Schoolhouse rock? More like schoolhouse rolls.

A new veggie-fueled biodiesel van is rolling to Chicago high schools, revving-up the traditional classroom setting. Students can learn the basics about alternative energy sources without cracking open a single textbook.

The Field Museum’s education department unveiled its new Renewable Energy Vehicle Program at Chicago’s Gurdon S. Hubbard High School on Wednesday to more than 30 freshman and sophomore students.

The veggie-fueled van, which looks like an eco-friendly magic school bus come to life, resembles a school on wheels that teaches two major topics – alternative fuel and energy choices.

Kim Vlk, a science teacher at the high school, hopes the soon-to-be-drivers retain some of the information after seeing the van and smelling it’s french-fry like aroma firsthand.

“[The students] do so much better and learn so much more by hands-on experiences than they do by just looking at a book,” she said. “So the more we can get them out in the field and experience things – the better they’re going to learn.”

The lesson seemed to resonate with several students, including 15-year-old Robert Gomez.

“Biodiesel and oil -- I never knew that they could actually make things like vehicles move,” said Gomez, who watched as his classmate filled the van’s tank with vegetable oil.

The crew at PrairieFire BioFuels in Madison, Wis., converted the Dodge Striker to the two-tank fuel system, which holds nine gallons of diesel in one compartment and 17 gallons of filtered waste vegetable oil in the other.

Field Museum educators said vegetable oil was the fuel of choice because it’s carbon neutral. “The plants that the oil is harvested from absorb more [carbon dioxide] in their lifetime than is emitted when the vegetable oil is burned,” said Mike Clark of PrairieFire BioFuels.

Kevin Clarke works with Chicago Biofuels to collect vegetable oil from Nacional 27, a Latin-fusion restaurant in the city with ample amounts of oil. Later, he filters the used oil and hand delivers the final product to the Field Museum, where the van gets its “vegetable juice.”

 “It’s something that kids can connect to in a way that they can’t when mom and dad pull up to the gas station,” Clarke said. “But this is like – you know those fries you were eating? That gives you power and can give the car power.”

The van not only runs on plants, but also soaks up the sun’s rays with a solar roof and houses a veggie-powered go-kart. The roof-mounted solar panels power a laptop computer and integrated LCD screens in the van. In addition, a portable solar cart can be taken into classrooms and powers an iPod docking station stereo system.

Johanna Thompson, coordinator of student programs at the museum, said the main objective is to show students how they can use less energy.

“We hope to lessen the gap between our energy products – like electricity or vehicle gas – and the scarce resources from which they came,” she said. “Our goal is to de-mystify the options for people and simplify the most current science for teachers and students. And have fun while we are at it -- I mean, who doesn’t love a go-kart?”

The renewable energy vehicle will be making its rounds to Chicago-area classrooms, fairs and festivals throughout the fall.