Teacher Activity Center

Part 1- Lesson 3: Home Energy Audit

Grades:

6-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

During this lesson, students will focus on where energy is used within their homes, how energy consumption is calculated, and how energy consumption can be reduced. Students will conduct a home energy audit and determine multiple ways to reduce energy...

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

Demand Response,

Electrical Energy,

Electronics,

Electrons,

Energy Efficiency,

Smart Grid

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will identify all ways that energy is consumed within their homes.2.Students will perform an energy audit of their home and calculate the amount of energy used by each electronic device and appliances.3.Students will create a spreadsheet demonstrating the electricity required to operate each electronic device and appliance, along with a summary of finding that clearly identifies how energy consumption can be reduced within their home.4.Students will explore various ways to reduce energy (goal is 30% reduction).5.Students will propose a variety of energy reduction plans and present those options to their families for discussion.6.After discussion with their families, students will itemize the agreed upon plan and identify specific actions that result in quantifiable outcomes that will implemented to reduce energy consumption by their families.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Empathetic Engineering,

Engineering Design,

Field Work,

Hands-on Materials,

Multiple Learning Styles,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Place-Based Learning,

Project-Based Learning,

Research-Primary

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,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Jonathan Strunin

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ESS3-4,

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-ETS1-3,

HS-ESS3-2,

HS-ESS3-4,

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-ETS1-4

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Functions,

Math: Measurement,

Math: Ratios & Proportions

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Making the Standard Solar Heater

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Experimenting with Solar Heaters

Lesson Number:

Description:

In part one of the activity students will be asked to create a simple solar heater, measure the temperature change in a vial of water, then calculate the heat energy transferred to a vial of water. Students will construct the solar heater, place a set...

Energy Content:

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students will learn that sunlight energy can be transformed into other forms of energy and that the amount of sunlight energy captured by an object can be quantified and measured.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials,

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

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

Author:

Nathan Franck

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS1-4,

MS-PS3-5,

MS-PS4-2

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Writing,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Functions,

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Manipulating Design Variables on Solar Heaters

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Experimenting with Solar Heaters

Lesson Number:

Description:

Part 2 builds on part 1, asking students to design a solar heater that more effectively collects solar energy. Students are provided with various building supplies and are asked to change one variable from the standard to construct a new, more effective...

Energy Content:

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

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:

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,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

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: Speaking & Listening,

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Functions,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Measuring Voltage Using a Microcontroller

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Robotic Sunflower

Lesson Number:

Description:

In this lesson students will be introduced to series circuits, resistors, a photoresistor and a microcontroller. There’s a lot here, but it boils down to making a voltage divider circuit and measuring the voltage at different points. A second circuit...

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

Electrical Energy,

Electronics

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will apply Ohm’s Law. Students will use a multimeter to measure current, voltage, and resistance. Students will use a breadboard to set up a series circuit. Students will read circuit diagrams. Students will calculate times for an RC circuit to change state. Students will prove that resistors in series have an equivalent resistance equal to their individual sums. Students will program the Basic Stamp to measure voltage levels in a voltage divider and RC circuit.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-1,