To see descriptions of all available curriculum by grade level, click here. To download a PDF of all available units, click here.

Solar Updraft

Let's Build Our Wind and Solar Energy Toy

Grades:
3-8
Unit:
Solar Updraft Towers
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

Students will combine what they learned in previous lessons using their investigations of convection-related phenomena to design a device that will convert light energy from the sun into thermal energy and utilize the resulting convection currents. Their...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat),
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will determine that thermal energy resulting from the sun’s radiation can create an updraft that will power a turbine to spin.                                                Students will identify characteristics of turbine design that improve the success of their device.Students will utilize content from previous phenomena they investigated, such as the chimney stack effect and Norwegian candle toys, to determine how to best harness the energy transformed by their device from the sun.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Lisa Morgan
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-3,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2,
3-5-ETS1-3
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Solar Updraft Tower

Learning About Solar Updraft Towers

Grades:
3-8
Unit:
Solar Updraft Towers
Lesson Number:
5
Description:

This lesson helps students learn about solar updraft towers being planned and built around the world to help solve the energy crisis by using unlimited power from the sun. This will provide real world context to the engineering challenge they engaged in...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy,
Thermal Energy (Heat),
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will be able to define and explain what a solar updraft tower is.Students will make connections between their previous engineering challenge and a real world solution to the world’s growing energy demands, including careers.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Lisa Morgan
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-3,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1,
4-ESS3-2,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2,
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening
Estimated Activity Length:
0 sec

How might we design a battery that reduces e-waste? Phenomenon and Exploration

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding E-Waste Through Battery Design
Lesson Number:
1
Description:

During this introduction lesson series students will explore the guiding phenomenon to understand e-waste and connect it to battery design. Students will utilize online resources to learn about problems from e-waste around the world and the environmental...

Energy Content:
Batteries & Storage,
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Electronics,
Electrons,
Energy Fundamentals,
Fuels,
Hydrogen,
Potential & Kinetic Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1.Students will learn about the phenomenon of e-waste through online resources to explore the history of electronics.2.Students will ask questions and define problems involving the environmental impact of electronics and human impact.3.Students will evaluate and obtain information about electronic waste from online resources such as news articles and videos.4.Students will learn (or review) knowledge of circuits to design a model and explain how a circuit works.
Pedagogy & Practice:
21st Century Skills Development,
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction,
Project-Based Learning,
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
2: Developing and Using Models,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Jonathan Strunin
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1,
5-ESS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2,
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
Environmental Sciences,
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement,
Social Sciences: Analysis
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours

Exploring Eco-Friendly Battery Design

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding E-Waste Through Battery Design
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

In this lesson students will experiment with everyday household items to make batteries. Students will use lemons, potatoes, pennies, and cola to make batteries, and compare the amount of voltage produced. These lessons can be expanded to test a variety of...

Energy Content:
Batteries & Storage,
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Electrons,
Energy Fundamentals,
Hydrogen,
Materials Science,
Potential & Kinetic Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1.Students will explore methods to produce energy from everyday items such as potatoes, lemons, pennies, and cola.2.Students will explore battery design and transfer of energy through hands on experiments with household items.3.Students will measure voltage and experiment methods to increase voltage. 4.Students will extend lessons to test out a variety of other materials such as varieties of fruits, vegetables, and sodas to compare different voltage produced. 5.Students will collect and record data from all their experiments to compare the different voltage produced. 6.Students will display data in charts or graphs to analyze the outcomes of their experiments. 
Pedagogy & Practice:
21st Century Skills Development,
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction,
Project-Based Learning
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
2: Developing and Using Models,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Author:
Jonathan Strunin
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1,
5-ESS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2,
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours

Unit Plan: Understand E-Waste Through Battery Design

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding E-Waste Through Battery Design
Description:

In this lesson students will further explore their understanding of energy, electricity, and basic circuits. Students will begin their exploration of batteries by questioning where batteries end up when we are done using them, making connections to e-waste...

