Resource Type:
Energy Program/Initiative (Nonprofit/Industry),
Instructional Resource,
Curriculum,
Engineering Challenges
Source:
KidWind
Published:
2020
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
3-5,
MS,
HS,
OST
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

Two really fantastic and engaging engineering challenges held both nationally and online for grades 4-12: Wind Engineering and Solar Structures. Educators and students are provided with scaffolded lessons for engaging in the fundmanetal content of the challenge, as well as guidance for how to prepare and structure the challenge. Challenges can be run at the class, school, district, or regional level and the in-person challenge includes regional and national competitions. Kidwind also provide professional development opportunities for educators.

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sources of Energy,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
ESS3.C: Human Impact,
ESS3.D: Climate Change,
PS2.A: Forces & Motion,
PS2.B: Interactions Between Forces,
PS3.A: Energy Definitions,
PS3.B: Energy Conservation & Transfer,
PS3.C: Energy & Forces
Pedagogy & Practice:
Community Engagement,
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Project-Based Learning
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Vocabulary Development,
Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,
Math: Geometry,
Math: Measurement,
Math: Ratios & Proportions
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
+
-
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
Resource Type:
Instructional Resource,
Curriculum,
At-Home
Source:
KidWind
Published:
2015
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
PreK-2,
3-5,
MS,
HS,
OST
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

A series of 9 hands-on lessons (grades 2-12) that explore wind and solar energy, cirtcuity and electricity generation using a mixture of design and DIY tools.  The includes materials lists and video support guides for implementing the curriculum. 

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity and Magnetism,
Electricity Generation,
Energy Fundamentals,
Potential & Kinetic Energy,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sources of Energy,
Transportation,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
ESS3.A: Natural Resources,
ESS3.C: Human Impact,
PS2.A: Forces & Motion,
PS2.B: Interactions Between Forces,
PS3.A: Energy Definitions,
PS3.B: Energy Conservation & Transfer,
PS3.C: Energy & Forces
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Multiple Learning Styles,
Project-Based Learning
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
ELA: Vocabulary Development,
Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,
Math: Geometry,
Math: Measurement,
Math: Ratios & Proportions
Resource Type:
Data,
Interactive,
Visualization/Simulation
Source:
USGS
Published:
2020
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
3-5,
MS,
HS,
Post Secondary
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

An interactive map depicting the density of wind turbine projects, with specific information on each project available. 

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Sources of Energy,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
ESS3.A: Natural Resources,
ESS3.C: Human Impact,
ESS3.D: Climate Change
Pedagogy & Practice:
Place-Based Learning
Other Subjects Covered:
Environmental Sciences
Resource Type:
Energy Program/Initiative (Nonprofit/Industry),
Instructional Resource,
Organizations & Possible Partners,
Phenomena
Source:
Department of Energy: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Published:
2019
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
PreK-2,
3-5,
MS,
HS,
Post Secondary
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

The Wind for Schools program is a career-connected leanring program from the Department of Energy that connects your school with resources around Wind Energy , including curricula, a network of other schools (with wind data) and support in establishing a demonstraiton wind project on your school site.

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Energy & Society,
Sources of Energy,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
ESS3.A: Natural Resources,
ESS3.C: Human Impact,
ESS3.D: Climate Change
Pedagogy & Practice:
Career-Connected Learning,
Community Engagement,
Project-Based Learning
Other Subjects Covered:
Environmental Sciences,
CTE: Career & Technical Education
Resource Type:
Data,
Energy Program/Initiative (Nonprofit/Industry),
Report,
Research
Source:
American Jobs Project
Published:
2018
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
MS,
HS,
OST,
Post Secondary
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

The American Jobs Project develops practical, customized strategies to promote economic development and advanced energy jobs. They have published state-level industry reports highlighting opportunities in Advanced Energy for 24 states for the next 10 years. These can be great ways to identify Career-Connected Learning opporunities and industry partners in your state.

