3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Solar Photovoltaic

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will follow step-by-step instructions to build their solar boats. They will troubleshoot as necessary by making sure electricity flows into the motor to make the vehicles move by propeller or gears. Students will determine different data points that are useful in the determining the most effective design for a solar powered boat. Students will undergo the process of redesign, noting why they made changes to particular variables on their boat and noting how these changes played out.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

Keeping it Cool With Solar

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Keeping it Cool With Solar: Reflections of an Engineer

Grades:

K-2

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is designed for one 30-minute session. Students analyze their data and reflect through video recording about how solar technology and their structures kept the ground (earth’s surface) cooler.

Energy Content:

Energy Efficiency,

Energy Fundamentals,

Light (Visible),

Solar Thermal

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will reflect on how their structure and solar technology changed the Sun’s effect on the Earth’s surface

Pedagogy & Practice:

Establishing a Culture of Science,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

2: Developing and Using Models,

Cost Effective Solar Cells

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Mark Lewin

Relevant NGSS PE:

K-PS3-1

Estimated Activity Length:

30 min

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Titanium Dioxide Solar Cell Construction and Testing

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is designed to be completed in two 80-minute sections. The teacher will show a basic procedure and video. The teacher will facilitate the construction of Organic Dye-Sensitized solar cells on coated glass plates with Titanium Dioxide. A fume...

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

Electricity and Magnetism,

Electricity Generation,

Electrons,

Energy Fundamentals,

Materials Science,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sources of Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will construct titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cellsStudents will test titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cells under various conditions

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Hands-on Materials,

Multiple Learning Styles

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

2: Developing and Using Models,

A Community Powered by Renewable Energy

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Author:

Tom Wolverton

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-PS1-2,

HS-PS2-6,

HS-PS3-3

Estimated Activity Length:

3 hours

Part 3 – Lesson 1: A Plan for Renewable Energy Goals

Grades:

6-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will utilize their home energy audits from Part 1, the information they gathered from the wind and solar assessments in Part 2, and the knowledge they gained from the solar project in Part 2 to devise a plan for your city or town to meet renewable...

Energy Content:

Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sources of Energy,

Wind Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will utilize previously acquired information about energy needs to create a renewable energy proposal for their city or town.2.Students will perform a solar energy audit on their homes and use class averages to calculate the amount of renewable energy that can be generated on residential properties.3.Students will assess where commercial and local government solar projects can occur within the city or town to meet the energy needs for non-residential consumers.4.Students will determine potential locations for larger scale wind and solar farms to augment the remaining energy needs of the community.5.Students will prepare a comprehensive renewable energy plan that totals the calculations for potential residential, commercial, and agency renewable energy generation.6.Students will prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation that summarizes their comprehensive plans that will be presented to a panel of elected officials or local experts/stakeholders.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Field Work,

Hands-on Materials,

Multiple Learning Styles,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Place-Based Learning,

Project-Based Learning,

Research-Primary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

2: Developing and Using Models,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Jonathan Strunin

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-ETS1-3,

MS-ETS1-4,

HS-ESS3-2,

HS-ESS3-4,

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-ETS1-4

Other Subjects Covered:

Environmental Sciences,

CTE: Career & Technical Education,

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Math: Geometry,

Math: Ratios & Proportions,

Social Sciences: Civics,

Social Sciences: Geography

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Setting Up the Experiment - Solar Water Heating

Grades:

4-5

Unit:

Understanding Energy

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will set up the experiment that they will use to determine the amount of energy from the sun that can be used to heat water and the variables that can help the exchange of heat most effectively. They will accomplish this through setting up simple...

Energy Content:

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will use their previous learning about observation and solar power to set up an experiment to determine the amount of heat that can be collected in water containers from the sun. Students will determine three variables that affect the jug’s absorption and trapping of energy from the sun. Students will take data measurements from these set ups in order to make evidence-based conclusions from the experiment.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Field Work,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Author:

Eric Gronseth

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-ESS3-1

Estimated Activity Length:

40 min

Collect Data and Compare Performance of Different Boat Designs

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Solar Boats

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will race the solar speedboats, airboats, and surface submarines and then compare the performance results and of the various types of solar boats made by the class. Students will compare and contrast forces acting on the system by examining the...

Energy Content:

Solar Photovoltaic

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will compare and contrast forces acting on the system by examining the results of the airboat, speedboat and surface submarine races. Students will collect quantitative and qualitative data points that denote the effectiveness of each boat design. Students will compare observations made during the race and draw conclusions from these observations.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

0 sec

Passive Solar Water Heating: Collecting and Reporting Data, Making Recommendations

Grades:

4-5

Unit:

Understanding Energy

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will explore ways that the sun can be used to heat water and the variables involved in the efficiency of using the sun to heat water for use in homes or businesses. They will determine this through taking measurements of their solar water heaters...

Energy Content:

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will identify variables related to the sun heating water such as time of exposure, air temperature, and color of container. Student groups will design and build solar water heater containers using five-gallon water jugs. Students will design containers using color, cover material, and surround as variables. Students will predict which container and location will collect the most heat from the sun.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Establishing a Culture of Science

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Eric Gronseth

Relevant NGSS PE: