Hands-On Solar Energy Guide

Topic:  Solar Energy

Source:  The National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, a nonprofit association sponsored by many energy-related organizations across the U.S.

Web Address:  http://www.need.org/guides.htm, labeled Intermediate Solar Energy Guide under “Hands-On Science Activities.”

Grade Levels:  5-8

Learning Strategies:  Read and comprehend; learn by hands-on explorations; cooperative learning.

Frameworks Connections:

Science and Technology/Engineering

• Earth and Space Science, Grades 6-8

  Heat Transfer in the Earth System

• Physical Sciences, Grades 6-8

  Heat Energy

Mathematics

• Number Sense and Operations, Grades 5-8
• Patterns & Relationships, Grades 5-8
• Data Analysis, Statistics & Probability, Grades 5-8

Cost:  Project kit (for one classroom) is $300.  Teacher and student guides are free to download. 

Description: These guides and materials kit are used to teach a five-class unit on solar energy for "intermediate" grades (grades 6, 7, and, potentially, 8).  The unit consists of "hands-on explorations to teach intermediate students the scientific concepts of solar energy."   Activities include Introduction to Solar Energy, Converting Radiant Energy to Heat, Solar Concentration, Solar Collection, Photovoltaics, Photovoltaic Arrays on the School, and Making Solar Ovens.  The activities are very detailed and most involve elaborate set-ups.  Questions at the end of each activity typically ask the student what he/she has learned about the topic covered.  For most activities, the questions are general ("What did you learn about ____?"). 

The teacher’s guide provides sufficient materials and procedural information, but no additional support.  The unit is based around several investigative activities, and the teacher is expected to take the initiative in connecting aspects of photovoltaics to the curriculum.