GreenPower Education Trust is a national charity offering engineering projects for primary and secondary schools aimed at introducing children to Engineering as a career choice at a young age. This is done through a project to design and build an electric car. The schools participate in regional heats held at Croft and Sunderland in the NE. Many schools have received funding towards their car construction projects from the CSI. There are three categories: Formula Goblin for 9-11 years, Formula 24 for 11-16 years and Formula 24+ for 16-25 years.
The Greenpower Goblin STEM Project is for children in Years 5 and 6 who build the single seater electric racing car accompanied by lessons including various STEM modules throughout the course of the project. Several schools in the region have been running this project for past few years now and many have been supported by the CSI.
The project involves discussions about battery powered cars, show and tell on an actual road going electric car (a ICE variant is used when electric car is not accessible). During the course of the project children have discussions with various Engineers about Engineering and their careers. The projects culminate with participation in the annual races between all schools which is held at Croft and at Gateshead International Stadium. The schools then have the option to participate in International finals as well (usually organised in the south of England so due to constraints related to costs schools are often not able to attend).
In 2024, the CSI provided funding for hire of a van to transport the cars to and from a racing venue.
A Coding projects is usually run in conjunction with the Goblin Car project, however increasingly gaining popularity as independent activity. The children learn to code on a microbit and use the microbit for various purposes for example recording the temperature in a refrigerator, making smart watches and step counters (pedometers). They also learn sending text messages using Microbits.
The CSI has funded BBC Microbit and accessories for Raspberry Pi (along with 4 hand crank generators). IMechE (HQ) funded the purchase of a couple of Raspberry Pi SBCs. CSI provided additional funding in 2024 for additional Raspberry Pi(s) and accessories so that children can move up from Microbits to Raspberry Pi.
The project is coordinated and supported by Amit Kumar of Cummins.
Participating Schools include:
- Berwick Hills
- Egglescliffe School
- Longfield Academy
- Outwood Academy Riverside
- West Park Primary Academy
- Mowden Junior School
- St Augustine’s Primary
- Broom Cottages Primary Academy
- Frederick Nattarass Primary Academy
- Abbey Junior Primary School
- Easterside Primary Academy
- Harrow Gate Primary Academy
- St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School
(Grange Learning Centre, Outwood Academy Riverside, St Gerards Catholic School).
CSI has not supported this international project financially this but may be of interest: Europe Magazine Page 20.pdf
Website: Green Power Education Trust website: Home | Greenpower
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