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

Sources of Energy

Renewable/Green Energy

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

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the different forms of renewable/green energy. They will learn about the photovoltaic cells installed in our school district, Beaverton Schools. However, any project on

Energy Content:
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sources of Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn about and observe different forms of renewable energy. They will also learn about the different photovoltaic cells installed on Beaverton or other schools with Solar 4R Schools projects.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
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: Informational Text,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Solar Circuit

Solar vs. Battery Circuits

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

In this lesson, students will explore and do small experiments with mini solar panels and circuit boards. The class will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. Students will continue to work in their Solar Energy Student Notebooks to...

Energy Content:
Batteries & Storage,
Biomass Energy,
Electrical Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will do experiments that reinforce the idea that the sun’s energy can be transferred into electrical energy. Students will also explore and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy. Students will discuss how solar energy compares to other forms of energy generation.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Multiple Learning Styles
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
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: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Wadsworth OH thumbnail

Lerato Cooks Up a Plan

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
7
Description:

The teacher will begin reading aloud the realistic fiction book, “Lerato Cooks Up a Plan” from Engineering is Elementary. In this book, a young girl from Botswana learns science ideas that help her design a solar oven for her family. Students will reflect...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will identify a real world problem that can be solved using solar energy. Students determine how the sun can be harnessed without generating electricity from it.
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: Reading: Literature,
ELA: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
All American Sun Oven

Professional Sun Oven

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
8
Description:

Students will view a professional solar oven in use and hypothesize how it works. They will do this through observing the oven in action as it cooks an egg, then recording their observations. This will be recorded in their energy notebooks.

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn how a professional solar oven works. Students will make scientific observations about the functionality of a solar oven. Students will practice prototyping through their own sketches of a solar oven.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Research-Secondary
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: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
All American Sun Oven

Insulation

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
9
Description:

Students will learn about the importance of insulation in a solar oven. They will use their own background knowledge, as well as observations of insulation used to contain thermal energy, and determine how this will be incorporated into solar ovens.

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn that they can increase the temperature inside of their solar ovens with insulation. Students will determine what makes a good insulator. Students will make observations about different types of insulators. Students will discuss real world examples of insulators.
Pedagogy & Practice:
English Language 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
All American Sun Oven

Heat Conduction of Different Materials

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
10
Description:

After a demonstration using Amazing Ice Melting Blocks, students will conduct small temperature experiments using different types of materials. They will use what they learn to build their solar ovens and additionally answer discussion questions in their...

Energy Content:
Materials Science,
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn that the material of the item that they choose to cook their egg in matters because different materials conduct heat differently. Students will compare insulators with conductors. Students will determine the purpose of conductors within a solar oven.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
2: Developing and Using Models
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: Writing,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
All American Sun Oven

Solar Ovens: Choosing Colors

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
11
Description:

Students will conduct experiments using different colors of paper. During this process, they will make observations about the functionality of different colors when incorporated into design in relation to reflection and absorption. Students will use what...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn that darker colors absorb more sunlight and get warmer. Students will understand the relation of absorption to thermal radiation emission. Students will conduct an experiment that isolates color as a variable to test.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
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:
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
All American Sun Oven

Reflecting Sunlight

Grades:
4-5
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Lesson Number:
12
Description:

Students will see a demonstration and conduct a simple experiment on reflecting sunlight. During this demonstration, they will determine the purpose of the reflectors on a solar oven’s design and make observations about their functionality. They will use...

Energy Content:
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn that reflectors can be used to increase solar oven temperatures by concentrating solar energy. Students will use their observations from the prior lesson to make claims based on the concepts of reflection and absorption within a solar oven system. Students will use their observations from reflection and absorption experiments to determine how to best capture reflected solar energy.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
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: Writing
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Solar Updraft Tower

Solar Updraft Towers Unit Overview

Grades:
3-8
Unit:
Solar Updraft Towers
Description:

Students will combine research, direct observations, and hands-on investigation to lead them into an engineering design project involving the construction of a solar updraft tower. During this process, students will make references to specific phenomena...

Energy Content:
Electricity Generation,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy,
Thermal Energy (Heat),
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will understand ten renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the locations of different energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the history of energy sources and how humans have used them.Students will learn about innovations and inventions used to find, recover, store, and release energy for human consumption.Students will understand that hot air risesStudents will understand why hot water and hot air rise and cold air and cold water sink.Students will learn that wind is produced by warm air rising and cold air sinking.Students will learn that the energy of moving hot air can be converted into other forms of energy.Students will understand that energy from the sun can be converted into heat.Students will discuss the effects of the chimney stack phenomenon.Students will understand that wind energy can be converted into other forms of energy.Students will determine different methods to increase the effectiveness of a wind turbine blade by harnessing and converting the mechanical energy of the wind.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.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.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction,
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
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,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
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
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Writing,
ELA: Vocabulary Development,
Math: Measurement,
Math: Ratios & Proportions
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Sources of Energy

Informative Writing: Where Does Energy Come From?

Grades:
3-8
Unit:
Solar Updraft Towers
Lesson Number:
1
Description:

This lesson is a (stand alone or in-unit) guided non-fiction research and writing project, which includes a differentiated choice menu and list of ideas for publishing the completed project. Each student will choose one of ten energy sources to research,...

Energy Content:
Biomass Energy,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Energy Fundamentals,
Fuels,
Geothermal Energy,
Hydrogen,
Hydropower,
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy,
Tidal Energy,
Wave Energy,
Wind Energy
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will understand ten renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the locations of different energy sources on the earth.Students will learn the history of energy sources and how they have been used by humans.Students will learn about innovations and inventions used to find, recover, store and release energy for human consumption.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
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
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Informational Text,
ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,
ELA: Writing,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours

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