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Worksheet
Texas State Energy Conservation Office

Investigation: Making a PV Cell

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Rise and shine! Class members collaborate to construct a photovoltaic solar cell with two semiconductor layers, as guided by this fabulous lab sheet. They test its output with an ammeter or galvanometer. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Heat: Building and Testing a Solar Oven

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Building a solar oven is always an enriching and engaging activity when your class is studying forms of energy or alternative and renewable energy sources. This lesson plan refers you to the re-energy.ca home website for specific...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #15 - Solar-Powered Electrolysis of Water and the Hydrogen Economy

For Teachers 10th - 12th
An outstanding activity awaits your physics fledglings! After reading about how hydrogen can act as an energy carrier, they examine the electrolysis of water using solar power. They test the gases produced for flammability and will...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson # 12 - Calibration Curve for a Radiation Meter

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Scientists need to have mastered algebraic slope-intercept concepts in order for this lesson to be effective. They will measure and graph solar panel output as a function of the amount of radiation striking it, discovering that there is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #9 - Properties of Solar Radiation: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption

For Teachers 6th - 9th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ethanol Fermentation

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Biofuel is a possible form of clean and renewable energy. Engineering explorers observe the fermentation process, and then alter the temperature to discover the effect on fermentation. The plan is complete with materials, procedures, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hybrid Vehicles: Cut Pollution and Save Money

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Math and science meet in this lesson on hybrid electric automobiles. This 24-page resource provides everything you need for teaching a lesson that compares the use of internal combustion engines to hybrid electric engines. Participants...
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PPT
Curated OER

Producing Energy From Fossil Fuels and Renewable Sources

For Teachers 6th - 12th
All types of energy are presented here, with neat pictures and labels to illustrate the technology typically used. Ways of harnessing the energy most efficiently are discussed, and good examples provide starters for further research....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #13 - Solarize a Toy

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Physical science or technology classes will be invigorated by this challenge: to convert a toy, game, or other device to run on solar power. In doing so, they will design the appropriate solar arrays. This is an A+ lesson, complete with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #11 - Power Maximum: An Electrical Determination

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Collaborative groups connect resistors and solar panels in series and measure electrical resistance, voltage, and current. The objective is to order 16 solar panels from strongest to weakest. They graph current-voltage and power curves...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #8 - Positioning Solar Panels II: Explorations with Stationary Panels

For Teachers 6th - 9th
This lesson is preparation-intensive, but well worth the investment. You will construct five or six portable testing stations with which lab groups will gather data on the best position for collecting sunlight with a solar panel. This is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #1 - Solar Cell Inquiry

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Give youngsters the components of a solar-powered electric circuit and turn them loose to figure out how to connect them in order for a light to shine or motor to turn. They compare energy output of a solar panel to that of a battery. On...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Why does it get so hot inside of our cars in the summertime? The greenhouse effect! Lab groups experiment to see what happens to an ice cube enclosed in a jar and placed in sunlight as compared to an ice cube outside of the jar. They...
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Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Hydroelectricity

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Use a simple PowerPoint presentation to introduce you environmental studies class to hydropower. Hold a debate about the pros and cons of developing this form of alternative energy. Power up your class with this simple lesson on a topic...
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PPT
Curated OER

Energy and Conservation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Touching upon energy sources and the causes of pollution, this PowerPoint could be expanded. For example, it describes the greehnouse effect and the problems associated with global warming, but does not indicate that the greenhouse...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Car Races: Build and retrofit for speed

For Teachers 6th - 9th
If you have solar car kits for your junior high schoolers, they can experiment with photovoltaic cell angle, light intensity, and aerodynamic design to discover what makes their car move more quickly. This is a classic activity to use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Allocating Energy from a Photovoltaic System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Go Solar or Not to Go Solar!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Power of PV: Measuring the Power and Energy of Photovoltaic System

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students explore photovoltaic systems. In this alternative energy instructional activity, students calculate solar panel efficiency and convert devices to solar energy using photovoltaic cells.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sustainability Project

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore alternative energy sources. In this environmental lesson, students discuss alternative energy sources and construct a plan to incorporate an alternative home technology into a bedroom. Young scholars build a model...