Freshmen Bring History to Life with Hands-On Solar Engineering Project
Students in Dr. Christopher Wyckoff’s World History class at Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy took a hands-on approach to learning this week, stepping beyond textbooks and into the world of innovation. As part of their Scientific and Industrial Revolution unit, freshmen designed and built their own solar stations, blending historical concepts with modern engineering.
The activity challenged students to think like early innovators while applying contemporary STEM principles. After constructing their devices in class, students headed outside to test their solar stations in real-world conditions, observing how effectively their designs captured and utilized solar energy.
The project was designed to help students better understand the spirit of invention and technological advancement that defined the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions. By engaging in the process of building and testing, students experienced firsthand the experimentation and problem-solving that drove historical progress.
“We were fortunate that these kits were donated during our debate about which period left the greatest impact on the world, the scientific or the industrial revolution,” said Dr. Wyckoff. “We discussed which features of the kit belonged to science and which belonged to industry. One student exclaimed, ‘Ultimately science is more fun, but industry has made the biggest impact.’”
The lesson also emphasized cross-curricular integration, connecting history with science, technology, engineering, and math. Students applied concepts such as energy transfer, design thinking, and problem-solving—skills central to STEM fields—while grounding their work in historical context.
Many students expressed excitement about the project, noting that it made history feel more relevant and engaging. By merging past and present, the activity highlighted how the innovations of earlier centuries continue to influence today’s technological world.
With projects like this, Dr. Wyckoff’s class is demonstrating that history isn’t just about the past—it’s a foundation for understanding and shaping the future.
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