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

Solar Car Student

Solar Car Challenge: Redesigning Your Solution & Results of the Design Process Activity

Grades:
6-8
Lesson Number:
8
Description:

Students will play around with the solar car kits to familiarize themselves with the materials in preparation for the solar car engineering challenge.

Energy Content:
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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
To introduce students to the problem that this project will attempt to solve: building a solar car that will go straight, far, and fast to win a race.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
Author:
Karen Nelson
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours

Solar Car Engineering Challenge Unit

Grades:
6-8
Description:

Students will build a solar car using instructions provided (Sol Run). They will take measurements of their car and then test to see how fast it can travel a 3m track. After students obtain their initial results they will research how to improve the car’s...

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Learning Goal(s):
After the completion of this lesson students will be able to: • Describe how solar cars work • Accurately record and measure data • Use data to propose changes to experimental designs • Research a topic • Complete a full engineering assignment • Explain pros/cons of various prototypes • Work successfully within a group to accomplish a specific task • Brainstorm various ideas
Author:
Todd Freiboth
Estimated Activity Length:
40 min
Sphero SPRK+

Solar SPRK+ Unit Overview

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Description:

This unit incorporates basic programming knowledge and solar energy into an engineering design challenge using Sphero SPRK+ robots. The theme for this challenge centers on the idea of Mars rovers, and the challenges faced in space exploration, specifically...

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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will develop tools to use in the Engineering Design Process.Students will learn drag and drop programming with Sphero Edu (formerly Lightning Lab).Students will determine how series and parallel circuits affect voltage and current.Students will understand how to use photovoltaic sources to charge a SPRK+.Students will design a chariot to carry a photovoltaic power source for a SPRK+.Students will learn to program a SPRK+ ball and chariot through a maze.
Author:
Deb Frankel
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Sphero SPRK+

Introduction to Drag and Drop Coding Using Scratch

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

Students go through a series of exercises and projects/challenges to gain familiarity with coding, specifically with drag-and-drop coding. Students will look at Scratch, a free introductory computer programming language, which focuses on creative computing...

Energy Content:
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Learning Goal(s):
Students will understand how to properly order basic blocks of code to program simple functions.Students will determine the steps needed to debug issues in block programming.Students will devise methods to achieve basic animation-focused block programming tasks.Students will combine music and animation to create music videos and simple games using block coding.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
Author:
Deb Frankel
Other Subjects Covered:
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Sphero SPRK+

Solar SPRK+: Sphero Edu Coding

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Lesson Number:
2
Description:

After working on a few Scratch drag and drop programs, participants will transition to Sphero Edu, a comparable drag and drop program for Lesson 2 to prepare to program a Sphero SPRK+ ball to navigate through a maze.

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Learning Goal(s):
Students will use block programming and Oval Language in order to make a SPRK+ perform a variety of motion-oriented tasks.Students will combine motion and sound functions using block programming and Oval Language.Students will track useful pieces of sequence code that they can reuse in order to get their SPRK+ to navigate a lengthy maze.
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
Author:
Deb Frankel
Other Subjects Covered:
Estimated Activity Length:
5 hours
Sphero SPRK+

Solar SPRK: Mars Exploration Debate

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Lesson Number:
3
Description:

Students will research and then debate about the value of Mars exploration through robotic and/or human missions using a debate structure.

Energy Content:
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Learning Goal(s):
Students will identify high quality scientific information through research that represents multiple sides of an argument.Students will communicate a pre-determined side of an argument verbally, using evidence to support their claims.
Author:
Deb Frankel
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Sphero SPRK+

Solar SPRK+ Electricity Fundamentals and Photovoltaics

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Lesson Number:
4
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...

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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.
Author:
Deb Frankel
Other Subjects Covered:
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Sphero SPRK+

Solar SPRK+: Chariot Engineering Design

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Lesson Number:
5
Description:

Students will work through the engineering design process to build a chariot for their SPRK+ that will carry their solar panels through a maze to a charging station. Students will draft prototypes, test their designs, and make changes to their design based...

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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will identify possible design solutions to have a Sphero SPRK+ pull solar panels as a portable power source.Students will work in groups to determine the best possible designs and construct and test these designs with their team.Students will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each design and incorporate these findings into further construction phases.
Author:
Deb Frankel
Other Subjects Covered:
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Sphero SPRK+

Solar SPRK+: Final Challenge and Presentation

Grades:
6-8
Unit:
Lesson Number:
6
Description:

In this lesson, students will navigate through a maze using their SPRK+ in order to reach the solar charging station. Students will redesign their chariot in order to meet the needs of this new maze in order to carry their solar panels to the charging...

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More Details Less Details
Learning Goal(s):
Students will combine SPRK+ programming with the construction of a compatible chariot in order to guide their SPRK+ “Mars rover” to carry solar panels to a charging station.Students will present a final project to the class that summarizes their knowledge about the scientific background knowledge tied to this project as well as their design and testing process.
Author:
Deb Frankel
Estimated Activity Length:
8 hours
US DOE WInd Turbines

Variables Affecting Wind Turbine Power

Grades:
7-8
Lesson Number:
5
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...

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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
Author:
Craig Marais
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours