To see descriptions of all available curriculum by grade level, click here. To download a PDF of all available units, click here.

Keeping it Cool With Solar: Making Shade

Grades:
K-2
Unit:
Keeping it Cool With Solar
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

This lesson is designed for one 30-minute session. After reviewing the hot/cool playground spots from Lesson 1, Students will be asked, “On a hot day, which materials might keep the ground the coolest?”. Students will be given tissue paper, photocopy...

Energy Content:
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students will analyze the effect of different types and colors of paper have when placed in the path of sunlight.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Early Childhood Learning,
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science
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,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Mark Lewin
Relevant NGSS PE:
K-PS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
30 min

Keeping it Cool With Solar: Design Time

Grades:
K-2
Unit:
Keeping it Cool With Solar
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

This lesson is designed for one 30-minute session. Students are shown materials. Students are asked “How might we design a structure that will keep the ground the coolest?” Students design their structures by discussing, collaborating, and drawing....

Energy Content:
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students design structures that will optimize cooling the earth’s surface from sunlight.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Early Childhood Learning,
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Mark Lewin
Relevant NGSS PE:
K-PS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
30 min

Keeping it Cool With Solar: Build Time

Grades:
K-2
Unit:
Keeping it Cool With Solar
Lesson Number:
4
Description:

This lesson is designed for one 30-minute session. Students build their structures based on their designs from Lesson 3. Students share evidence about ho w their structures affect the sunlight on the earth’s surface.

Energy Content:
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students build shade structures that will optimize cooling the earth’s surface from sunlight.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Early Childhood Learning,
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Hands-on Materials
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,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Mark Lewin
Relevant NGSS PE:
K-PS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour

Keeping it Cool With Solar - Structure Test: How Cool Are We?

Grades:
K-2
Unit:
Keeping it Cool With Solar
Lesson Number:
5
Description:

This lesson is designed for one 30-45 minute session. Students are shown how thermo infrared thermometers work. Teacher uses infrared thermometer and has students record the ground temperature outside and inside their structure. Students record and...

Energy Content:
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students build shade structures that will optimize cooling the earth’s surface from sunlight. Students collect and analyze how cool the earth’s surface is inside their structure.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Early Childhood Learning,
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science
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,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Mark Lewin
Relevant NGSS PE:
K-PS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening
Estimated Activity Length:
0 sec

Keeping it Cool With Solar: Add Solar Panel Redesign, Rebuild, Retest

Grades:
K-2
Unit:
Keeping it Cool With Solar
Lesson Number:
6
Description:

This lesson is designed for one 60-minute session. Students will share and discuss results. Students are shown solar panel and fan and are asked, “Using solar technology, how might we make the ground in our structures even cooler?” Using the solar panel...

Energy Content:
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students build shade structures that will optimize cooling the earth’s surface from sunlight, incorporating solar energy.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Early Childhood Learning,
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Hands-on Materials,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction
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,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Mark Lewin
Relevant NGSS PE:
K-PS3-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Speaking & Listening,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour

Keeping it Cool With Solar: Reflections of an Engineer

Grades:
K-2
Unit:
Keeping it Cool With Solar
Lesson Number:
7
Description:

This lesson is designed for one 30-minute session. Students analyze their data and reflect through video recording about how solar technology and their structures kept the ground (earth’s surface) cooler.

Energy Content:
Energy Efficiency,
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
1. Students will reflect on how their structure and solar technology changed the Sun’s effect on the Earth’s surface
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Establishing a Culture of Science,
Hands-on Materials
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,
5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Mark Lewin
Relevant NGSS PE:
K-PS3-1
Estimated Activity Length:
30 min
Sun in Space

Our Place in Space: Cosmic Rays

Grades:
3-5
Unit:
Our Place in Space
Lesson Number:
1
Description:

NOTE: SUN PHOTOMETER SUMULATOR AT CAS.HAMPTONU.EDU SEEMS TO BE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

Using a map of school buildings, students will pick four areas to monitor over the year using wireless weather stations and the Solar Power Meter. In a following...

Energy Content:
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will learn how the sun affects their school by measuring the temperature at different locations around the building in the fall, winter, and spring. They will learn how to measure solar energy and look for trends in temperature and solar power over the year. These trends will then be used to investigate how energy reaches Earth from the Sun.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Field Work,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Author:
Jamie Repasky
Relevant NGSS PE:
3-ESS2-1,
3-ESS2-2,
4-PS3-2,
5-ESS1-1
Other Subjects Covered:
Math: Geometry,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Sun in Space

Our Place in Space: Cosmic Ray Detector

Grades:
3-5
Unit:
Our Place in Space
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

The students will be introduced to solar radiation with an activity centered on using a cloud chamber to visualize cosmic rays.

Energy Content:
Light (Visible),
Solar Thermal,
Sources of Energy,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
• Students will discuss how energy from the sun is transmitted in a variety of forms that perform different amounts of work. • Students will identify multiple pieces of evidence that demonstrate energy being transmitted from the sun.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Author:
Jamie Repasky
Relevant NGSS PE:
4-PS3-2
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Sun in Space

Our Place in Space: Tracking the Earth's Path Around the Sun

Grades:
1-3
Unit:
Our Place in Space
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

During sessions in October, January, and April we will discuss observations about the weather during that season (temperature, length of day, precipitation) and explore how this relates to the Earth’s movement around the Sun. The lesson series will start...

Energy Content:
Energy Fundamentals,
Light (Visible),
Sources of Energy,
Thermal Energy (Heat)
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-
More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will be able describe how the Earth orbits the Sun and how the tilt of the planet creates the seasons by recording the ‘Sun’s path’ in our sky in the fall, winter, and spring.
Pedagogy & Practice:
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Multiple Learning Styles
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Author:
Jamie Repasky
Relevant NGSS PE:
1-ESS1-1,
1-ESS1-2,
3-ESS2-1
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
ELA: Vocabulary Development
Estimated Activity Length:
6 hours
Solar Circuit

How the Amount of Light Affects a Solar Cell

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
PV Output
Lesson Number:
1
Description:

Students will cover portions of a solar cell and measure the output with a multimeter. They will compare and contrast the outputs of different percentages shaded and different configurations using the same percentage shaded.

Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Light (Visible),
Solar Photovoltaic
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-
More Details Less Details
Pedagogy & Practice:
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
3: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations,
4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Author:
Todd Freiboth
Other Subjects Covered:
ELA: Writing,
Math: Graphing & Representation,
Math: Measurement
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min

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