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Advanced Energy Careers,
Batteries & Storage,
Energy & Society,
Demand Response,
Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),
Energy Efficiency,
Fuels,
Hydrogen,
Next Generation Manufacturing,
Smart Grid,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sources of Energy,
Transportation,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
ESS3.A: Natural Resources,
ESS3.C: Human Impact,
ESS3.D: Climate Change
Pedagogy & Practice:
21st Century Skills Development,
Career-Connected Learning,
Place-Based Learning
Other Subjects Covered:
Computer Science,
Environmental Sciences,
CTE: Career & Technical Education,
Social Sciences: Economics
Resource Type:
Instructional Resource,
Curriculum,
Video,
Infographic,
App,
Interactive,
Visualization/Simulation,
At-Home
Source:
University of Illinois-Cyber Resilient Energy Delivery Consortium
Published:
2019
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
3-5,
MS
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

CREDC is a wealth of interactives and curricula for K-12 educators. There are six interactives for engaging in how to manage various sources of energy and their costs in relationship to energy usage, as well as curricula such as paper circuits, and resources and ideas for integrating coding, Minecraft, and other computer applications in energy and circuitry explanations.

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Batteries & Storage,
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),
Electricity Generation,
Electronics,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sources of Energy,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
PS3.B: Energy Conservation & Transfer
Pedagogy & Practice:
Career-Connected Learning,
Early Childhood Learning,
Hands-on Materials,
Multiple Learning Styles
Other Subjects Covered:
Computer Science,
Environmental Sciences,
Math: Measurement,
Social Sciences: Economics
Resource Type:
Instructional Resource,
Curriculum,
Engineering Challenges
Source:
KidWind
Published:
2015
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
MS,
HS
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

A time-tested series of 19 lessons developed by KidWInd to explore Wind Energy, using KidWind or DIY wind turbines designed by students. Lessons span from basic concepts of wind energy all the way through sighting of windmills and impacts on people and wildlife.

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Energy & Society,
Electricity and Magnetism,
Electricity Generation,
Sources of Energy,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
ESS2.D: Weather & Climate,
ESS3.A: Natural Resources,
ESS3.C: Human Impact,
PS1.A: Matter: Structure & Properties,
PS2.A: Forces & Motion,
PS2.B: Interactions Between Forces,
PS3.A: Energy Definitions,
PS3.B: Energy Conservation & Transfer,
PS3.C: Energy & Forces
Pedagogy & Practice:
21st Century Skills Development,
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Multiple Learning Styles
Other Subjects Covered:
Math: Algebra,
Math: Functions,
Math: Measurement,
Math: Ratios & Proportions,
Social Sciences: Geography
Resource Type:
Instructional Resource,
Interactive,
Visualization/Simulation
Source:
Department of Energy
Published:
2020
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
MS,
HS,
Post Secondary
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

A series of official career maps published by Department of Energy that highlight career tracks in a variety of clean energy fields across a range of expertise and educational levels. A great resource for thinking about career-connected learning, especially for HS and CTE educators. A separate career map highlights careers in hydrogen and fuel cells.

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Advanced Energy Careers,
Energy & Society,
Renewable Natural Gas,
Biomass Energy,
Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),
Electricity Generation,
Energy Efficiency,
Fuels,
Hydrogen,
Hydropower,
Smart Grid,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Wind Energy
Pedagogy & Practice:
21st Century Skills Development,
Career-Connected Learning
Other Subjects Covered:
Environmental Sciences,
CTE: Career & Technical Education,
Social Sciences: Economics
Resource Type:
Article,
Instructional Resource,
Research,
Phenomena,
Interactive
Source:
Carbon Brief
Published:
2017
Last Updated:
2020
Intended Grade Level:
HS,
Post Secondary
Resource Link(s):
Report Broken Link
Description:

Interactive Map featuring sources of energy and consumption. Great tool for engaging students in understanding where their energy comes from locally and from what sources.

Location:
National
Energy Content:
Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),
Electricity Generation,
Fuels,
Hydropower,
Solar Photovoltaic,
Sources of Energy,
Wind Energy
NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea:
ESS2.A: Earth Materials & Systems,
ESS3.A: Natural Resources,
ESS3.C: Human Impact,
ESS3.D: Climate Change
Pedagogy & Practice:
Place-Based Learning,
Research-Secondary
Other Subjects Covered:
Social Sciences: Geography

Pages