Teacher Activity Center

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will document necessary terms in their journals 2. Students will be able to set up a multimeter to measure voltage 3. Students will be able to set up a multimeter to measure current 4. Students will be able to calculate power from data collected 5. Students should be able to measure the collector area of a solar module (area of solar cell(s) within solar module) and represent this value in square meters (m^2)

Pedagogy & Practice:

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials,

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Brett McFarland

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-3,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-PS3-1,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,

ELA: Writing,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Three Ways to Generate Electricity

Grades:

7-8

Unit:

Solar vs. Wind Energy

Lesson Number:

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,

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,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Craig Marais

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS2-4

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Writing,

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Estimated Activity Length:

3 hours

Constructing a Solar-Powered MintyBoost USB Charger

Grades:

6-8

Description:

Students will receive a background on solar energy, solar energy applications, and electrical circuit components. Students will then apply these concepts to a Home Energy Consumption worksheet and the construction of a Solar Module MintyBoost USB Charger,...

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

Electrical Energy,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will gain a background on solar energy and be able to apply terms such as solar modules, photovoltaics, and solar power. Students will gain a background on electrical circuit components and be able to apply terms such as capacitor, resistor, diode, alternating and direct current, amps, inductor, volts, and watts. Through the completion of the Home Energy Consumption worksheet, students will determine their family’s monthly energy consumption and calculate the monthly dollar cost for household items such as light bulbs, game consoles, and televisions. Students will demonstrate their understanding of solar energy and electrical circuits through the construction of a Solar Module MintyBoost USB Charger and a presentation of their own unique product that utilizes the solar charger.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Hands-on Materials,

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Deb Frankel

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-LS2-5,

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-PS1-3,

MS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Speaking & Listening

Estimated Activity Length:

10 hours

Circuit Analysis With Solar Energy: Measure the Power Consumed by Various Devices

Grades:

6-12

Description:

Students will set up a simple circuit using a solar module and three small loads. They will then use a multimeter to measure the voltage across each load and the current through each circuit. Students will then calculate the power consumption and...

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

Electrical Energy,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand that voltage is a measure of a difference in electric potential energy and that current is the rate at which charge flows through a circuit. Students will understand how to measure and quantify electricity. Students will become familiar with the relationships between the fundamental electrical quantities.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Emily Barrett

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

HS-PS3-1,

HS-PS3-2,

HS-PS3-5

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Using a Multimeter to Analyze a Solar Circuit: Measuring Current and Voltage—Calculating Power and Resistance

Grades:

6-12

Description:

Students will set up a simple circuit using a multimeter and a load resistor to measure the voltage and current in the circuit. Students will learn to use a multimeter, learn how to calculate power and be introduced to Ohm’s Law. This activity provides a...

Energy Content:

Electrical Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand that voltage is a measure of a difference in electric potential energy and that current is the rate at which charge flows through a circuit.Students will understand how to measure and quantify electricity. Students will become familiar with the relationships between the fundamental electrical quantities.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Emily Barrett

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

HS-PS3-1,

HS-PS3-2,

HS-PS3-5

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,