Energy Content:
Batteries & Storage,
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Electronics,
Electrons,
Fuels,
Hydrogen,
Potential & Kinetic Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sources of Energy,
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1.Students will make connections to real world problem solving with e-waste.2.Students will explore battery design and transfer of energy through hands on experiments with household items.3.Students will evaluate and analyze problems with e-waste and research solutions.4.Students will draw and label models to explain circuits demonstrating the movement of energy.5.Students will be able to explain how the measured and compared batteries based on the knowledge learned about volts and using a voltmeter.
Pedagogy & Practice:
21st Century Skills Development,
English Language Strategies,
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction,
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
2: Developing and Using Models,
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:
Jonathan Strunin
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1,
5-ESS3-1,
3-5-ETS1-1,
3-5-ETS1-2,
3-5-ETS1-3
Other Subjects Covered:
Environmental Sciences,
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,
ELA: Vocabulary Development,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement,
Social Sciences: Analysis
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Sources of Energy

Brainstorm Energy Source

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding Energy
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

Students will individually brainstorm sources of energy. This process will take place on both an individual and on a group level, allowing for students to share ideas about their perceptions of energy. On a sheet of paper, students will write or draw...

Energy Content:
Energy Fundamentals,
Sources of Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will begin to think about various appliances and items that they use and the energy that those items consume. Students will brainstorm ideas of energy sources without worrying about right and wrong answers. Students will create a visual reference for different types of energy resources with their classmates.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Group Work/Collaboration
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-ESS3-1
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Sun

Solar Energy Basics

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

Students will learn the basics of solar power and the difference between photovoltaic solar power and passive solar power. They will also learn the pros and cons of solar power and be able to describe the advantages and disadvantages of using solar power...

Energy Content:
Solar Photovoltaic,
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will be able to describe the basic principles of solar power and list advantages and disadvantages of using solar power. Students will be able to distinguish between passive solar and photovoltaic solar power. Students will be able to determine what data from a solar array represents. Students will be able to determine the cause of energy generation trends when observed over longer periods of time.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Research-Primary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-ESS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
Math: Graphing & Representation
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Kill-a-Watt Meter

Home Energy Use

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding Energy
Lesson Number:
6
Description:

This lesson is meant to provide students the opportunity to learn about the power usage of items in their home that they are already curious about. Students will learn to use a Watt meter to measure the amount of electricity various electric appliances in...

Energy Content:
Electrical Energy,
Energy Efficiency
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will make observations and record about the amount of energy used by various appliances in their home. Students will make conclusions about which items in their home are generating the most energy. Students will make conclusions about methods in which they can reduce the energy used in their homes.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Field Work,
Hands-on Materials,
Research-Primary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-ESS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Vocabulary Development,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min

Observing and Keeping Records

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding Energy
Lesson Number:
7
Description:

Students will review basic scientific observation methods and the importance of keeping and reporting accurate observations. Teacher will discuss with students the different types of variables that they can use in order to gather data and make conclusions...

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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will review scientific observations methods learned earlier and the application of those methods for the solar energy unit. Students will practice observations and data recording. Students will explain the importance of selecting useful variables from which they can collect data. Students will be prepared to implement an experiment in the classroom that they can draw conclusions from.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Establishing a Culture of Science
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-ESS3-1
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Solar Water Heating Experiment

Setting Up the Experiment - Solar Water Heating

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Understanding Energy
Lesson Number:
8
Description:

Students will set up the experiment that they will use to determine the amount of energy from the sun that can be used to heat water and the variables that can help the exchange of heat most effectively. They will accomplish this through setting up simple...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will use their previous learning about observation and solar power to set up an experiment to determine the amount of heat that can be collected in water containers from the sun. Students will determine three variables that affect the jug’s absorption and trapping of energy from the sun. Students will take data measurements from these set ups in order to make evidence-based conclusions from the experiment.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Field Work,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2,
4-PS3-4,
4-ESS3-1
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min

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