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Renewable Energy Sentences
Students construct sentences using nouns and verbs from a "renewable energy" word bank. In this cross curriculum ecology and sentence structure grammar and mechanics lesson, students listen to the book Our Earth: Clean Energy by Peggy...
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Seasons and Cloud Cover, Are They Related?
Students use NASA satellite data to see cloud cover over Africa. In this seasons lesson students access data and import it into Excel.
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Cloudy vs. Clear
Students analyze line plots. In this weather lesson using real NASA data, students discuss how weather affects the way the Earth is heated by comparing different line plots.
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How Photocells Work
Give small groups of physical scientists tokens that represent electrons in a photovoltaic cell. They play a dice game in which they move the tokens around, representing the flow of electrons through the p-n junction of a semiconductor...
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Temperature and the Tomato
You will need a photovoltaic system and monitor at your school in order to obtain all of the data required to thoroughly implement this lesson. Your class monitors daily temperature and insolation amounts over a two week span of time....
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Light Can Heat Too!
Third graders explore absorption and reflection of light energy. In this solar energy lesson, 3rd graders explore how light energy transfers to heat energy through the construction of a solar water heater. Students will discuss and...
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Allocating Energy from a Photovoltaic System
How much electricity do you use in a day? Physics fanatics calculate their energy use by consulting a chart of the watts required to run typical household appliances. They compare power to amounts of electric energy used or generated....
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To Go Solar or Not to Go Solar!
Middle schoolers imagine that they are on a panel to consider if a solar energy system would be advantageous to a new school as it is being built. They read the included handout and then each play a role as a participant in a community...
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Solar Hot Box
Students investigate how different colors and materials create various temperatures and apply this it the concept of solar energy.
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Passive Solar Design
Students study what passive solar design is for buildings and structures. In this solar design lesson students identify passive solar design techniques.
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Our Amazing, Powerful Sun
Students examine where energy comes from and how it can be used. In this solar energy lesson students explore different aspects of the sun.
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Heat Transfer
Learners examine heat transfer using energy efficient houses. In this heat transfer lesson students calculate the heat that is transferred between a system and its surroundings.
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Using Heat
The 6 slides give a few examples of ways that we use heat and heating systems. There is a diagram of circulation in a stove and forced air system as well as other examples of heat movers. Great for an introduction.
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Attributes of Renewable Energy: From Nanopossibilities to Solar Power
Young scholars explore solar energy, why we use it and how we use it. In this renewable energy lesson students compare active and solar techniques.
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Solar Effects on Global Warming
Students explore the greenhouse effect and how it affects our climate. In this global warming lesson students draw the sun and label features and describe the effects of the sun's energy on the world.
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Why is Summer Hot?
Students examine how variations in temperature are due to the Sun and length of day. In this solar lesson students complete a lab activity using thermometers and artificial sunlight to see how the earth is heated.
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Sunspots
Students examine what a sunspot is and how it is produced. In this sun lesson students locate and measure sunspots then view them through a camera.
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Rechargeable Batteries
High schoolers explore how rechargeable batteries work by conducting a series of experiments. In this physics lesson, students discuss the benefits of using rechargeable batteries over disposable ones. They build their own battery...
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Primary Energy Sources Pros and Cons
Students explore the different types of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. In this earth science lesson, students discuss the pros and cons of each type. They conduct a variety of experiments on renewable energy.
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Methods of Power- Solar, Hydrogen, and Electric
Students examine solar, hydrogen, electric power. In this research based instructional activity, students will do simple investigations, view videos, discuss, and research how these three types of energy are used for power. They...
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The Magic of Solar Thermal: How the Sun Can Be Used to Heat Water
Students are introduced to how the sun is used to heat water. In this solar lesson students identify the different types of solar water heating and demonstrate how it works.
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How Solar Cells Work: Converting Sunlight to Electricity
Students examine how to convert sunlight to electricity. In this renewable energy sources lesson plan students explain how solar cells are used and use a voltmeter to measure the energy produced by a solar panel.
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The Power of PV: Measuring the Power and Energy of Photovoltaic System
Young scholars explore photovoltaic systems. In this alternative energy lesson, students calculate solar panel efficiency and convert devices to solar energy using photovoltaic cells.
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Our Solar Roof
Students sketch what a solar installation will look like. In this energy lesson, students examine the benefits of using solar energy. They record a video on the installation event for further study.