ELA: Speaking & Listening

Designing a Faster Water Pump

Grades:

2-5

Unit:

Understanding Science and Engineering Through Solar Power

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students use all their prior knowledge to design and construct a water pump that can pump 1 cup of water the fastest.

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

Electrical Energy,

Solar Photovoltaic

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to use available tools to design and test a solar water pump, refine their design, test and finally evaluate their efforts. Through this process students will understand and gain experience with the engineering design process.

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,

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Mike Hellis

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

ELA: Writing,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Solar Car Challenge: Solutions Briefing

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Solar Car Challenge

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will play around with the solar car kits to familiarize themselves with the materials in preparation for the solar car engineering challenge.

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

To introduce students to the problem that this project will attempt to solve: building a solar car that will go straight, far, and fast to win a race.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Group Work/Collaboration

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Karen Nelson

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ESS3-3,

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-2,