Activity
Other

Lincoln Public Schools: Applied Technology & Engineering: Solar Dragster Project [Pdf]

For Students 7th - 9th
In this activity, students must design and build a solar-powered car that can complete a 20-meter racetrack (66 ft.) in the shortest amount of time over flat terrain. They learn about solar energy and car designs, and test their...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Are You in Hot Water? Use Solar Energy to Heat Your Own Water

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The goal of this science fair project is to build batch solar collectors from different colors of plastic bags and see which collector is the most efficient in heating water.
Website
US Department of Energy

U.s. Department of Energy: Solar Energy Technologies Program: Solar Multimedia

For Students 9th - 10th
Browse and download from this multimedia collection which contains photographs, videos, B-roll, graphics, and animations related to solar technologies, research, and projects.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Exploring Solar Power

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This unit provides students the opportunity to explore methods engineers have devised for harnessing sunlight to generate power. Students will initially explore heat transfer and heat storage through the construction, testing, and...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Concentrated Solar Power

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars learn how the total solar irradiance hitting a photovoltaic (PV) panel can be increased through the use of a concentrating device, such as a reflector or lens. This is the final lesson plan in the Photovoltaic Efficiency...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Solar Speedway

For Students 6th - 8th
Solar power is hot these days. Gleaming, black solar panels soak up rays on more and more rooftops of homes and businesses providing a clean, alternative source of heat and electricity. You might guess that different times of the day...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Electronics and Solar Energy With a Robot Bug

For Students 3rd - 8th
In this science fair project, use the "frightened grasshopper" solar-powered toy to explore how solar energy is converted into kinetic energy. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract,...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Organic Solar Energy and Berries

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn about how a device made with dye from a plant, specifically cherries, blackberries, raspberries and/or black currents, can be used to convert light energy into electrical energy. They do this by building their own organic...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Cold Room? Heat It Up With a Homemade Solar Air Heater

For Students 3rd - 8th
Humans need food, water, and warm shelter to survive. But a lot of humans depend on fossil fuels to supply gas and electricity to heat our homes. But burning fossil fuels to create energy is harmful to the environment. In this science...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Solar Water Heater

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Student teams design and build solar water heating devices that mimic those used in residences to capture energy in the form of solar radiation and convert it to thermal energy. This thermal energy is next transferred to water (to be...
Activity
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Activity: Solar Stadium Challenge

For Students 9th - 10th
A project for students to imagine they are writing a proposal for a bid to design and construct a football stadium that is heated by solar power. As a structural engineering, the students will be creating this proposal for a new NFL team...
Handout
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas

State Energy Conservation Office: Solar Water Heaters [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains the types of solar water heaters a home can have. These include a passive system, an active system, and a solar collector, as well as the need for a storage tank. It also gives tips on how to get the best use from a solar water...
Lesson Plan
Other

California Energy Commission: Solar Energy Science Projects [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Four science projects in which students learn how solar energy works and how thermal energy is transferred and utlized in a solar air heater, a solar water heater, a solar hot dog cooker, and a solar cell.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Solar Powered Water Desalination

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a cool project about making fresh water from salt water using solar power, also known as water desalination. The apparatus is made from readily available materials, and the power source is free. As an inventive thinker, you will...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Absorption of Radiant Energy by Different Colors

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science fair project, use an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of differently colored paper exposed to sunlight, and calculate energy emission using the Stefan-Boltzmann equation. Find discussion questions, a list...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Energy Through Time

For Students 9th - 10th
The quest for energy has always been a balancing act. As humans have gained greater control over their environment, they've found abundant resources - and faced numerous challenges. This article traces the history of our quest for energy.
Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Need Project: Solar Oven [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
An introduction and activity to engage students in building a solar oven.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Solar Racing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This is an extensive project in designing and building a solar-powered car model. Young scholars must make detailed calculations and design decisions about wheel size, gear ratio, how to get the most energy from the sun, air drag,...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Solar Water: Heat It Up!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore energy efficiency, focusing on renewable energy, by designing and building flat-plate solar water heaters. They apply their understanding of the three forms of heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation), as...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy Efficient Housing

For Teachers 9th - 10th
We all know that it takes energy to provide us with the basics of shelter: heating, cooling, lighting, electricity, sanitation and cooking. To create energy-efficient housing that is practical for people to use every day requires...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy Resources and Systems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Several activities are included to teach and research the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources and various energy resources. Learners work with a quantitative, but simple model of energy resources to show how rapidly...
Lesson Plan
University of Arizona

Pulse: Health Friendly Energy Production

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A cross curricular project where young scholars conduct a moot court to explore the role government policy plays in protecting our health. The focus of the unit is how our power effects our environmental health. Students use their...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy Sources Research

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Fact sheets are provided for several different energy resources as a starting point for students to conduct literature research on the way these systems work and their various pros and cons. Students complete a worksheet for homework or...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Now You're Cooking!

For Students 6th - 8th
Here is a project that uses direct solar power, gathering the sun's rays for heating and sterilizing water or cooking. It's a low-cost technology that seems to have everything going for it. Use this project to find out if it works, and...