What if you could capture the sun’s journey across the sky with a simple camera? AASD technology coach Brian Bartel is teaching fifth graders how to do just that with a grant from the Appleton Education Foundation.
Bartel introduced students at Richmond Elementary School to Solarcan Pucks, reusable pinhole cameras. After a lesson on how the cameras work, students paired up, received a puck, loaded it with sensitive photo paper and installed it by taping it to a window in an approved location. After the cameras were in place for several days, Bartel taught students how to process a digital scan of their photos with software to invert colors and reveal the sun’s journey.
Later in the spring, students will repeat this process to see if there are any differences from season to season. Bartel will provide the same lessons to f ifth graders at McKinley and Janet Berry elementary schools. AEF supports hands-on, real-world science experiences like this to spark student curiosity and deeper learning.
Funding for this project came from the Stan and Phyllis Thatcher Family Fund for STEM and the Dianne Catlin Lang STEM Innovators and Girls Leadership Fund. Learn how a named endowment within the Appleton Education Foundation can support areas of education you’re most passionate about. Contact us: Info@appletoneducationfoundation.org
This story first appeared in AEF’s 2024 Report to the Community in March 2025. Review the complete 2024 Report to the Community.
