Solar Boats

Electricity and Magnetism,

Energy Fundamentals,

Light (Visible),

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Sound,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

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Learning Goal(s):

Students will obtain the foundational knowledge of energy sources and forms of energy. In addition, students will learn that energy can transfer from one form to another. Students will build the understanding that there are different types of energy and many can not be directly observed.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials,

Multiple Learning Styles

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-ESS3-1

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

ELA: Writing,

ELA: Vocabulary Development

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

What is Energy Transfer?

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will continue to build an understanding of the fundamentals of energy through observing and describing a variety of energy transformations and build on their foundational vocabulary for identifying and discussing energy concepts. In this stage of...

Energy Content:

Energy Fundamentals,

Light (Visible),

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sound,

Thermal Energy (Heat)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will obtain the foundational knowledge of energy sources and forms of energy. In addition, students will learn that energy can transfer from one form to another. Students will be able to match images of energy transformations to their respected vocabulary.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

What is Force?

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will build a barge out of tin foil and describe the forces acting it. The barge itself is designed only with the constraints that passengers within the barge will not get wet, allowing for students to experiment with different shapes and...

Energy Content:

Energy Fundamentals,

Potential & Kinetic Energy

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will identify the Laws of Motion and learn about the forces acting on the system. There are multiple forces acting on a boat, some of these forces include, acceleration, friction, gravity and thrust.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

2: Developing and Using Models,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-4,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

How Do Solar Panels Work?

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will learn the basics of how a solar cell generates electricity and observe the effects on a small electrical load attached to a solar module under a variety of conditions. They will build upon knowledge gained in previous lessons dealing with...

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

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Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to describe, in basic terms, the way that electricity is generated from a solar cell. Students will be able to determine that energy from the sun is being converted directly into electricity. Students will understand that this electrical energy that is produced in this energy transfer is able to perform the work required within a small load.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

How to Measure Output of Solar Modules

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will measure output from solar module before a load is attached and relate it to real world output. They will make these measurements using a multimeter and be able to determine the optimal angle at which their module generates a current flow....

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will demonstrate that solar modules create electricity when light strikes the module. Students will determine the optimum angle for the generation of current by a solar cell when given a light source (indoors or outdoors using the sun). Students will be able to effectively use a digital multimeter to measure current and voltage produced by a solar cell.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-2

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Solar Boat Science Investigation

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Design a science investigation to test a solar speedboat, airboat, and surface submarine. Students will use the “Planning an Investigation Template” in order to determine their motivations for designing a solar boat, make predictions about the outcomes...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will design an investigation to test three models of solar vehicles. Students will justify which materials will be used in their construction. Students will be able to support their design with reasoning. Students will determine different methods of collecting data from their experiment relating to three types of solar boats.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Establishing a Culture of Science,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development

Estimated Activity Length:

50 min

Building Solar Boats

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Energy Content:

Circuitry,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will follow step-by-step instructions to build their solar boats. They will troubleshoot as necessary by making sure electricity flows into the motor to make the vehicles move by propeller or gears. Students will determine different data points that are useful in the determining the most effective design for a solar powered boat. Students will undergo the process of redesign, noting why they made changes to particular variables on their boat and noting how these changes played out.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Group Work/Collaboration,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-4,

3-5-ETS1-2

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Collect Data and Compare Performance of Different Boat Designs

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will race the solar speedboats, airboats, and surface submarines and then compare the performance results and of the various types of solar boats made by the class. Students will compare and contrast forces acting on the system by examining the...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will compare and contrast forces acting on the system by examining the results of the airboat, speedboat and surface submarine races. Students will collect quantitative and qualitative data points that denote the effectiveness of each boat design. Students will compare observations made during the race and draw conclusions from these observations.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

Group Work/Collaboration,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Author:

Carol Patrick

Relevant NGSS PE:

4-PS3-4,

3-5-ETS1-2,

3-5-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Measurement

Estimated Activity Length:

0 sec

Analyze Data and Develop Conclusions

Grades:

4-6

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students have performed the investigation. They will now analyze their data, refer to their initial predictions, and develop their conclusions. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the usefulness of both quantitative and qualitative data forms,...

Energy Content: