Westborough teachers show in‑school engineering field trip; students built light bulbs and tested a bio‑battery kit

Teachers Heather Waterman and Salissa Hilfiger presented the Natural Science and Engineering ninth‑grade program and an in‑school field trip held Nov. 13 that introduced students to hands‑on engineering practices.

Heather Waterman and Salissa Hilfiger told the School Committee the curriculum blends physics, chemistry and math with engineering projects so students "build and do and observe first," then bring in calculations and data collection. "We put the things in front of them and say, here is our goal, and we're going to try to do something," Salissa Hilfiger said.

Presenters demonstrated student projects ranging from a simple bulb made with batteries and a pencil filament to pennies, zinc washers and vinegar used to power an LED. They described a bio‑battery kit developed in collaboration with Dr. Pei Zheng that uses microbes and wastewater to generate electricity; Delano of Dillinger previously helped connect the district with the researcher.

Teachers said about 300 students per year learn soldering in the class and that hands‑on projects aim to demystify science and build students’ confidence. The teachers said they are pursuing additional funding through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to expand the program and curriculum materials to other schools in the Commonwealth.

Committee members praised the work and asked whether the program will continue; presenters said they are applying for a second round of Clean Energy Center funding to expand the program and to codify curriculum so other schools can replicate the Westborough model.