Teacher Activity Center

Demand Response,

Electronics,

Electrons,

Energy Efficiency,

Smart Grid

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will identify all ways that energy is consumed within their homes.2.Students will perform an energy audit of their home and calculate the amount of energy used by each electronic device and appliances.3.Students will create a spreadsheet demonstrating the electricity required to operate each electronic device and appliance, along with a summary of finding that clearly identifies how energy consumption can be reduced within their home.4.Students will explore various ways to reduce energy (goal is 30% reduction).5.Students will propose a variety of energy reduction plans and present those options to their families for discussion.6.After discussion with their families, students will itemize the agreed upon plan and identify specific actions that result in quantifiable outcomes that will implemented to reduce energy consumption by their families.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Empathetic Engineering,

Field Work,

Multiple Learning Styles,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Place-Based Learning,

Project-Based Learning,

Research-Primary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Jonathan Strunin

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ESS3-4,

HS-ESS3-2,

HS-ESS3-4,

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-ETS1-4

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Chemical Differences in Emergency Energy Sources

Math: Measurement,

Math: Ratios & Proportions

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Unit Plan - Chemical Differences in Emergency Energy Sources

Grades:

7-8

Unit:

Description:

Students develop atomic and molecular models of energy resources, analyze combustion of various fuels and build circuits with Photovolatic (PV) modules to evaluate and suggest revisions to a disaster preparedness supply list. They then research and...

Energy Content:

Electrical Grid (Transmission & Distribution),

Electrons,

Fuels,

Solar Photovoltaic,

Sources of Energy,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

To build empathy for people in emergency situations and an understanding of how access to energy resources can increase one’s safety, health, and comfort. To understand the nature of a variety of energy needs and how different applications have different optimal solutions. To develop models to explain the molecular and extended structures of energy resources, including how the resources change when energy is generated (Electron movement in PV cells, combustion reactions in fuel). To understand that the properties of substances depends upon the atomic / molecular structure, which changes with chemical reactions. To build a circuit that includes a solar module and measure the voltage and current. To gather and evaluate information to describe the impact on society of converting natural resources into PV cells. To design, build and test a device that uses a chemical reaction to generate or absorb thermal energy. Evaluate and revise a plan for the energy resources one should store to prepare for a natural disaster.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Empathetic Engineering,

English Language Strategies,

Multiple Learning Styles,

Phenomena-Driven Instruction,

Project-Based Learning,

Research-Secondary,

Social-Emotional Learning,

STEAM/Arts

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

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-4,

MS-PS1-1,

MS-PS1-2,

MS-PS1-3,

MS-PS1-4,

MS-PS1-5,

MS-PS1-6

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

Experimenting with Solar Heaters

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Social Sciences: Multicultural Studies

Estimated Activity Length:

0 sec

Making the Standard Solar Heater

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

In part one of the activity students will be asked to create a simple solar heater, measure the temperature change in a vial of water, then calculate the heat energy transferred to a vial of water. Students will construct the solar heater, place a set...

Energy Content:

Potential & Kinetic Energy,

Solar Thermal,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students will learn that sunlight energy can be transformed into other forms of energy and that the amount of sunlight energy captured by an object can be quantified and measured.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Nathan Franck

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS1-4,

MS-PS3-5,

MS-PS4-2

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Experimenting with Solar Heaters

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Manipulating Design Variables on Solar Heaters

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Part 2 builds on part 1, asking students to design a solar heater that more effectively collects solar energy. Students are provided with various building supplies and are asked to change one variable from the standard to construct a new, more effective...

Energy Content:

Solar Thermal,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students demonstrate the ability to evaluate competing solutions to the problem of increasing the heat energy transferred to a vial of water.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Nathan Franck

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Experimenting with Solar Heaters

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Creating the Most Effective Solar Heater

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This part can be staged as a competition or simply a personal challenge to beat the standard solar heater created in part 1. During this stage of the lesson students are asked to analyze data and results from part 2 and identify which characteristics of a...

Energy Content:

Solar Thermal,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

In this activity students demonstrate the ability to evaluate competing solutions to the problem of increasing the heat energy transferred to a vial of water.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Nathan Franck

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Measuring Voltage Using a Microcontroller

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Robotic Sunflower

Lesson Number:

Description:

In this lesson students will be introduced to series circuits, resistors, a photoresistor and a microcontroller. There’s a lot here, but it boils down to making a voltage divider circuit and measuring the voltage at different points. A second circuit...

Energy Content:

Electronics

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will apply Ohm’s Law. Students will use a multimeter to measure current, voltage, and resistance. Students will use a breadboard to set up a series circuit. Students will read circuit diagrams. Students will calculate times for an RC circuit to change state. Students will prove that resistors in series have an equivalent resistance equal to their individual sums. Students will program the Basic Stamp to measure voltage levels in a voltage divider and RC circuit.

Pedagogy & Practice:

21st Century Skills Development,

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-1,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-ETS1-3,

HS-PS3-1,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

Solar Battery Charging

Grades:

7-12

Unit:

Solar Battery Charging

Description:

Students will become familiar with circuits, cells, batteries, and photovoltaic cells, then plan, build, test, modify, and re-test a small solar battery charger designed to maintain batteries from a particular device.

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Electricity Generation,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will build series, parallel, and parallel series circuits from a schematic diagram. Students will master the basic concept of battery charging. Students will be able to plan and build solar battery chargers for a given battery system. Intermediate students will calculate time to charge a depleted battery to its full capacity given specifications of a solar module. Students will be able to explain how a solar cell works with diagrams and words. Students will use a digital multi-meter to measure voltage, current, resistance, and diode polarity.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Luke Robbins

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ESS3-4,

HS-ETS1-2,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Solar Mobile Design Challenge

Estimated Activity Length:

9 hours

Exploring Circuits and Optimum Power

Grades:

6-8

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is an exploratory learning cycle that will give the instructor input as to where students are in their understanding of circuits and also scaffolds student learning. This lesson starts by engaging students by using an Energy Stick. Then,...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students build series circuits using “grain of wheat bulb” and LEDs powered by various low voltage solar panels. Students build parallel circuits using grain of wheat and LED bulbs powered by various low voltage solar panels. Students demonstrate and draw the energy transfer using solar energy. Students draw a circuit diagram of their final optimal circuit. Students design an optimal circuit model that will be used in their final project.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Project-Based Learning,

STEAM/Arts

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Author:

Kristy Schneider

Other Subjects Covered:

Solar Panel Construction, Orientation and Use

Estimated Activity Length:

3 hours

Solar Panel Construction, Orientation and Use Unit

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Description:

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...

Energy Content:

Electricity Generation,

Energy Fundamentals,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Modeling and data analysis

Pedagogy & Practice:

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Author:

James Mulanax

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-PS2-6,

HS-PS3-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Informational Text,

ELA: Speaking & Listening,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Graphing & Representation,

Solar Resources Assessment

Estimated Activity Length:

10 hours

Solar Site Assessment

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will do an actual site assessment to determine the available solar resource for a chosen location.

Energy Content:

Electricity Generation,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to use a Solar Pathfinder to determine the amount of solar resource lost to shading from nearby trees, buildings, etc. Students will be able to calculate the number of kWh of electricity that can be produced in a specific location and in a specific sized area. Students will be able to calculate the amount of carbon emissions that can be offset due to installing photovoltaic panels of various sizes. Students will be able to calculate the size array needed to offset all electricity use for the high school.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices: