Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Solar Energy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students study solar energy and how to measure it.  For this energy sources lesson students complete a lab, obtain data and use that to convert surface temperature to energy. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cooker Challenge

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars use the scientific method to design a slow cooker.  In this experimental method lesson plan students measure temperatures and conversions of the solar cooker that they create.
Lesson Plan
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Catching Rays

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate solar collectors. In this energy lesson, students create and demonstrate solar collectors. They will use measurement, data collecting, and analyze their findings to determine the best orientations for their solar...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Night Golf Classroom Guide

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read the story "Night Golf" and respond to questions that enhance their comprehension of the book's message.  In this reading instructional activity, students participate in a literature circle to explore reading passages....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System: Go Green with the Sun!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders learn how to use solar power.  In this sun, technology and energy instructional activity, 3rd graders learn how the solar power from the sun can give off energy, learn about solar panels, discuss their uses and...
Activity
US Department of Energy

Solar Distiller

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Explore the sun's ability to distill contaminated water with this simple set of classroom experiments. After filling two glass bowls, one with muddy water and the other with salt water, they are covered with plastic wrap and placed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Racing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars design and build solar-powered cars. In this renewable energy lesson, students view websites showing a Department of Energy contest and solar-powered car design guidelines. They work in teams to design and build prototypes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson plan, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cooking with the Sun!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners access prior knowledge of solar energy and understand that solar energy produces heat. In this solar cooker activity, students complete grade appropriate experiments using the heat of the sun. Learners complete a worksheet on...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Hinode Satellite Power

For Students 8th - 10th
In this Hinode satellite worksheet, students find the area of the solar panels that cover the Hinode satellite to provide power. They determine the amount of power produced by the solar cells and if it is enough to keep all the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar Electricity

For Students 9th - 11th
In this solar electricity and satellites activity, students calculate the perimeter of a satellite, they find the area of the surface of the satellite and they determine if there is sufficient space for enough solar panels to supply the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar S’Mores

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students use the energy of the sun to make s'mores. In this solar energy lesson, students gather the listed materials and follow the procedures to find out if they can make s'mores using solar energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Matters II

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students research solar energy. For this solar energy lesson, students construct a KWL chart and research solar energy through various websites and related readings. Students complete a science journal page as an assessment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Energy Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students observe solar energy at work. In this science instructional activity, students watch two bottles, painted black and white, sit in the heat with balloons on the mouth of the bottles. They observe and discuss why the balloon of...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar Energy

For Students 8th - 10th
In this solar energy worksheet, students read about the uses of solar energy, the benefits and the costs. They answer four critical thinking questions about solar energy.
Organizer
Curated OER

How Can Renewable Energy Be Used?

For Students 5th - 12th
In this renewable energy worksheet, students will write in details about the 4 types of renewable energy sources: solar, wind, moving water, and nuclear energy. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Secret Message: Worksheet #1

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this following directions instructional activity, students will have to follow 12 directions in order to decipher a secret message. The message is "Solar energy is renewable."
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pen Light Lab

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study what makes Earth warm and explore how different locations on the planetreceive different amounts of solar energy based on the intensity of the sun's rays. They calculate light intensities and compare the amounts of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do We Explore Strange Environments?

For Teachers K - 4th
Students identify and label the different parts of a robot, rover, or a spacecraft. They discuss and record all of the features their robot will need to accomplish its mission and be able to explain why they chose these features to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Daily and Seasonal Cycles

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify the sun as a source of heat and light. They identify features of houses that help keep use sheltered and comfortable throughout daily and seasonal cycles. Students are told that summer is the best season to...
Lesson Plan
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Fossil Fuels (III), The Geology of Coal: Interpreting Geologic History

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars hypothesize about why various samples of coal have different characteristics. Pupils use information that they found during Internet searches to ascertain the validity of their hypotheses and verify the "story" of coal. ...
Lesson Plan
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Solar Kit Lesson #13 Solarize a Toy

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students work in teams they select a low-power toy, game, or electrical deive to "solarize," or convert to solar power. They determine the operating voltage of their chosen device and design a solar array to provide this level of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parts of a Solar Panel-Part I

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners examine electrical contacts, solar cells, and rechargeable batteries and compare and contrast the characteristics of a solar cell to a rechargeable battery in a hands-on activity. Students complete a worksheet as they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parts of a Solar Panel-Part II

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover how a mini-solar panel is constructed by behaving like detectives. Students examine an actual solar panel, measure the solar panel's voltage and use drawings to describe what they observe before completing questions...