Western Power's Solar Model Challenge is run in two sections, a car race for secondary schools and a boat race for primary schools. The skills necessary to build a working solar boat are quite appropriate for younger students and give a rich learning experience. Many skills and understandings learned can be used in designing entries for the Solar Model Car Challenge in secondary school, or making more sophisticated boats, models or artifacts over time. Constructing and racing a boat provides students with a high chance of success and a less demanding and expensive opportunity to work on a technology based, problem solving activity.
The first day has been designed for 'time trials' and boats will race off against each other in a 10 metre pool to 'seed' the boats, i.e. allocate them to groups in such a way that the faster boats should not compete with each other in the earlier rounds. The second day will be the 'finals'. Both days will be held at Western Power’s Energy Education Centre, World of Energy located at 12 Parry Street Fremantle.
Visit the World of Energy website to find out more information.
Page update on 27 March 2008
