Wave Attenuator

Building a Tidal Wave Attenuator

Grades:
6-12
Unit:
Wave Attenuator
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

This lesson is designed to build upon investigations of electromagnetic energy by applying these phenomena to transfer the kinetic energy moving in waves to electricity by building a wave attenuator.

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Electricity and Magnetism,
Electricity Generation,
Tidal Energy,
Wave Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students will describe and model the energy transfer and transformation in a wave attenuator. 2. Students will build a wave attenuator using a diagram and selected materials. 3. Students will test the model wave attenuator they built.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
2: Developing and Using Models,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Tabatha Roderick
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-ESS3-3,
MS-ETS1-1,
MS-ETS1-4,
MS-PS2-4,
MS-PS3-5
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours

Keeping it Cool With Solar: Making Shade

Grades:
K-2
Unit:
Keeping it Cool With Solar
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

This lesson is designed for one 30-minute session. After reviewing the hot/cool playground spots from Lesson 1, Students will be asked, “On a hot day, which materials might keep the ground the coolest?”. Students will be given tissue paper, photocopy...

Energy Content:
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students will analyze the effect of different types and colors of paper have when placed in the path of sunlight.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Early Childhood Learning,
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
2: Developing and Using Models,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
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
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
30 min

Creating the Most Effective Solar Heater

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Experimenting with Solar Heaters
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

This part can be staged as a competition or simply a personal challenge to beat the standard solar heater created in part 1. During this stage of the lesson students are asked to analyze data and results from part 2 and identify which characteristics of a...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
In this activity students demonstrate the ability to evaluate competing solutions to the problem of increasing the heat energy transferred to a vial of water.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Nathan Franck
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-ETS1-1,
MS-ETS1-2,
MS-ETS1-3,
MS-PS3-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,
Math: Algebra,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Solar Circuit

How Tilt Angle Affects Solar Cell Output

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
PV Output
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

Students will expose solar cells to a light source from a set distance and measure the output with a multimeter. Students will change the angle that the light source strikes the solar panel and measure the resultant output. They will compare and contrast...

Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Light (Visible),
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
After the completion of this lab, students will be able to describe how the angle of light exposure affects solar cell output, have practiced using a multimeter, and have analyzed collected data.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Todd Freiboth
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min

Build Solar Cars

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Cars
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

Students will build their solar vehicles. There are many options for them to do this, depending on the specific variables hoping to be tested following the construction and material-selection process. Students will be given the opportunity to try out...

Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will construct a geared solar car, a pulley-system solar car, or both. Students will make verbal predictions about the outcomes and viabilities of different types of solar cars. Students will pinpoint the independent, dependent, and control variables in their solar car testing process.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Foil Barge

What is Force?

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Boats
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

Students will build a barge out of tin foil and describe the forces acting it. The barge itself is designed only with the constraints that passengers within the barge will not get wet, allowing for students to experiment with different shapes and...

Energy Content:
Energy Fundamentals,
Potential & Kinetic Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will identify the Laws of Motion and learn about the forces acting on the system. There are multiple forces acting on a boat, some of these forces include, acceleration, friction, gravity and thrust.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
2: Developing and Using Models,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Carol Patrick
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: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Design a 50 Year Energy Plan

Scaling up to Power Production: Let’s Engineer a Wind Turbine

Grades:
9-12
Unit:
50 Year Energy Plan
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

After working through Lessons 1 and 2 of this Unit, students are now familiar with the physics of how generators work. The next step in Lesson 3 is to investigate how existing power generation systems operate and supply electricity to entire geographic...

Energy Content:
Batteries & Storage,
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Design, build, and refine a wind turbine in order to effectively and efficiently convert motion into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy 
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Bradford Hill
Relevant NGSS PE:
HS-PS3-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
Math: Graphing & Representation
Estimated Activity Length:
5 hours
Solar Calculator

Solar Powered Calculator

Grades:
2-5
Unit:
Understanding Science and Engineering Through Solar Power
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

The teacher will show an example of a solar powered device using a solar powered calculator.

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Energy Fundamentals,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
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.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Mike Hellis
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
0 sec
WindMaterials_DSCN2143.jpg

Wind Power: A Hands on Experience

Grades:
3-8
Unit:
Solar Updraft Towers
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

This lesson challenges students to work in teams to design successful turbine blades for the “KidWind Firefly”. The firefly has an LED light that lights up when the students have designed turbine blades that spin effectively. This lesson provides students...

Energy Content:
Electricity Generation,
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will understand that wind energy can be converted into other forms of energy.Students will determine different methods to increase the effectiveness of a wind turbine blade at harnessing and converting the mechanical energy of the wind.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Lisa Morgan
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-3,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2,
3-5-ETS1-3
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Wave Attenuator

Testing a Tidal Wave Attenuator

Grades:
6-12
Unit:
Wave Attenuator
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

Students will test the efficiency of the tidal wave attenuator models that they previously built. They will determine variables on their models they can manipulate, such as wire gauge and magnet strength, and measure the effects of manipulating this...

Energy Content:
Wave Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students will investigate variables that may affect the output of an energy conversion device (wave attenuator). 2. Students will interpret data to identify which variables increase electrical output for these model wave attenuators. 3. Students will communicate results from scientific inquiry to identify factors that are important to optimizing the design of a wave attenuator.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Tabatha Roderick
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-ESS3-3,
MS-ETS1-1,
MS-ETS1-4,
MS-PS2-4,
MS-PS3-5
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Writing,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
5 hours

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