4.W.8

Understanding Light

Grades:

4-5

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will observe and articulate their observations of the way that different materials reflect and absorb sunlight, transforming it into heat to varying degrees.

Energy Content:

Energy Fundamentals,

Light (Visible),

Materials Science

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will conduct simple experiments to learn what kind of materials absorb heat from the sun, what kind of materials reflect light from the sun and what color of materials do not get hot in the sun. This lesson gives students experience in beginning to learn about why certain materials and colors are used in solar ovens.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Author:

Lisa Morgan

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS4-2,

5-PS1-3,

5-ESS1-2

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development

Estimated Activity Length:

30 min

Light Is Transformed into Heat

Grades:

4-5

Unit:

Cooking with the Sun and Solar Ovens

Lesson Number:

Description:

When absorbed (not reflected), light seems to disappear. What happens to it?

Energy Content:

Light (Visible),

Solar Thermal

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will experience how some materials absorb heat from the sun and other materials reflect the sun and stay cool.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Author:

Lisa Morgan

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS4-2,

5-PS1-3

Estimated Activity Length:

0 sec

Heat Transfer

Grades:

3-5

Unit:

Cooking with the Sun and Solar Ovens

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will observe that heat naturally spreads from warmer places to cooler places and that some materials spread (conduct) heat and others keep it from spreading (insulate).

Energy Content:

Materials Science,

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will observe how some materials conduct heat and others insulate heat.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Author:

Lisa Morgan

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

5-PS1-2,

5-PS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

30 min

Daily Variations in Solar Energy

Grades:

3-5

Unit:

Cooking with the Sun and Solar Ovens

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will observe and articulate that even on cloudless days, the amount of solar energy changes with the time of day and the time of year. Solar energy is strongest when the sun is high in the sky (when shadows are shortest). The sun shines more...

Energy Content:

Light (Visible)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will understand that when the sun is lower in the sky, it casts a longer shadow on an object. When the sun is higher in the sky, it casts a smaller shadow. Students will also understand the importance of adjusting the position of a solar oven every half hour or so throughout the cooking process to insure that the bottom of the oven is facing the sun directly in order to maximize heat absorption.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials

Author:

Lisa Morgan

Relevant NGSS PE:

3-ESS2-1,

4-PS3-2,

5-ESS1-1,

5-ESS1-2

Estimated Activity Length:

40 min

Let's Build Sun Ovens

Grades:

3-5

Unit:

Cooking with the Sun and Solar Ovens

Lesson Number:

Description:

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the students to three different styles of inexpensive solar ovens. Students will work together to build a File Box oven, an auto shade/bucket oven and a “Copenhagen” style oven. Students will follow written...

Energy Content:

Solar Thermal,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will follow written directions and use what they have learned about necessary components of a solar oven to build three different ovens in small groups.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Group Work/Collaboration,

Hands-on Materials,

Project-Based Learning

Author:

Lisa Morgan

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4,

3-5-ETS1-1,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3