Independence High School students will be teaching science to elementary school students in the Lakeside School District on Thursday, February 25th at Lakeside School.

The “science teachers” are members of Independence High’s Energy & Utilities Career Academy. The students are second through eighth graders who attend Lakeside School at 14535 Old River Road. The lessons will be taught from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

“Our students will be using fun, ‘hands on’ lessons and activities to teach local youth about the world of science and energy,” said Aaron Jacobson, an Independence High science teacher and coordinator of the school’s Energy & Utilities Academy. “Students will be teaching lessons they created that focus on wind, solar, hydropower, hydrogen fuel cell, or the science of energy. The activities Academy students will coordinate will engage their ‘pupils’ on various renewable and nonrenewable energy sources and the overlying concepts of energy,” Jacobson said.

Academy students developed the lessons with guidance from mentors from local businesses and their teachers. The lessons continue the collaboration between Independence High and Lakeside, thanks to a generous grant from the PG&E Bright Ideas program.

The Independence High Energy & Utilities Academy has garnered a number of awards including NEED’s Energy Education Award for California. “I hope other schools see the energy and dedication present at Independence High and find new ways to teach students about energy and the role energy plays in their lives,” said NEED official Mary Spruill.

The lessons and classroom instruction are part of a community service project expected to get young students excited about science and math fields and teach the high school students the importance of community involvement.

For more information, contact Aaron Jacobson at Independence High, 834-8001, jaca33@kernhigh.org, or Lakeside School Principal Mike McGrath, 831-3503, mmcgrath@lakesideusd.org