Solar Circuit

How Light Intensity Affects Solar Cell Output

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
PV Output
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

Students will expose solar cells to a light source from different distances and measure the output with a multimeter. They will compare and contrast the outputs that the different distances produce.

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 light intensity 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

Solar Cars Science Investigation

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Cars
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

Students will design a science investigation to test solar car with a pulley or with a variety of gear sizes. In the previous lesson, they were introduced to the different types of systems that can be employed on their car. In this lesson they will use...

Energy Content:
Potential & Kinetic Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will design an investigation to test solar vehicles. They will determine which particular materials they will use in the testing of their chosen format. Students will allow for redesign to take place by determining variables that can be manipulated in a measurable format. Students will determine data that will be useful to collect in the testing of their vehicle design.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
2: Developing and Using Models,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Energy Transformations

What is Energy Transfer?

Grades:
4-6
Unit:
Solar Boats
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

Students will continue to build an understanding of the fundamentals of energy through observing and describing a variety of energy transformations and build on their foundational vocabulary for identifying and discussing energy concepts. In this stage of...

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Potential & Kinetic Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sound,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will obtain the foundational knowledge of energy sources and forms of energy. In addition, students will learn that energy can transfer from one form to another. Students will be able to match images of energy transformations to their respected vocabulary.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Hands-on Materials,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Author:
Carol Patrick
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Checklist

Solar Ovens: Frontload Vocab. And Preview Standards

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

Vocabulary and standards will be reviewed throughout all of the lessons, but this day is dedicated to front loading the vocabulary and previewing the standards. Students will use their energy workbook to keep track of vocabulary from this point forward...

Energy Content:
Potential & Kinetic Energy,
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will preview vocabulary and standards in order to better comprehend future lessons.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Multilingual Strategies
Author:
Debbie Abel
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:
50 min
Earth Sun

The Amazing Cardboard Cook-O-Matic

Grades:
3-5
Unit:
Cooking with the Sun and Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the students to the concept of solar ovens and cooking with energy from the sun.

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
At the end of this lesson students will understand that the sun can be used to cook food. They will also be introduced to the basic components required to build a successful solar oven.
Pedagogy & Practice:
STEAM/Arts
Author:
Lisa Morgan
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
5-ESS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Sun in Space

Our Place in Space: Cosmic Ray Detector

Grades:
3-5
Unit:
Our Place in Space
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

The students will be introduced to solar radiation with an activity centered on using a cloud chamber to visualize cosmic rays.

Energy Content:
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
• Students will discuss how energy from the sun is transmitted in a variety of forms that perform different amounts of work. • Students will identify multiple pieces of evidence that demonstrate energy being transmitted from the sun.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Jamie Repasky
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Energy Transformations

Probes of Prior Knowledge

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

Teacher will administer worksheet probes (formative assessments) of students’ prior knowledge about “making electricity” and “things that run on electricity.”

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Sources of Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will be able to identify the different ways that electrical energy (electricity) is transformed (generated) and identify different everyday items that use electricity.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Multiple Learning Styles
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Mike Hellis
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-ESS3-1,
5-ESS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Sources of Energy

Energy Research Project

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding Energy
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

Students will build on their knowledge of renewable and non-renewable energy (third grade standards). Students will learn that all electricity production has impact on the earth. The class will do a compare/contrast activity of a renewable and a non-...

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:
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-ESS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Solar Car Student

Solar Car Challenge: Background Research on Car Design

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Solar Car Challenge
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

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

Energy Content:
Solar Photovoltaic
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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,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Research-Secondary
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,
MS-ETS1-3,
MS-ETS1-4
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Kill-A-Watt_Meter

How much energy do YOU use?

Grades:
7-8
Unit:
Solar vs. Wind Energy
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

Students will learn the difference between energy and power. They will then use this new understanding to compare the energy and power difference of light bulbs (incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and LED) using a tool called a “Kill-A-Watt” meter....

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will be able to: • Explain the difference between power and energy • Proficiently use a “Kill-A-Watt” meter to determine the power and total energy usage of everyday devices • Compare the total energy used by common household devices • Brainstorm different ways we can conserve electrical energy
Pedagogy & Practice:
Field Work,
Hands-on Materials,
Research-Primary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Craig Marais
Relevant NGSS PE:
MS-ESS3-3,
MS-PS3-3
Other Subjects Covered:
Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,
Math: Algebra,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
0 sec

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