Michele Stuber has created the project "Letters, Light, and Leadership: Energy Ambassadors in Action" in Class2Class.org
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Letters, Light, and Leadership: Energy Ambassadors in Action
What is this project about?
Students exchange letters, photos, and short videos with pen pals in African communities, introducing themselves and sharing how energy powers their daily lives while exploring ecosystem challenges both face. As they compare energy use and environmen...
- Age of Students
- 9-12 years
- Project Duration
- 23 weeks
- Starting Month
- October 2026
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to identify and describe cultural connections between their own community and African pen pals through letters, photos, and videos while recognizing shared energy challenges.
Students will be able to demonstrate intercultural communication by collaboratively exchanging energy stories with international peers and applying insights from the novels to compare how different communities creatively meet their energy needs.
Skills to develop
Project Activities
Meet Your Pen Pal: Introduction & Book Connection
Students introduce themselves through a letter, photo, and short video, sharing their name, interests, and a favorite moment from either novel. They learn about their pen pal's community and begin building a real friendship grounded in the stories they've read.
Energy Stories: Letters, Photos & Ecosystem Exchanges
Over 8 structured letter exchanges across the year (weeks 1, 2, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 23), students write to pen pals about their daily lives, energy use, and local environments. Each letter builds on the novels and classroom energy study, with optional ecosystem add-ons (describing local plants, animals, landscapes, and threats). Students also swap photos of their homes, schools, and energy sources, and create biodiversity postcards naming one native species and one conservation challenge in their
Comparing Energy & Environment: Class Analysis & Discussion
As letters and photos arrive, students gather in small groups to compare energy use, environmental impacts, and solutions between their community and their pen pal's community. They create simple charts or concept maps showing similarities and differences, then share findings in class discussions tied to the novels and TVA energy data they've studied.
Video Call Exchange: Live Conversation with Partner Class
Students participate in a scheduled live video call with their pen pals and the partner class, asking questions about daily life, energy challenges, and local ecosystems. The call is short and structured to work across time zones, with a shared list of conversation prompts prepared in advance.
Collaborative Action Planning: Shared Energy Solutions
After the video call and letter exchanges, students work with their pen pals (asynchronously through letters or a shared digital board) to identify one shared energy or environmental problem and brainstorm a solution together. They document their collaborative idea in a simple action plan that could be shared with their school or community.
Energy Ambassador Dispatch: Capstone Letter & Reflection
Students write a final 'Energy Ambassador Dispatch' letter synthesizing what they've learned about energy, ecosystems, and their pen pal's community. They reflect on how the novels, their pen pal's real story, and their own energy audit have changed their thinking about global energy and environmental challenges.
Showcase & Celebrate: Pen Pal Stories & Learning
Students present their pen pal journey through a gallery walk, slideshow, or class celebration featuring selected letters, photos, videos, and the collaborative action plan. They share one key insight about energy, culture, or friendship gained through the exchange, and reflect on how connecting with a real person across the world changed their perspective.