Ask Slashdot: Classroom Eco-Projects Suited To Alaska?

First time accepted submitter shortyadamk writes "I just started a new job where I will have to visit many high school science classes and have the students participate in 1-3 day projects regarding sustainable energy and environmental sciences (in order to promote the regional universities' programs). I've looked at a number of the boxed projects available online and many of them are solar projects; my biggest issue with that is that we are in rural Alaska and much of the time I'll be visiting classes will be in the winter (when we have very little sunlight — and even if we did it would be too cold to go and play in). I'm curious if anyone has any ideas or suggestions for demonstrations and projects that can be done in the classroom and do not require sunlight. One other catch is that the project has to be small enough to fit in a suitcase or plastic tote; we don't have any roads connecting the villages so I will have to fly the project from school to school with me."

Re:Those solar projects are perfect in the Winter

[MaXintosh]

I live in Fairbanks. It gets dark here. And yet... solar works? I have first hand experience on this issue. You see, just because there isn't as much light doesn't mean that there's no light. Unless you go really far north, there'll still be a few hours of sunlight (albeit at an extreme angle). While this might not seem like a lot, it appreciably reduces your diesel consumption. And most places in the state have fantastic, reliable wind (Fairbanks not so much).
And then summer comes, and the issue with solar is dumping all the extra energy you're collecting because you're usually collecting an excess of your needs.