Other
Lincoln Public Schools: Applied Technology & Engineering: Solar Dragster Project [Pdf]
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...
US Department of Energy
U.s. Department of Energy: Solar Energy Technologies Program: Solar Multimedia
Browse and download from this multimedia collection which contains photographs, videos, B-roll, graphics, and animations related to solar technologies, research, and projects.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Exploring Solar Power
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Concentrated Solar Power
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Organic Solar Energy and Berries
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...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Activity: Solar Stadium Challenge
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...
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas
State Energy Conservation Office: Solar Water Heaters [Pdf]
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...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Energy Through Time
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.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Solar Racing
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,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Solar Water: Heat It Up!
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy Efficient Housing
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy Resources and Systems
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Energy Sources Research
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Daylighting Design
Students explore the many different ways that engineers provide natural lighting to interior spaces. They analyze various methods of daylighting by constructing model houses from foam core board and simulating the sun with a desk lamp....
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Solar Oven
Use the sun's energy to cook an egg? Design, build and test a solar oven. Activity gives a procedure to build oven as well as questions to answer. Questions can be saved and graded by instructor.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Engineering the Future of Solar Electricity
Part of a materials science engineering course, a project through which students investigate the future of solar electricity by creating prototypes of solar cells. Students complete exercises in "project planning, analysis, design,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Design a Net Zero Energy Classroom
Students create a concept design of their very own net-zero energy classroom by pasting renewable energy and energy-efficiency items into and around a pretend classroom on a sheet of paper. They learn how these items (such as solar...
NASA
Nasa: Effect of the Sun's Energy on the Ocean and Atmosphere
A project based lesson where students' mission is to conduct a series of tasks that enable them to audit Earth's energy budget and help answer a number of science questions.
Text Project
Text Project: Fyi for Kids: Stained Glass: Painting With Sunlight [Pdf]
This magazine article discusses stained glass including its history, how it is made, and materials used to make it.
Other
Siemens Science Day: Physical Science: You're Getting Warmer
This hands-on science activity allows students to explore how materials absorb sunlight differently. Students will create model houses with different materials on the roof and see which material allows the most heat to be absorbed into...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Zero Energy Housing
Students investigate passive solar building design with a focus solely on heating. They learn how insulation, window placement, thermal mass, surface colors, and site orientation play important roles in passive solar heating. They use...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Quantum Dots and Colors
Students are introduced to the physical concept of the colors of rainbows as light energy in the form of waves with distinct wavelengths, but in a different manner than traditional kaleidoscopes. Looking at different quantum dot...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Pointing at Maximum Power for Pv
Student teams measure voltage and current in order to determine the power output of a photovoltaic (PV) panel. They vary the resistance in a simple circuit connected to the panel to demonstrate the effects on voltage, current, and power...
Other
Chewonki Foundation: Pathways to a Sustainable Future: Renewable Energy
Information on different forms of renewable energy with links for student projects, resources for teachers, and links to related resources.