Solar Powered Water Pumping

Kidwind Small Water Pump
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
2-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science inquiry
scientific method
solar energy
Energy
electricity
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 30 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to make observations and record data about how different materials affect the speed of a solar powered water pump.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students use a solar module and other materials in conjunction with a water pump to test how quickly one cup of water can be pumped. View full description >>

Making Observations and Recording Data for Solar Powered Water Pumping

Kidwind Small Water Pump
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
2-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science inquiry
electricity
Energy
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 30 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to make observations and record data about how quickly a solar module will drive a pump to move water.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students use a solar module and water pump to test how quickly one cup of
water can be pumped. View full description >>

A Simple Circuit

Solar Circuit
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
2-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Circuits 101
Science inquiry
electricity
Energy
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to draw a simple circuit, label its parts, and show the direction/path that current is flowing.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students make a hypothesis about how a set of materials should be connected in order to make a motor spin. Through guided trial and error students are led to the idea of a circuit as the proper way to connect the materials in order to make the fan turn. View full description >>

Solar Powered Calculator

Solar Calculator
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
2-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science inquiry
solar power
Energy
electricity
Estimated Activity Length:
0 sec
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to explain that some devices use light energy and transform into electrical energy, which powers different devices such as lights.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

The teacher will show an example of a solar powered device using a solar powered calculator. View full description >>

Probes of Prior Knowledge

Energy Transformations
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
2-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
electricity
Energy
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to identify the different ways that electrical energy (electricity) is transformed (generated) and identify different everyday items that use electricity.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Teacher will administer worksheet probes (formative assessments) of students’ prior knowledge about “making electricity” and “things that run on electricity.” View full description >>

Setting Expectations for Science and Engineering Projects

Scientific Method
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
2-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science inquiry
scientific method
Estimated Activity Length:
30 min
Learning Goal(s):

Establishing guidelines for the unit; students will also have a better understanding of the scientific method.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Begin this session by setting some ground rules for science discourse. Explain to students that as we work on this unit, and science in general throughout the year, they will be asked to share their thinking about science concepts. View full description >>

Using Multiple Solar Modules

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
3-5
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Learning Goal(s):

Students will apply scientific ideas to design and test a solar powered water pump that moves water at the fastest rate. Students will experiment and build understanding of parallel and series wiring and how energy moves in these circuits. Students will record data accurately into a table.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students first explore with 0.5 Volt solar cells to see whether adding cells to a circuit increases the amount of water pumped by a small pump. They are introduced to parallel and series wiring. They then design and carry out a formal experiment to test their ideas. This lesson may be used with minor modifications to fulfill Oregon’s Science... View full description >>

Exploring Solar Powered Water Pumps

Kidwind Small Water Pump
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
3-5
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Learning Goal(s):

Students will make observations about how a solar cell needs to be set up to push water through a pump and hypothesize about how energy is changing form as the pump runs.

Students explore with a solar cell and a pump to discover how to make the pump run. They will hypothesize and informally test whether they can make the pump run faster or slower.

  View full description >>

Energy Changes Forms

Reading Concept Map
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
3-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
ELA
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand that energy changes form. Students will be able to name different forms of energy and give examples of some of the transformations of energy that commonly occur. Students will find details and examples in informational text.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students read informational text about the forms of energy and energy transformation. They use a graphic organizer in the form of a concept map to take notes on details and examples. Optional – using solar beads, solicit ideas about what energy transformation might be occurring that cause the beads to change color. View full description >>

What is Renewable Energy?

Sources of Energy
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
3-5
Subject Area(s) Covered:
ELA
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to list and describe the main natural resources that people get energy from. Students will be able to describe the affect the use of different sources of energy has on the environment. Students will be able to describe the advantage of renewable sources of energy.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students learn about renewable energy sources through a read-aloud of Loreen Leedy’s The Shocking Truth about Energy. Students use Internet sources to obtain more information about alternate sources of energy. They complete a reflection to synthesize the information they have gathered. View full description >>