These STEM Packs for grades PreK-5 use picture books to engage students in a series of 40 minute pre-designed STEM lessons with associated materials. Many kits are reusable or easily refurbishable with basic materials. The topics are derived explicitly from NGSS and are aligned with the standards across multiple Disciplinary Core Ideas. CE and AIU co-developed two energy-focused Storytime STEM Packs, including "Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" investigation and engineering design and "My Papi has a Motorcycle" energy use exploration.
Hands-on Materials
Solar Panel Construction, Orientation and Use Unit
For this extended task, students will track the sun's altitude and Azimuth to determine the best position for their hand-built solar panel, learn solar cell operation basics, solar panel construction, series and parallel circuitry and basic array sizing...
This unique program pairs high school science teachers with a mentor doing cutting-edge research in an academic lab or a lab associated with another nonprofit institution. The Murdock Trust awards approximately 25 Partners in Science grants each year to fund these teacher-mentor research opportunities in the Pacific Northwest. Our goal is to help teachers bring knowledge from the research lab directly into the classroom to promote hands-on science education.
Engineering with Renewable Energy: Solar Water Pumping
Students will learn that energy from a renewable resource can be converted to electrical energy to do work by engineering a water pump system powered by the sun. They will compare the volume of water pumped by different designs and graph data collected and...
A free iPhone app that allows you to take data on irradiance (in Watts/area), to be able to compare electrical output from solar photovoltaic panels to the irradiance they receive.
Solar Tracker Challenge
Students will build a simple circuit that can be used to track a light source. This circuit will be used as a springboard for discussion into the engineering design process, solar tracking, and basic electricity and circuits. The simple solar tracker...
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.
Solar and SODIS: Creating Clean Water for the World
According to Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley, the number one and two challenges for humanity are energy and clean water. This classroom activity will introduce students to a low cost, renewable technique that connects these two issues. During the activity,...
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.
Using a Multimeter to Analyze a Solar Circuit: Measuring Current and Voltage—Calculating Power and Resistance
Students will set up a simple circuit using a multimeter and a load resistor to measure the voltage and current in the circuit. Students will learn to use a multimeter, learn how to calculate power and be introduced to Ohm’s Law. This activity provides a...
Contact Us
Bonneville Environmental Foundation
1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 710
Portland OR 97201
phone: 503-248-1905