Lesson Planet: Curated OER
On the Moon Educator Guide
The five lessons in NASA’s On the Moon Educator Guide challenge young engineers to design and build an air-powered rocket, a shock-absorbing system to protect two marshmallow astronauts, and a rubber band-powered rover. In addition, they...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Introduction to the Photovoltaic Effect
Four engaging lessons introduce scholars to the photovoltaic effect, solar cells, and electricity. After learning related vocabulary, pupils watch a video to learn why silicon is often used as a photoelectric semiconductor and how solar...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Activity Book: Discover Your Changing World With NOAA
Introduce middle schoolers to the essential principles of climate science with a collection of 10 activities. Class members learn about the Earth’s climate systems, factors that change these systems, and the impacts of those changes....
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Plugging into the Sun
What's cooking? A sizzling STEM unit challenges scholars to build a solar cooker that can successfully cook an egg. The unit opens with a study of Earth's rotation, the sun's energy, and shadows. Pupils use a compass and thermometer to...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
I’ve Got the POWER! Solar Energy Potential at Your School
Should every school have solar panels? The 19th lesson in a series of 21 has scholars research the feasibility of using solar panels at their school. They begin by gathering data on the solar energy in the area before estimating the...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Things Are Not Always What They Seem
Science is magic that works. Magical color-changing beads and a coffee can that follows voice commands are just two examples of magic tricks that rely on science. After completing a hands-on activity and an experiment investigating the...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
The Science of the Sun
There's more to that glowing ball of light in sky than most children realize. From the overall structure of the solar system, to the changing of the seasons, these hands-on lessons open the eyes of young scientists to the important role...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Radiation
Two types of radiation are discussed in this conversation between a professional and a preteen scientist. Solar rays and galactic cosmic rays are extremely powerful and need to be shielded against when astronauts travel in space....
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
The Absorption of Solar Energy
Two sequential parts to this instructional activity introduce your class to the electromagnetic spectrum, the ability to absorb radiant energy, and the pigments in leaves that are responsible for collecting sunlight to be used in the...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Changing Planet: Black Carbon - a Dusty Situation
Introduce your young meteorologists to black carbon produced by the burning of fossil fuels by showing the video, "Changing Planet: Black Carbon." Viewers discover that deposition of this carbon on polar ice impacts the absorption of...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #9 - Properties of Solar Radiation: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption
Middle school science stars observe and record data on the solar radiation reflected off or transmitted through various materials. They predict properties for various materials, and test their predictions by touch. This lesson becomes...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Earth’s Energy Budget - Seasonal Cycles
Earth's energy budget should be in the red. Young researchers review satellite data in a presentation to study Earth's solar radiation. They make both qualitative and quantitative observations about variations in available seasonal...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Cloudy vs. Clear - Maps
Find out the science of how clouds keep Earth cooler on hot days. Using guided discussions, investigators analyze and interpret maps of how much solar energy Earth receives at different times of the year. Participants draw conclusions...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Cloudy vs. Clear - Graphs
Explore the link between solar energy and cloud cover using real data from NASA from China! Future climatologists analyze and interpret graphs of solar energy on clear and cloudy days using a literacy cube. Investigators draw conclusions...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Comparing Temperature and Solar Radiation for Common Latitudes
There's snow much to learn! Excited individuals use real-world data to discover how latitude affects the odds of a snow day. Scientists compare latitude, solar radiation, and temperature using NASA data for several locations....
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Seasonal Science: Building Claims from Evidence
A lot can change in a year! Investigators observe a video of Earth over the course of a year and complete a KWL chart. Astronomers view a second video, participate in a guided discussion, and discuss the rubric for successfully...
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Calculating Relative Air Mass
Combine math and science with fun in the sun! Scientists build a solar gnomon using reusable materials to calculate relative air mass. Mathematicians measure the pole's shadow and use the data to solve for relative air mass....
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Feel the Heat
Heat water up like a NASA engineer. Using the engineering design process, investigators create a system to trap and move heat through a water-filled tube. Designers participate in a post-activity discussion that highlights the role of...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Solar Site Assessment
Apply the mantra of real estate to solar panels: location, location, location. Learners use a Solar Pathfinder to conduct site assessments for possible spots on school grounds to place a solar module. They find the amount of insolation...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Solar Pathfinder Tutorial
Find the right path to learn about solar energy. Scholars set up and use Solar Pathfinders to take measurements related to solar insolation at a particular site. Based on the data, they estimate the solar potential in kWh/m^2/day of a...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Earth’s Energy Budget
Take the time and energy learn about Earth's energy budget. An engaging unit of four lessons focuses on the components that make up Earth's energy budget. Future scientists come up with a formula for the energy budget, then use software...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Summer Midnight Sun
Sunlight hours and climate have a clear connection. Young researchers collect data about the sunrise and sunset times in an Arctic climate as well as the average temperatures. They then graph their data to make connections between the...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
The Climate Team: Make a Solar Heat Engine
Learners investigate how solar energy is converted into heat in part two of the 10-part Discover Your Changing World series. They build and test homemade solar cookers to boil water and cook rice. Pupils consider the impact of heat...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
3 Unsolved Moon Mysteries
What do people really know about the moon? Learn about three unsolved moon mysteries: the moon's past magnetic field, lunar sunrises, and what's really inside the moon's craters. An engaging video from the SciShow Space series connects...