Tell Us about Yourself
Seventh-grade class
What AEOP program(s) did you participate in?
Junior Solar Sprint (JSS)
Words of Advice?
“You have to be a critical thinker and a problem-solver. Choose your team members well. Also, do not be afraid of using different materials and making changes if something does not work correctly the first time.” – Timothy, seventh-grade JSS student
Best Things about the Program?
“The best thing about JSS is having the opportunity to actually make a solar car with your friends! The greatest feeling in the world is putting all of the parts together, and then watching it move and run on its own. Students can learn a lot from JSS—and enough to build your own car, even. The experience also allows us to think critically and outside of the box.” — Alejandro, seventh-grade JSS student
How Participating in AEOP Inspired You to Advance in the STEM Field?
“It’s given me more insight into what STEM is, including what people in the STEM field do and why they do it. I’m also more motivated to try new projects.” — Laurellai, ninth-grade JSS student
About Mr. Wood's Junior Solar Sprint Team
Stewart Wood teaches in a small rural school in Oklahoma. His school faces numerous challenges engaging students in hands-on STEM activities due to budget restrictions. In previous years, his students would find supplies around their home and town to be recycled into parts for their STEM inventions. Wood has also used his own money to purchase important parts for the class’s STEM projects. Fortunately, these challenges haven’t stood in the way of the students’ success. The school’s Technology Student Association chapter has made it to the national TSA competition each year for the last nine years and has won at nationals four times. This year, AEOP provided JSS solar kits to Wood’s classroom so students would have the chance to build their own solar-powered cars and participate in the JSS competition in June. Wood guided his students through the problem-solving process to identify issues in the cars and propose solutions. Hear from some of his students below.
