Bernalillo Elementary School in Bernalillo, New Mexico on DonorsChoose

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The unit is divided into four lessons as students examine how human use of resources impacts Earth's systems and propose solutions for protecting Earth's resources and environments. In lesson one students will describe Earth's natural resources. Lesson two students will identify where energy on Earth comes from. Students will progress into explaining how human activities affect Earth's resources and environments during lesson three. And in lesson four students describe ways to protect Earth's resources and environments. \r\n\r\n\r\nI have created a project-based learning activity for my students to support this unit's learning objectives by having students build/create a community model to illustrate how the energy grid works. The idea involved building a community model to illustrate the concepts of energy, from starting at the power plant until reaching homes and businesses etc. During the building process, the students learned about energy production, conservation, renewable energy, and recycling as well. We cover standards such as Next Generation Science Standard 5-ESS3-1 'Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth's resources and environment', Science and Engineering Practices SEP.6 'Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions', and ELA/Literacy CCSS.ELA-Literacy RI.5.3 'Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text', among others.\r\n\r\nPhase one of this project model was completed using recyclable materials first, illustrating the different components of a power grid, including a moving tram/cable car that resembles the one we have in our community that operates transporting passengers to and back to the top of the Sandia Mountains. This model will now be used to develop our second phase which will consist of building a new power grid model out of 3-D printed materials for the next academic year. The use of technology is an integral part of our classroom, as we learn and become more familiar with the use of additional tools and resources acquired through this activity that will help us develop the next phase of our project. The students are excited learning about 3D printing and the many possibilities to be even more creative with the use of these printers. This project/activity has been a fun and interactive experience for students to learn about renewable and non-renewable energy resources. During this process students also have an opportunity to work on the \"4 Cs of education\" which refer to four key skills that are seen as essential for 21st-century learning and success: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. These skills are seen as crucial for students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, we have partnered with PNM in New Mexico and their Energy Efficiency Programs for Students. They offer three energy efficiency student programs that schools and teachers can participate in and incorporate into our science curriculum. This program offers the opportunity for our students to learn more about the importance of protecting the environment, how energy can be used wisely, the evolution of driving electric vehicles, and how they can become part of the solution. The PNM Think energy Home Works program is a 45 to 60-minute interactive, hands-on presentation for 5th grade students and teachers at participating schools within the PNM service territory. The presentation is conducted by professional educators from the National Energy Foundation and provides teachers and students with an understanding of how to be an energy efficiency expert at home. Each student receives an energy efficiency Take Action! Kit that includes easy to install items that have a huge impact on energy use at home. As a result of this partnership and our classroom innovative project students were able to share information at home with their own parents about energy conservation and how they can help our communities save energy. Students from other grade levels, parents, members of our school district and our communities have visited our classroom to learn about our project, giving our students an opportunity to present/share information and engage with our community. Students felt empowered working on this project, feeling they are making a difference because they are working and getting exposed to real life problems in our communities with an opportunity to offer possible real solutions as they learn these concepts through our project-based learning activities. \r\n\r\nCollaborations between agencies/programs do work and our project not only had a positive impact in our classrooms but in our communities as well. Our students engaged in a project to take valuable information that affects all of us and create a product to illustrate learning concepts and goals about energy by building a tangible product/example. 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About this school

Bernalillo Elementary School is a suburban public school in Bernalillo, New Mexico that is part of Bernalillo Public School District. It serves 385 students in grades 4 - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.3:1. Its teachers have had 8 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 4 - 6

385 Students

27 Teachers

480 Calle Del Norte

Bernalillo, NM 87004 View local requests

http://www.edline.net/pages/bernalillo_elementary_school

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Bernalillo Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Herman

Ms. Vigil

Mrs. Zbiegien

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Bernalillo Elementary School Demographics

94%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

94%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Bernalillo Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

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