These days, elementary students have heard of the impacts of climate change, greenhouse gases, and conservation. Also, as the need for clean, renewable energy becomes more pressing, the topic of solar energy is increasingly integrated into school curriculum and lesson plans.
Solar power is not a topic of discussion for the future, but a lesson of today. Or so we discovered when we visited two Tucson elementary schools, Holladay and Borton, to speak to students about solar energy, resource conservation and the importance of living in line with nature.
We discussed the different sources of energy, solar power, and rainwater harvesting. The students also came up with different ways to conserve energy in their own homes and simple ways to take action against climate change. The students were curious and excited and had many great questions and comments for us. Many of them had studied solar energy in their classes. Our visit at Holladay Elementary ended with the students asking their teachers, “Why can’t we get solar panels on our building?” 
For this generation of students, the idea of turning away from unhealthy fossil fuels, like coal, and toward solar energy is a no-brainer. It’s this kind of attitude we all need to adopt if we are serious about taking action for the betterment of our planet. How can we secure a sustainable future for our children? Just ask our children.
In the photos:
Top - TFS's Mark asks the students at Halloway some questions about solar energy.
Bottom - TFS's Leona explains to students at Borton Elementary the importance of planting in a basin and simple techniques to insure your plants survive in the desert.