Mini Solar Houses Unit

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0
Unit:
Mini Solar Houses
Author:
Beverly Satterwhite
Intended Grade Level(s):
4th
5th
6th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
electricity
solar energy
current
voltage
photovoltaics
seasonality
Circuitry
energy transformations
Energy Storage
mini-houses
design challenge
photovoltaic installation
Estimated Activity Length:
8 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will understand how to use an Azimuth finder to determine the direction and altitude that solar modules will face.
2. Students will learn how to describe why a solar module is pitched at a particular angle.
3. Students will understand how to measure the voltage and current for an electrical energy source.
4. Students will learn how to build a circuit that will light a light bulb with a switch and without a switch.
5. Students will understand that the electricity flows through a circuit from an energy source to a load.
6. Students will understand the difference between open and closed circuits.
7. Students will understand the similarities and differences between solar cells and batteries as an energy source.
8. Students will understand how electricity flows through a circuit (from energy sources to loads) with more than one source and more than one load.
9. Students will understand how to build series and parallel circuit and the characteristics of each.
10. Students will learn to power both a light and a fan.
11. Students will learn how to find a fault in a circuit.
12. Students will understand that the electricity flows through a circuit from an energy source to a load.
13. Students will understand the difference between open and closed circuits.
14. Students will identify the causes and solutions to various complications that arise in the construction of circuits.
15. Students will use the design process to create a roof to hold an adequate number of solar modules to power an LED and a fan.
16. Students will understand how to make a geometric net (a 2D drawing that when folded creates a 3D shape) for designing a roof.

In Lesson 1, the lesson focuses on understanding how the angle and orientation affect the amount of energy that is generated through use of a solar cell. Paper azimuth finders, Keva Planks, and multimeters will be used in order for students to draw conclusions about the optimal placement of a solar cell. This lesson will prepare students for... View full description >>

Non-renewable Energy/Global Warming/Pollution (Lesson 3)

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0
Unit:
Solar Ovens
Author:
Debbie Abel
Intended Grade Level(s):
4th
5th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science
Energy
kinetic
potential
renewable
non-renewable
fossil fuels
global warming
climate change
solar energy
wind energy
hydroelectric power
sources of energy
Estimated Activity Length:
50 min
Learning Goal(s):

Students will explore why there is a need for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Students will determine how non-renewable and renewable energy are a part of our lives. Students will understand how the greenhouse effect and nonrenewable energy sources relate to climate change.

This lesson will introduce the students to worldwide problems that we have with energy. (91% of the energy we use is non-renewable, 9% of the energy we use is renewable).  Students will explore the greenhouse effect as part of this lesson and relate this process to climate change. View full description >>

Observing and Keeping Records (Lesson 7)

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0
Unit:
Understanding Energy
Author:
Eric Gronseth
Intended Grade Level(s):
4th
5th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Energy
solar energy generation
renewable and nonrenewable energy
electricity
light
energy transformation
photovoltaic
observations
conclusions
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
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.

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

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Our Place in Space: Cosmic Rays

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0
Unit:
Our Place in Space
Author:
Jamie Repasky
Intended Grade Level(s):
3rd
4th
5th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science
math
solar power
visible light
ultraviolet (UV)
infrared (IR)
Energy
Watt
atmospheric conditions
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Learning Goal(s):

Students will learn how the sun affects their school by measuring the temperature at different locations around the building in the fall, winter, and spring. They will learn how to measure solar energy and look for trends in temperature and solar power over the year. These trends will then be used to investigate how energy reaches Earth from the Sun.

Using a map of school buildings, students will pick four areas to monitor over the year using wireless weather stations and the Solar Power Meter. In a following lesson, students will use an online

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Our Place in Space: Cosmic Ray Detector

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0
Unit:
Our Place in Space
Author:
Jamie Repasky
Intended Grade Level(s):
3rd
4th
5th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science
radiation
muons
ultraviolet (UV)
Energy
work
light
atmosphere
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
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.

The students will be introduced to solar radiation with an activity centered on using a

... View full description >>

Our Place in Space: Tracking the Earth's Path Around the Sun

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0
Unit:
Our Place in Space
Author:
Jamie Repasky
Intended Grade Level(s):
1st
2nd
3rd
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Science
Earth
sun
seasons
solar system
compass
compass rose
hemisphere
Earth’s axis
Estimated Activity Length:
6 hours
Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able describe how the Earth orbits the Sun and how the tilt of the planet creates the seasons by recording the ‘Sun’s path’ in our sky in the fall, winter, and spring.

During sessions in October, January, and April we will discuss observations about the weather during that season (temperature, length of day, precipitation) and explore how this relates to the Earth’s

... View full description >>

Our Sensational Sun (Lesson 3)

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0
Unit:
Cooking with the Sun and Solar Ovens
Author:
Lisa Morgan
Intended Grade Level(s):
3rd
4th
5th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
solar energy
Estimated Activity Length:
30 min
Learning Goal(s):

At the end of this lesson, students will have written numerous facts about the sun that they 1) already know, 2) want to know and 3) have learned.

The purpose of this lesson is to record information that the students learn about the sun on a chart. This chart will be used for the entire unit. It will serve as a good reference for guiding the lessons and providing information for student research. View full description >>

Part 1: Making the Standard Solar Heater

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Unit:
Experimenting with Solar Heaters
Author:
Nathan Franck
Intended Grade Level(s):
6th
7th
8th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Physical science
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 30 min
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.

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 amount of water into a vial in the collector and place it in direct sunlight. After a set time... View full description >>

Part 2: Manipulating Design Variables on Solar Heaters

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0
Unit:
Experimenting with Solar Heaters
Author:
Nathan Franck
Intended Grade Level(s):
6th
7th
8th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Physical science
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 20 min
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.

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 solar heater. View full description >>

Part 3: Creating the Most Effective Solar Heater

Average Rating:
0
Unit:
Experimenting with Solar Heaters
Author:
Nathan Franck
Intended Grade Level(s):
6th
7th
8th
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Physical science
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
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.

Common Core Standard(s) Met:
6-8.RST.9

This part can be staged as a competition or simply a personal challenge to beat the standard solar heater created in part 1. During this stage of the lesson students are asked to analyze data and results from part 2 and identify which characteristics of a solar heater maximize its effectiveness. View full description >>

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