to the custodians, food service workers, maintenance technicians, and other school staff to use. 

14. Research options for increasing energy efficiency
Do a research project on Soda Machines and computers on how much energy they use and what can be done to make them more energy efficient.  Show data and conclusions.  These could be done as science fair projects. 

15. Landscape the school for energy efficiency
Members could create and maintain a demonstration native plants garden.  Or they could plant trees that would reduce solar heat gain in areas that need cooling. 

16. Give 10 hours of environmental or community service
This could be one member giving 10 hours, 10 members giving one hour, or some other combination that equals at least 10 hours.  The service could be during one of our meetings, or on the weekend.  It could involve doing a walk-through energy audit of our one of the local elementary schools, helping to plant trees or native plants in the community somewhere, or helping with a community recycling or trash reduction/clean-up project. 

17. Develop an "Energy/Water Festival" for Earth Month (April)
We could develop a some fun games and competitions that relate to energy and water use.  They could involve individual or team events such as an obstacle course or relay race.  We could also have booths set up to display information on Project Green Machine Club activities. 

18. Create our own web site
We could post all our activities on a web page that shows what we have learned about energy, water, and recycling conservation.  We could also include web-links to other web sites for other students doing research on energy, water, or recycling conservation. 

19. Send an article about our projects to the Green Schools Gazette
We could write an article or send one of the articles that we write for our newsletter, or local paper to Green Schools for them to use in their Gazette. 

20. Help develop an exhibit for the Discovery Science Center on energy
The Discovery Science and Outdoor Center has given us some space to place exhibits that relate to energy sources, energy transformations, and energy use.  We could see how our activities might help us to develop exhibits and displays that could be used at the Discovery Science Center. 
 

Today we began talking about basic electricity and  to set-up the "Human Circuit" exercise.  We had an overview of the basic set-up and chose students for the various positions.  We are all set for next meeting to start the exercise and get a good number of trials in during the short time we have. 

November 26, 2002 - 
At the fourth meeting we welcomed one new member.  Some students have not returned from there first visit to the club so we have probably lost some members.  We seem to average about 12 to 15 students each meeting.  Today we did the "Human Circuit" activity.   The students had fun with the hoola hoops going through the circuit as an electron.  The learned the difference between a series and a parallel circuit.  They learned about current and its measurement by "Amps."  They learned about volts and resistance.  They have the basic concepts to understand Ohm's law.  Next week we will continue with this activity to reinforce these concepts and and add the concept of power as measured by "Watts." 

December 3, 2002 - 
At our fifth meeting we welcomed two new members.  We continued working with the "Human Circuit."  This time the two students from Lake Weir High conducted the entire meeting and training on their own.  We also welcomed the arrival of Mr. Green, 7th Grade Math teacher, as our new teacher sponsor. 

December 10, 2002 - 
At our sixth meeting we had 21 students in attendance.  We passed out our new Project Green Machine T-shirts and lanyards for our badges.  The lanyards have the Project Green Machine web site address on them.  We also organized for science fair projects. 

We divided up the group into 5 subject categories:
Energy: equipment energy use - 2 teams 
Energy: lighting energy use - 1 team
Energy: temperature and energy use - 2 teams
Water: water usage at home - 2 teams
Recycling: what and how much can be recycled at home - 1 team

At this meeting we had a guest speaker.  Mrs Jackie Ballas, Science Teacher on Assignment,  from the district's curriculum department showed the students how to put together a science fair project and presentation board.  The students assembled into their teams and began their project planning.  They planned out what they will be doing over winter break so that they will be able to start putting their project display board tegether when we return January 7, 2003.  Small cameras were passed out to each of the students wo they could record their activities and post on the display board.

Click here to take a closer look at the display.

January 7, 2003 - 

We came back from winter break and looked at the work that the students had done during break.  Some teams were able to put together some projects and others had more difficulty.  This was the first chance we had to see where the students were in their understanding of the scientific method and how to portray it on a presentation board.  We found out that we all need more understanding of the scientific process, how to set up an experiment, how to collect data, and what data to collect.  We also needed to be able to produce more polished looking headings, charts, naratives, etc.  So, we decided to meet at the computer lab next time to start getting some experience typing up our headings and naratives.

January 14, 2003 -

Today we started meeting in the media center, which has a computer lab next to it.  Each team went to one of the computers and began thinking about their project.  We looked at the steps of a science fair project (steps of the scientific method) and started with the first step - develop a question for scientific inquiry.  Mrs. O'Niel, science teacher who organizes the science fair effort for Lake Weir Middle, came to visit and helped students with their project question.  We will be spending more time on data collection in the coming club meetings.

January 21, 2003 -

Today we spent time looking at different types of data tables.   We looked at what things needed to be measured, what things needed to be recorded.  We had sample data tables that the members could look at and adapt to their own project.  We also elected club officers today.  We now have a president, vice president, and secretary.  The president will call the meeting to order, the secretary will take roll, then we'll start the club acitivities.

January 28, 2003 -

Today we toured the school campus.  We are going to start spending some time each week measuring things and recording our measurements on to a data table.   Today we went to one of the school's electric meters.  We set up a data table on a sheet of paper on a clip board.  This is a digital meter, so, we talked about how to read this kind of meter.  Then we walked around the campus looking at the various examples of resource consumption.   We learned about transformers, a cooling tower, recycling and garbage dumpsters, LP Gas tank, water tank, and water treatment system.

February 4, 2003 -

February 11, 2003
Today we talked about submitting an entry to the "Igniting Creatve Energy" - A National Student Challenge.  The entries are due by March 15, 2003.  

February 25, 2003
Today we found three school meters and set up the chart that we will be maintaining in the media center to track school energy use.  

March 4, 2003