ELA: Writing

Electricity Generation,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will make observations about how a solar cell needs to be set up to push water through a pump and hypothesize about how energy is changing form as the pump runs.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Leah Gorman

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Home Energy Survey

Grades:

4-5

Unit:

Understanding Energy

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will learn how to determine what sources of energy are used in their home. They will determine types of energy used in their home through observation and interviews. This will be documented through a home energy survey sheet that students will...

Energy Content:

Sources of Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to describe the basic principles of various forms of energy and write a detailed description of one of those forms of energy. This written product will include common uses of this form of energy, costs, and basic advantages and disadvantages of using this form of energy.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Field Work,

Research-Primary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Author:

Eric Gronseth

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-ESS3-1

Other Subjects Covered:

Solar Mobile Design Challenge

Estimated Activity Length:

40 min

Light Source Efficiency: Exploring Irradiance

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson explores the concept of irradiance by having students use a Vernier Pryanometer. Using the “Light Source Efficiency” worksheet to guide their work, students measure irradiance as compared to the Sun’s irradiance to see what would be the best...

Energy Content:

Light (Visible),

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Using a Vernier Pyranometer, students will measure electromagnetic radiation in watts per square meter (W/m2 ). Students will compare Sunlight irradiance with various indoor lighting options. Students will make a recommendation as to the optimum indoor lighting for powering solar panels.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Field Work,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Kristy Schneider

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text,

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

Three Ways to Generate Electricity

Grades:

7-8

Unit:

Solar vs. Wind Energy

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson gives students hands-on experiences with the attraction and repulsion of magnets including experiments with how the strength of attraction and repulsion varies with distance. Students see how magnets are used in motors but also in electric...

Energy Content:

Electricity and Magnetism,

Electricity Generation,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to: • Detect the relative strength of magnetic fields at different distances from a magnet • Explain the energy transformations occurring in each part of a circuit • Identify three different methods for generating electricity

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Craig Marais

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS2-3,

MS-PS2-4

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Chemical Differences in Emergency Energy Sources

Estimated Activity Length:

3 hours

Research and Evaluate the Impact on the Environment and Society of Converting Natural Resources into PV Cells

Grades:

7-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will engage in guided research to explore resource acquisition, material processing, and electricity generation associated with photovoltaic cells. Opportunity for differentiation exists in the level of assistance in guiding the research, the...

Energy Content:

Materials Science,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sources of Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will evaluate information to describe the impact on society from resource extraction and materials-processing for PV cells.2. Students will communicate their understandings of different impacts from converting natural resources into PV cells through participation in a Socratic Seminar.

Pedagogy & Practice:

English Language Strategies,

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Melody Childers

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text,

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

Estimated Activity Length:

6 hours

Solar SPRK+ Electricity Fundamentals and Photovoltaics

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Solar SPRK+

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students work through a number of solar circuit explorations that culminate in a challenge to charge the Sphero SPRK+ devices with solar panels. In this exploration, students will investigate the requirements of various loads, working toward the voltage...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will determine how to create various types of circuits in order to power loads with different electric needs.Students will identify the electric needs of a Sphero charger and build a circuit needed to charge this device.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Establishing a Culture of Science,

Hands-on Materials,

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

Author:

Deb Frankel

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-1,

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Using Multiple Solar Modules

Grades:

3-5

Unit:

Introducing Solar Energy

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students first explore with 0.5 Volt solar cells to see whether adding cells to a circuit increases the amount of water pumped by a small pump. They are introduced to parallel and series wiring. They then design and carry out a formal experiment to test...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will apply scientific ideas to design and test a solar powered water pump that moves water at the fastest rate. Students will experiment and build understanding of parallel and series wiring and how energy moves in these circuits. Students will record data accurately into a table.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Establishing a Culture of Science

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Leah Gorman

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2,

4-PS3-4

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Solar Mobile Design Challenge

Estimated Activity Length:

3 hours

Solar Mobile Design Challenge - Construction

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This is the culminating hands-on project for the Solar Mobile Design Challenge Lessons, with construction aligned to an engineering design process. Students start by Restating the Design Problem that was introduced to them in the beginning of the Unit....

Energy Content:

Materials Science,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students brainstorm ideas and share with their group.Students draw and label Solar Mobile designs in Engineering Notebooks. Students research an aircraft to trace (if this was not accomplished in the Center of Gravity lesson) and trace the aircraft outline onto foam board. Students construct a solar circuit to power motors and propellers on a foam board aircraft and test multiple times before adding to the solar mobile stand. Students construct solar mobile stand and add their aircraft to a dowel attached to the central hub. Students work with a partner to balance each aircraft onto the mobile. Students test the mobile speed outside (depending on weather) and compare to speed under indoor light stands. After initial testing, students redesign circuits or mobile construction to optimize design. Students use hand-held devices to film their moving Mobiles to judge the machine’s speed. Students demonstrate how their Solar Mobile works and justify in writing why their mobile should be chosen for the Children’s Technology Museum.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials,

STEAM/Arts

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

2: Developing and Using Models,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Kristy Schneider

Other Subjects Covered:

Estimated Activity Length:

6 hours

Variables Affecting Wind Turbine Power

Grades:

7-8

Unit:

Solar vs. Wind Energy

Lesson Number:

Description:

Now that students are familiar with how mechanical electricity generation works, they will build a wind turbine powered by a box fan. Different teams will test different turbine variables to see how the amount of electrical power is affected. After each...

Energy Content:

Electricity Generation,

Wind Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

• Students will be able to identify and explain at least three variables that affect the efficiency of wind turbines • Students will conduct a scientific investigation to determine which wind turbine configuration will generate the most power

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Craig Marais

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-2,

MS-PS3-1,

MS-PS3-4

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Solar Cars

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students have performed the investigation and will now analyze their data. They will accomplish this through a journaling activity that requires them to use the data collected from the actual races. The will refer to sentence frames in order to make...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will determine how differences between solar cars affected their functionality. Students will make claims based off of quantitative and qualitative data. Students will engage in scientific talk based off of their own observations when constructing and testing solar cars. Students will complete a journaling activity that outlines their processes relating to making conclusions.

Pedagogy & Practice:

English Language Strategies,

Project-Based Learning

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices: