Circuitry

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Learning Goal(s):

Students observe and replicate a simple solar tracker. Students will learn basic electric circuits and terminology. Students will reflect on possible improvements for solar tracker. Students will reflect on how the engineering design process is used daily.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Writing

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

50 Year Energy Plan - Unit Plan

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

50 Year Energy Plan

Description:

Throughout this creative, hands-on Unit, students are challenged to scale up every Disciplinary Core Idea and Science & Engineering Practice they’ve learned - from simple electricity generation, to building their own stereo speakers and DIY electric...

Energy Content:

Electricity and Magnetism,

Electricity Generation,

Light (Visible),

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sources of Energy,

Wind Energy

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Learning Goal(s):

Explore causes and effects of climate change as related to energy production. Develop a working understanding of varying stakeholder perspectives on the causes and effects of climate change. Through hands-on exploration, build a working speaker that can connect to a cellphone. Use DIY speakers as a model to observe the process of producing electrical currents with a simple generator. Design, build and refine a wind turbine to efficiently convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Design, build and refine a system that is the most effective at converting the sunlight into electrical energy. Students develop models to study the relationship between the Earth’s atmospheric composition and the Earth’s surface temperatures using simple diagrams. Students reflect on the impact of energy sources and power production on the environment. Students utilize their knowledge of how energy generation processes impacts the environment to inform how and why they develop a 50-year Energy Plan for their local community.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Social-Emotional Learning,

Project-Based Learning,

Place-Based Learning,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Engineering Design

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Bradford Hill

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ESS2-4,

HS-ESS3-1,

HS-ESS3-2,

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-ETS1-4,

HS-PS2-5,

HS-PS3-3,

HS-PS3-5,

HS-PS4-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science,

Chemical Differences in Emergency Energy Sources

Math: Measurement,

Social Sciences: Analysis,

Social Sciences: Civics,

Social Sciences: Geography,

Social Sciences: Multicultural Studies

Estimated Activity Length:

0 sec

Unit Plan - Chemical Differences in Emergency Energy Sources

Grades:

7-8

Unit:

Description:

Students develop atomic and molecular models of energy resources, analyze combustion of various fuels and build circuits with Photovolatic (PV) modules to evaluate and suggest revisions to a disaster preparedness supply list. They then research and...

Energy Content:

Fuels,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sources of Energy,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

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Learning Goal(s):

To build empathy for people in emergency situations and an understanding of how access to energy resources can increase one’s safety, health, and comfort. To understand the nature of a variety of energy needs and how different applications have different optimal solutions. To develop models to explain the molecular and extended structures of energy resources, including how the resources change when energy is generated (Electron movement in PV cells, combustion reactions in fuel). To understand that the properties of substances depends upon the atomic / molecular structure, which changes with chemical reactions. To build a circuit that includes a solar module and measure the voltage and current. To gather and evaluate information to describe the impact on society of converting natural resources into PV cells. To design, build and test a device that uses a chemical reaction to generate or absorb thermal energy. Evaluate and revise a plan for the energy resources one should store to prepare for a natural disaster.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Empathetic Engineering,

English Language Strategies,

Multiple Learning Styles,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Project-Based Learning,

Research-Secondary,

Social-Emotional Learning,

STEAM/Arts

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Melody Childers

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-ETS1-3,

MS-ETS1-4,

MS-PS1-1,

MS-PS1-2,

MS-PS1-3,

MS-PS1-4,

MS-PS1-5,

MS-PS1-6

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,

Math: Algebra,

Solar Car Engineering Challenge

Social Sciences: Multicultural Studies

Estimated Activity Length:

0 sec

Solar Car Engineering Challenge Unit

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Description:

Students will build a solar car using instructions provided (Sol Run). They will take measurements of their car and then test to see how fast it can travel a 3m track. After students obtain their initial results they will research how to improve the car’s...

Energy Content:

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Learning Goal(s):

After the completion of this lesson students will be able to: • Describe how solar cars work • Accurately record and measure data • Use data to propose changes to experimental designs • Research a topic • Complete a full engineering assignment • Explain pros/cons of various prototypes • Work successfully within a group to accomplish a specific task • Brainstorm various ideas

Pedagogy & Practice:

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Todd Freiboth

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-ETS1-3,

MS-ETS1-4

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

40 min

Solar SPRK+ Unit Overview

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Solar SPRK+

Description:

This unit incorporates basic programming knowledge and solar energy into an engineering design challenge using Sphero SPRK+ robots. The theme for this challenge centers on the idea of Mars rovers, and the challenges faced in space exploration, specifically...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will develop tools to use in the Engineering Design Process.Students will learn drag and drop programming with Sphero Edu (formerly Lightning Lab).Students will determine how series and parallel circuits affect voltage and current.Students will understand how to use photovoltaic sources to charge a SPRK+.Students will design a chariot to carry a photovoltaic power source for a SPRK+.Students will learn to program a SPRK+ ball and chariot through a maze.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Project-Based Learning,

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Deb Frankel

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science,

Solar Panel Construction, Orientation and Use

ELA: Vocabulary Development

Estimated Activity Length:

10 hours

Solar Panel Construction, Orientation and Use Unit

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Description:

For this extended task, students will track the sun's altitude and Azimuth to determine the best position for their hand-built solar panel, learn solar cell operation basics, solar panel construction, series and parallel circuitry and basic array sizing...

