2: Developing and Using Models

Solar Photovoltaic

More Details Less Details

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.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Beverly Satterwhite

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Writing,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Keeping it Cool With Solar

Estimated Activity Length:

8 hours

Keeping it Cool With Solar Unit Plan

Grades:

K-2

Unit:

Description:

Keeping It Cool With Solar unit asks the question: “How might we design a structure that will keep us cool on a hot day?” As an anchoring phenomenon, students will be shown a time-lapse video of an ice cube melting, and a second phenomenon of a solar...

Energy Content:

Energy Efficiency,

Energy Fundamentals,

Light (Visible),

Solar Thermal

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface. Students will plan and conduct investigations to determine whether structures made with various materials will keep objects cool when placed in a beam of light. Students will analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem in order to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs. Students will analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for keeping an object cool. Students will test if solar panels and solar energy can help cool down their structure.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Early Childhood Learning,

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Mark Lewin

Relevant NGSS PE:

K-PS3-1

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Speaking & Listening

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Solar Battery Charging

Grades:

7-12

Unit:

Solar Battery Charging

Description:

Students will become familiar with circuits, cells, batteries, and photovoltaic cells, then plan, build, test, modify, and re-test a small solar battery charger designed to maintain batteries from a particular device.

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Electricity Generation,

Solar Photovoltaic

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will build series, parallel, and parallel series circuits from a schematic diagram. Students will master the basic concept of battery charging. Students will be able to plan and build solar battery chargers for a given battery system. Intermediate students will calculate time to charge a depleted battery to its full capacity given specifications of a solar module. Students will be able to explain how a solar cell works with diagrams and words. Students will use a digital multi-meter to measure voltage, current, resistance, and diode polarity.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Luke Robbins

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-1,

HS-ESS3-4,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Algebra,

Cost Effective Solar Cells

Estimated Activity Length:

9 hours

Cost Effective Solar Cells Unit Plan

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Description:

Through a series of solar panel and solar cell construction activities, students will learn the basic principles of energy conversion from light energy to chemical & electrical energy. Students will assemble and test pre-constructed solar panels to...

Energy Content:

Electricity and Magnetism,

Electronics,

Light (Visible),

Solar Photovoltaic

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will discuss social, cultural, and economic implications of sustainable solar energy.Students will construct and test solar panel arrays to power LED lights, fan motors, and music playersStudents will review circuitry basics and solar cell layersStudents will analyze and share out power generation results with classmatesStudents will construct and test an oxidized copper sheet solar cellStudents will share and analyze oxidized copper sheet solar cell dataStudents will construct and test titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cellsStudents will collect and analyze titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cell data.Students will discuss results and draw conclusions about variables that may affect power generationStudents will visit a solar cell or silicon manufacturing facility and/or engage with guest speakers. Students will learn more detailed solar cell principles and manufacturing techniques involved in solar cell constructionStudents will research chemicals, materials and procedures for their own solar cell designsStudents will build and present models of their proposed solar cellsStudents will construct and test unique solar cellsStudents will present construction progress and project obstaclesStudents will format solar cell data, draw conclusions, and construct an engineering report as a research poster

Pedagogy & Practice:

Multiple Learning Styles,

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

Experimenting with Solar Heaters

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Tom Wolverton

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-ETS1-4,

HS-PS1-2,

HS-PS2-6,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Environmental Sciences,

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical

Estimated Activity Length:

10 hours

Making the Standard Solar Heater

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

In part one of the activity students will be asked to create a simple solar heater, measure the temperature change in a vial of water, then calculate the heat energy transferred to a vial of water. Students will construct the solar heater, place a set...

Energy Content:

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students will learn that sunlight energy can be transformed into other forms of energy and that the amount of sunlight energy captured by an object can be quantified and measured.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Nathan Franck

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS1-4,

MS-PS3-5,

MS-PS4-2

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Writing,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Functions,

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Introduction to Electromagnetism

Grades:

6-12

Unit:

Wave Attenuator

Lesson Number:

Description:

Through a series of goal-oriented activities and research, students will build physical models that demonstrate the interactions between magnetism and magnetic fields as well as interactions between magnetism and electric fields. Students will be...

Energy Content:

Electricity and Magnetism

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will demonstrate energy transfer through space using electromagnetic phenomena. 2. Students will design a model that demonstrates that a current-carrying wire can induce magnetism. 3. Students will define and build an electromagnet. 4. Students will demonstrate electromagnetic induction.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Tabatha Roderick

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ESS3-3,

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-4,

MS-PS2-4,

MS-PS2-5,

MS-PS3-5

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text,

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

ELA: Writing

Estimated Activity Length:

3 hours

Measuring Voltage Using a Microcontroller

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Robotic Sunflower

Lesson Number:

Description:

In this lesson students will be introduced to series circuits, resistors, a photoresistor and a microcontroller. There’s a lot here, but it boils down to making a voltage divider circuit and measuring the voltage at different points. A second circuit...

Energy Content:

Electronics

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will apply Ohm’s Law. Students will use a multimeter to measure current, voltage, and resistance. Students will use a breadboard to set up a series circuit. Students will read circuit diagrams. Students will calculate times for an RC circuit to change state. Students will prove that resistors in series have an equivalent resistance equal to their individual sums. Students will program the Basic Stamp to measure voltage levels in a voltage divider and RC circuit.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-PS3-1,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Functions,

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

Introducing Power Production and Impacts of Climate Change

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

50 Year Energy Plan

Lesson Number:

Description:

In the first part of this activity, students participate in a role play activity – understanding the needs of different people living and working around the world. Each character express their unique perspective on climate change and impacts to their...

Energy Content:

Sources of Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Explore the causes and effects of climate change as related to energy production.2. Develop a working understanding of varying stakeholder perspectives on the causes and effects of climate change.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Research-Secondary,

Social-Emotional Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Understanding E-Waste Through Battery Design

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Bradford Hill

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ESS3-1

Other Subjects Covered:

Social Sciences: Civics,

Social Sciences: Geography,

Social Sciences: Multicultural Studies

Estimated Activity Length:

3 hours

How might we design a battery that reduces e-waste? Phenomenon and Exploration

Grades:

4-5

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

During this introduction lesson series students will explore the guiding phenomenon to understand e-waste and connect it to battery design. Students will utilize online resources to learn about problems from e-waste around the world and the environmental...

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Electricity Generation,

Electronics,

Electrons,

Energy Fundamentals,

Fuels,

Hydrogen,

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Wind Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will learn about the phenomenon of e-waste through online resources to explore the history of electronics.2.Students will ask questions and define problems involving the environmental impact of electronics and human impact.3.Students will evaluate and obtain information about electronic waste from online resources such as news articles and videos.4.Students will learn (or review) knowledge of circuits to design a model and explain how a circuit works.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

Adrift in a Sea of Plastic

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Jonathan Strunin

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

4-ESS3-1,

5-ESS3-1,

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Environmental Sciences,

ELA: Informational Text,

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Math: Measurement,

Social Sciences: Analysis

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

TinkerCAD: Introduction to 3D Printing

Grades:

5-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is designed to span 5 days with 50-minute sections. After the introduction day, each day the students work toward mastery on the TinkerCAD tutorial online to learn how to create printable 3D models. At the end of the 4 days the students will...

Energy Content:

Next Generation Manufacturing

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will complete several computer aligned design tutorials, lessons, and one project to fully understand and implement unique 3D printed designs.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Multiple Learning Styles,

STEAM/Arts

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices: