Zenger Farm

Location:
Portland, OR
Grade Level:
K-9
Technology Type:
PV System Size:
7.60 - kilowatts

Through Portland General Electric’s Renewable Development Fund, Zenger Farm added solar energy education to its suite of hands-on environmental education programs in 2017. Over the course of one day, 8 volunteer and staff educators came together to increase their understanding of and comfort teaching about solar electricity and circuits and started the process of integrating solar heating and solar electric concepts into existing programs around plants, the sun, and seasons. Zenger Farm’s 7.6 kW photovoltaic (PV)... Read full project narrative >>

Solar Car Derby & Educator Workshops

Golden Girls Solar Car
Location:
Seattle, WA
Grade Level:
3-12
Technology Type:

With generous support from the Boeing Foundation, Solar 4R Schools piloted our first solar car engineering challenge event in 2014. The event leveraged contributions from the Seattle Mariners and Bonneville Power Administration while utilizing the iconic influence of professional sports to create a powerful impact on the 14 student teams that participated. As a precursor to the challenge event, Solar 4R Schools... Read full project narrative >>

Ophir Elementary School

Location:
Gallatin Gateway, MT
Grade Level:
K-5
Technology Type:
PV System Size:
7.00 - kilowatts

The Big Sky School District #72 is a learning community nestled in Montana’s Gallatin Canyon on the banks of the Gallatin River. It is in this unique environment that we provide a comprehensive education for all learners within our community. We are deliberate about cultivating student’s experiences in an inclusive school environment while challenging them to strive for personal excellence and foster respect through compassion for others, our environment and the world.
Since 1906, Ophir Elementary and Middle school have been providing education to the children of the Gallatin Canyon.... Read full project narrative >>

LaPorte, IN--Educators' Workshop

LaPorte-Michigan City Teachers Group Photo
Location:
LaPorte, IN
Grade Level:
4-8

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators that teach students in districts surrounding their facilities in LaPorte, IN. LaPorte Community School Corporation and Michigan City Area Schools worked together to host a renewable energy teacher workshop at Boston High School in spring 2017.

Teachers chose to conduct this day of professional development for their first day of summer and enjoyed talking through the obstacles of what it would take to store solar energy as thermal energy. At lunchtime, representatives from the local utility NIPSCO spoke... Read full project narrative >>

Davenport, IA --Educators' Workshop

team awesome project
Location:
Riverdale, IA
Grade Level:
3-12

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators that teach students in districts surrounding their facilities in Davenport, IA. Pleasant Valley Administration Center hosted the Regional Renewable Energy Inquiry and Engineering professional development day to learn more about about local technical and energy-related jobs through hands-on activities by Solar 4R Schools and engaging local presentations from representatives at Arconic and MidAmerican Energy. Teachers modeled MidAmerican’s vision of a future with a 100% renewable energy grid by building and... Read full project narrative >>

Betty J. Taylor Early Learning Academy

Betty J. Tulalip Early Learning Center
Location:
Tulalip, WA
Grade Level:
PK-5
Technology Type:
PV System Size:
16.50 - kilowatts

In 2015, the Tulalip Tribe opened the doors to the Betty J. Taylor Early Learning Center overlooking scenic Tulalip Bay. This unique, year-round school combines previously dislocated early learning centers including Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, a day care, Montessori school, and Early Head Start. By partnering with Solar4RSchools, the tribe was able to forward their goals of creating a healthy, sustainable community, which engages student’s natural curiosity, and inspires... Read full project narrative >>

Coeur d' Alene Tribe Natural Resources

Location:
Plummer, ID
Grade Level:
K-12
Technology Type:
PV System Size:
14.25 - kilowatts

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is excited to host a solar-electric demonstration project that will educate students who will become the leaders in the area in the next generations. This 14.25 -kilowatt system sits atop the Tribe's Natural Resources building and was installed in 2016.
Educators from across the... Read full project narrative >>

Mini Solar Houses Unit

Solar Mini House
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
4-6
Subject Area(s) Covered:
electricity
solar energy
current
voltage
photovoltaics
seasonality
Circuitry
energy transformations
Energy Storage
mini-houses
design challenge
photovoltaic installation
Estimated Activity Length:
8 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will understand how to use an Azimuth finder to determine the direction and altitude that solar modules will face. 2. Students will learn how to describe why a solar module is pitched at a particular angle. 3. Students will understand how to measure the voltage and current for an electrical energy source. 4. Students will learn how to build a circuit that will light a light bulb with a switch and without a switch. 5. Students will understand that the electricity flows through a circuit from an energy source to a load. 6. Students will understand the difference between open and closed circuits. 7. Students will understand the similarities and differences between solar cells and batteries as an energy source. 8. Students will understand how electricity flows through a circuit (from energy sources to loads) with more than one source and more than one load. 9. Students will understand how to build series and parallel circuit and the characteristics of each. 10. Students will learn to power both a light and a fan. 11. Students will learn how to find a fault in a circuit. 12. Students will understand that the electricity flows through a circuit from an energy source to a load. 13. Students will understand the difference between open and closed circuits. 14. Students will identify the causes and solutions to various complications that arise in the construction of circuits. 15. Students will use the design process to create a roof to hold an adequate number of solar modules to power an LED and a fan. 16. Students will understand how to make a geometric net (a 2D drawing that when folded creates a 3D shape) for designing a roof.

In Lesson 1, the lesson focuses on understanding how the angle and orientation affect the amount of energy that is generated through use of a solar cell. Paper azimuth finders, Keva Planks, and multimeters will be used in order for students to draw conclusions about the optimal placement of a solar cell. This lesson will prepare students for... View full description >>

Wichita Falls, TX - Educators' Workshop

Location:
Wichita Falls, TX
Grade Level:
4-12

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Wichita Falls, Texas in Spring 2016. Twenty-four teachers across 18 schools in 14 Districts participated in a professional development experience organized by their Educational Service Center (ESC) that included one day focusing on renewable energy education with Solar 4R Schools. ESC Region 9 hosted this workshop and Ward Scientific sponsored lunch and door prizes. Teachers from 4th-12th grade took home one science kit to share for every school that included... Read full project narrative >>

Wadsworth, OH - Educators' Workshop

Wadsworth OH thumbnail
Location:
Wadsworth, OH
Grade Level:
4-12

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Wadsworth, Ohio in July 2016. Partnerships were at the heart of bringing Solar 4R Schools’ education program to eight teachers across five schools in Wadsworth City Schools is expected to reach over 500 local students in the first year. Representatives at Solar 4R Schools connected with Wadsworth City Schools through the Alcoa Foundation, which is also supporting the district’s PRIME initiative (http://www.smeef.org/prime/... Read full project narrative >>