Energy Content:

Electricity Generation,

Energy Fundamentals,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Modeling and data analysis

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Author:

James Mulanax

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-PS2-6,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

10 hours

Resource Type:

Instructional Resource,

Pedagogy

Source:

US Department of Energy

Published:

2017

Last Updated:

2021

Intended Grade Level:

PreK-2,

3-5,

MS,

HS,

OST,

Post Secondary

Resource Link(s):

Energy Literacy Framework

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Description:

Energy Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education is an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning about energy. The framework identifies seven Essential Principles and a set of Fundamental Concepts to support each principle. The guide does not seek to identify all areas of energy understanding, but rather to focus on those that are essential for all citizens K-Gray. It presents energy concepts that, if understood and applied, will help individuals and communities make informed energy decisions.

Location:

National

Energy Content:

Advanced Energy Careers,

Energy & Society,

Energy Equity and Justice,

Renewable Natural Gas,

Biomass Energy,

Demand Response,

Electricity and Magnetism,

Electricity Generation,

Energy Efficiency,

Energy Fundamentals,

Fuels,

Geothermal Energy,

Hydrogen,

Hydropower,

Light (Visible),

Materials Science,

Microgrids,

Next Generation Manufacturing,

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion,

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Smart Grid,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Solar Thermal,

Sound,

Sources of Energy,

Thermal Energy (Heat),

Tidal Energy,

Transportation,

Wave Energy,

Wind Energy

NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:

ESS1.B: Solar System,

ESS1.C: Earth History,

ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems,

ESS2.C: Water on Earth,

ESS2.D: Weather & Climate,

ESS3.A: Natural Resources,

ESS3.C: Human Impact,

ESS3.D: Climate Change,

LS2.B: Matter & Energy Cycles,

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics,

LS4.D: Biodiversity & Humans,

PS1.A: Matter: Structure & Properties,

PS1.B: Chemical Reactions,

PS1.C: Nuclear Processes,

PS2.A: Forces & Motion,

PS2.B: Interactions Between Forces,

PS3.A: Energy Definitions,

PS3.B: Energy Conservation & Transfer,

PS3.C: Energy & Forces,

PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes,

PS4.A: Wave Properties,

PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation,

PS4.C: Information Technologies

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Early Childhood Learning,

Establishing a Culture of Science

Other Subjects Covered:

Environmental Sciences,

Social Sciences: Analysis,

Social Sciences: Civics,

Social Sciences: Economics,

Social Sciences: Geography,

Social Sciences: History

Engineering with Renewable Energy: Solar Water Pumping

Grades:

4-5

Description:

Students will learn that energy from a renewable resource can be converted to electrical energy to do work by engineering a water pump system powered by the sun. They will compare the volume of water pumped by different designs and graph data collected and...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

The students will be able to learn what a solar cell looks like and how light energy triggers the cell to release negative charges to move toward the positive side, creating power as it moves from one side to the other. Students will be able to arrange four panels into the correct order to create power for an object and interact with a 3D model of a module to understand how the electricity to power the fan is created. The students will be able to experiment with solar panels (angle, direction) to power a small fan/LED light/circuit board. Students will be able to identify the best position/angle for maximum power. 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.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Jamie Repasky

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

4-ESS3-1

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

Resource Type:

Instructional Resource,

Phenomena,

Video,

Visualization/Simulation

Source:

PBS Digital Studios

Published:

2021

Last Updated:

2021

Intended Grade Level:

3-5,

MS,

HS,

Post Secondary

Resource Link(s):

Crash Course Engineering (Series)

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Description:

A series of dozens of videos on science and engineering concepts and applied issues, as well as dives into the history of science concepts and engineering breakthroughs. These videos are generally most useful at the high school level due to vocabulary and concepts, but many are accessible at middle and upper primary levels. These videos generally do not include critical analyses of the field and its impacts. The Crash Course Engineering series is one of dozens of Carash Course series by PBS Digital Media.

Location:

National

Energy Content:

Advanced Energy Careers,

Energy & Society,

Energy Fundamentals,

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Sources of Energy

NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:

ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems,

ESS2.D: Weather & Climate,

ESS3.A: Natural Resources,

ESS3.C: Human Impact,

PS1.A: Matter: Structure & Properties,

PS1.B: Chemical Reactions,

PS1.C: Nuclear Processes,

PS2.A: Forces & Motion,

PS2.B: Interactions Between Forces,

PS3.A: Energy Definitions,

PS3.B: Energy Conservation & Transfer,

PS3.C: Energy & Forces,

PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes,

PS4.A: Wave Properties,

PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation,

PS4.C: Information Technologies

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Career-Connected Learning,

Establishing a Culture of Science

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science,

CTE: Career & Technical Education

Solar Tracker Challenge

Grades:

5-7

Description:

Students will build a simple circuit that can be used to track a light source. This circuit will be used as a springboard for discussion into the engineering design process, solar tracking, and basic electricity and circuits. The simple solar tracker...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students observe and replicate a simple solar tracker; learn basic electric circuits and terminology; reflect on possible improvements for solar tracker; and reflect on how the engineering design process is used daily.

Pedagogy & Practice: