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

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Intended Grade Level(s):
4-5
Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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.

Unit:
Understanding Energy
Lesson Number:
9
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 30 min
Relevant Common Core Standard(s):
4.W.2
Files Associated with this Activity:
PDF icon lesson9.pdf
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 over an extended period of time, tracking data correlating to the specific variable-components that they identified in the previous lesson. They will complete this activity by writing a short essay about the potential for the usage of solar energy on a larger scale for water heating and other applications. 

Other Material(s) Used:
Solar energy spiral notebook, plastic 5-gallon jugs, probe thermometers