Teacher Activity Center

Energy Efficiency,

Energy Fundamentals,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will document necessary terms in their journals 2. Students will be able to set up a multimeter to measure voltage 3. Students will be able to set up a multimeter to measure current 4. Students will be able to calculate power from data collected 5. Students should be able to measure the collector area of a solar module (area of solar cell(s) within solar module) and represent this value in square meters (m^2)

Pedagogy & Practice:

Research-Secondary

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Brett McFarland

Relevant NGSS PE:

MS-ETS1-3,

MS-PS2-3,

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Reading: Scientific & Technical,

ELA: Writing,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Estimated Activity Length:

4 hours

Designing a Solar Phone Charger

Grades:

7-12

Unit:

Off the Grid

Lesson Number:

Description:

This is the culminating activity for the unit “Off the Grid.” Students will be given some restricted parameters around which to design a solar powered battery operated phone (or other USB device) charger . They will charge the AA battery packs that have...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will be able to design a device that can charge a phone with 4 hours of sun a day. 2. Students will use collected data and be able to support their design – i.e. the data will show that the unit will produce enough energy to charge a phone given it receives 4 hours of sun a day. 3. Students will also be able to calculate efficiency from their power calculations. 4. Students will be able to compare efficiencies of their circuit to others tested in this unit. 5. Students can calculate how much energy 4 hours of sunlight can produce on the solar modules they will use.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data,

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions,

7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Author:

Brett McFarland

Relevant NGSS PE:

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Estimated Activity Length:

5 hours

Measuring Voltage Using a Microcontroller

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

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:

Hands-on Materials

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

2: Developing and Using Models,

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science,

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Algebra,

Math: Functions,

Estimated Activity Length:

2 hours

Controlling a Servo

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

In this lesson students will learn how to control a servo using the Basic Stamp. Then students will combine the photoresistor from the previous lesson with the servo to create a light controlled servo.

Energy Content:

Electronics

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to apply the pulse width modulation to a servo from a Basic Stamp. Students will synthesize two circuit designs using one to control the other through the Basic Stamp.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-4,

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science,

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Creating a Light-Tracking Servo

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will learn how to program the Basic Stamp to use information from two photoresistors to point a servo at a light source. This will be the first degree of freedom for the flower head.

Energy Content:

Electronics,

Light (Visible)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will synthesize the previous lesson for light metering and servo control to design a servo controlled by two photoresistors that will track a light source.

Pedagogy & Practice:

Engineering Design,

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Dual Axis Light Tracking

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

Students will take the previous lesson and apply them in creating a light tracker with two degrees of freedom. The axis of rotation will be about the horizontal and vertical. Teams will have everything they need to make this build work. They have already...

Energy Content:

Electronics,

Light (Visible)

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will create a solar tracker with two degrees of freedom.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Integrating Solar Power

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

At this point students should have a working robotic sunflower that will track the sun with 2 degrees of freedom. This next lesson powers the whole system with a photovoltaic module. A Zener diode is used to charge a 6V motorcycle battery which then...

Energy Content:

Electronics,

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will create voltage regulator and construct a solar battery charger.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Author:

Pat Blount

Relevant NGSS PE:

Solar Resources Assessment

Other Subjects Covered:

Computer Science

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Solar Pathfinder Tutorial

Grades:

9-12

Unit:

Lesson Number:

Description:

This lesson is designed to allow the students to practice assembling and using their Solar Pathfinders, along with analyzing the data. The students will take a single measurement and digital photograph at a location near the classroom designated by the...

Energy Content:

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

Students will be able to properly assemble and orient their solar pathfinder. Students will be able to properly record the information provided by a solar pathfinder. Students will be able to accurately analyze the information provided by the solar pathfinder to calculate the solar potential (kWh/m2/day) taking into account variables such as shading, climate and weather.

Pedagogy & Practice:

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

Author:

Clayton Hudiburg

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

ELA: Vocabulary Development,

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Solar Resources Assessment

Estimated Activity Length:

50 min

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:

8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Author:

Clayton Hudiburg

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ESS3-2,

HS-ESS3-4,

HS-PS3-2

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Math: Algebra,

Estimated Activity Length:

1 hour

Replacing Fossil Fuels?

Grades:

10-12

Unit:

Solar Transportation

Lesson Number:

Description:

As students begin to look at the role photovoltaics might play within the transportation energy sector, it is important for them to understand why the phasing-out of fossil fuels is such a daunting task. This lesson is designed to help students comprehend...

Energy Content:

Batteries & Storage,

Biomass Energy,

Energy Fundamentals,

Fuels,

Materials Science,

Sources of Energy,

Transportation

More Details Less Details

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will define energy density. 2. Students will compare energy densities among various transportation fuel options. 3. Students will compare costs per unit of energy among various transportation fuel options. 4. Students will compare energy return on energy invested among various transportation fuel options. 5. Students will assess which fuels have the most potential to replace fossil fuels in the transportation sector using a weighted matrix.

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:

1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,

Author:

Clayton Hudiburg

Relevant NGSS PE:

HS-ETS1-3

Other Subjects Covered:

Math: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division,

Math: Algebra,