Earth Sun

Saving Lives with Solar Ovens

Grades:
3-5
Unit:
Cooking with the Sun and Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

Students will be introduced to Solar Cookers International. Students will learn about different solar cooker designs and how they function. Students will learn the pros and cons on the use of solar ovens in developing countries. Students will gain an...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn about different solar cooker designs and how they function. Students will learn the customs, jobs, food and clothing of people in different countries of Africa.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Empathetic Engineering,
Engineering Design,
Multiple Learning Styles,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction,
Research-Secondary,
Social-Emotional Learning,
STEAM/Arts
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Lisa Morgan
Relevant NGSS PE:
3-ESS2-1,
3-ESS2-2,
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2,
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Reading: Literature,
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Writing,
Social Sciences: Multicultural Studies
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Solar Charger Diagram

Designing a Solar Charger

Grades:
10-12
Unit:
Solar Transportation
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

In this lesson, students will further explore the potential and challenges related to using photovoltaics to supplement the power needed to charge batteries in BEVs. Students will be provided with a 12 V lead-acid battery and several 3 V, 1.5 A solar...

Energy Content:
Batteries & Storage,
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Transportation
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students will explore the role of series and parallel wiring as they pertain to voltage and amperage. 2. Students will explore the processes involved with charging batteries and relate these processes to voltage and amperage. 3. Students will test photovoltaic modules to identify voltage and amperage outputs. 4. Students will design a system of wiring 3 V, 1.5 A modules together as a means to charge a 12 V lead-acid battery 5. Students will predict and test the effectiveness of their designed solar charger.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
2: Developing and Using Models,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Clayton Hudiburg
Relevant NGSS PE:
HS-ESS3-2,
HS-ESS3-4,
HS-ETS1-1,
HS-ETS1-2,
HS-ETS1-3,
HS-PS3-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Writing,
Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours
Kidwind Small Water Pump

Exploring Solar Powered Water Pumps

Grades:
3-5
Unit:
Introducing Solar Energy
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

Students explore with a solar cell and a pump to discover how to make the pump run. They will hypothesize and informally test whether they can make the pump run faster or slower.

Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will make observations about how a solar cell needs to be set up to push water through a pump and hypothesize about how energy is changing form as the pump runs.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Leah Gorman
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Checklist

Home Energy Survey

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding Energy
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

Students will learn how to determine what sources of energy are used in their home. They will determine types of energy used in their home through observation and interviews. This will be documented through a home energy survey sheet that students will...

Energy Content:
Sources of Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will be able to describe the basic principles of various forms of energy and write a detailed description of one of those forms of energy. This written product will include common uses of this form of energy, costs, and basic advantages and disadvantages of using this form of energy.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Field Work,
Research-Primary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-ESS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Solar Mobile

Light Source Efficiency: Exploring Irradiance

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Solar Mobile Design Challenge
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

This lesson explores the concept of irradiance by having students use a Vernier Pryanometer. Using the “Light Source Efficiency” worksheet to guide their work, students measure irradiance as compared to the Sun’s irradiance to see what would be the best...

Energy Content:
Light (Visible),
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Using a Vernier Pyranometer, students will measure electromagnetic radiation in watts per square meter (W/m2 ). Students will compare Sunlight irradiance with various indoor lighting options. Students will make a recommendation as to the optimum indoor lighting for powering solar panels. 
Pedagogy & Practice:
Field Work,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
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,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Kristy Schneider
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Writing,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Magnetic Field Filings

Three Ways to Generate Electricity

Grades:
7-8
Unit:
Solar vs. Wind Energy
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

This lesson gives students hands-on experiences with the attraction and repulsion of magnets including experiments with how the strength of attraction and repulsion varies with distance. Students see how magnets are used in motors but also in electric...

Energy Content:
Electricity and Magnetism,
Electricity Generation,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will be able to: • Detect the relative strength of magnetic fields at different distances from a magnet • Explain the energy transformations occurring in each part of a circuit • Identify three different methods for generating electricity
Pedagogy & Practice:
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Craig Marais
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-PS2-3,
MS-PS2-4
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours

Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Cars
Lesson Number:
5
Description:

Students have performed the investigation and will now analyze their data. They will accomplish this through a journaling activity that requires them to use the data collected from the actual races. The will refer to sentence frames in order to make...

Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will determine how differences between solar cars affected their functionality. Students will make claims based off of quantitative and qualitative data. Students will engage in scientific talk based off of their own observations when constructing and testing solar cars. Students will complete a journaling activity that outlines their processes relating to making conclusions.
Pedagogy & Practice:
English Language Strategies,
Engineering Design,
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,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
5-PS2-1,
5-PS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour

Using Multiple Solar Modules

Grades:
3-5
Unit:
Introducing Solar Energy
Lesson Number:
5
Description:

Students first explore with 0.5 Volt solar cells to see whether adding cells to a circuit increases the amount of water pumped by a small pump. They are introduced to parallel and series wiring. They then design and carry out a formal experiment to test...

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will apply scientific ideas to design and test a solar powered water pump that moves water at the fastest rate. Students will experiment and build understanding of parallel and series wiring and how energy moves in these circuits. Students will record data accurately into a table.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
2: Developing and Using Models,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Leah Gorman
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Solar Mobile

Solar Mobile Design Challenge - Construction

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Solar Mobile Design Challenge
Lesson Number:
5
Description:

This is the culminating hands-on project for the Solar Mobile Design Challenge Lessons, with construction aligned to an engineering design process. Students start by Restating the Design Problem that was introduced to them in the beginning of the Unit....

Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Materials Science,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students brainstorm ideas and share with their group.Students draw and label Solar Mobile designs in Engineering Notebooks. Students research an aircraft to trace (if this was not accomplished in the Center of Gravity lesson) and trace the aircraft outline onto foam board. Students construct a solar circuit to power motors and propellers on a foam board aircraft and test multiple times before adding to the solar mobile stand. Students construct solar mobile stand and add their aircraft to a dowel attached to the central hub. Students work with a partner to balance each aircraft onto the mobile. Students test the mobile speed outside (depending on weather) and compare to speed under indoor light stands. After initial testing, students redesign circuits or mobile construction to optimize design. Students use hand-held devices to film their moving Mobiles to judge the machine’s speed. Students demonstrate how their Solar Mobile works and justify in writing why their mobile should be chosen for the Children’s Technology Museum. 
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
STEAM/Arts
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
2: Developing and Using Models,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Kristy Schneider
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
6 hours
US DOE WInd Turbines

Variables Affecting Wind Turbine Power

Grades:
7-8
Unit:
Solar vs. Wind Energy
Lesson Number:
5
Description:

Now that students are familiar with how mechanical electricity generation works, they will build a wind turbine powered by a box fan. Different teams will test different turbine variables to see how the amount of electrical power is affected. After each...

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
• Students will be able to identify and explain at least three variables that affect the efficiency of wind turbines • Students will conduct a scientific investigation to determine which wind turbine configuration will generate the most power
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Craig Marais
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-ETS1-2,
MS-PS3-1,
MS-PS3-4
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours

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