West Philly Schools Lead Innovative Climate Science Program
West Philadelphia schools are transforming their schoolyards into dynamic outdoor learning spaces, thanks to an innovative climate education program led by the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center. In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia and supported by Spark Therapeutics, the Sense.Able Schoolyards initiative installs advanced weather stations in five local schools. This program blends real-world scientific data collection with hands-on environmental education, offering students a unique opportunity to explore climate science in an engaging and practical way.
At the heart of this hopefully trend-setting initiative is the installation at Penn Alexander School, where an Ambient 5000 Weather Station is mounted on a custom-designed steel "tree." This striking artistic structure, adorned with student-created mosaic leaves, turns functional technology into a captivating art piece. The station collects real-time weather data—including temperature, wind speed, and other atmospheric metrics—directly enhancing classroom lessons in climate change and environmental sustainability.
The pilot program was inaugurated last spring at Anderson School and it's success has led to the program expanding to include installations at Locke, Hamilton, and the Science Leadership Academy Middle School at Powel. Each school will have a uniquely designed installation, underscoring the program’s emphasis on merging science, technology, and artistic creativity.
This climate education initiative focuses on addressing pressing urban environmental issues, particularly urban heat islands. Students actively participate in citizen science initiatives by gathering and analyzing environmental data from their communities. Through this process, they explore critical topics such as urban heat island mitigation, environmental justice, and climate resilience education.
By aligning with STEELS and NGSS academic standards, the program ensures that students not only gain a comprehensive understanding of environmental systems but also build essential research, analytical, and STEM skills. This multifaceted approach helps foster scientific literacy while promoting real-world problem-solving abilities.