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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Gol Solar or Not to Go Solar!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners evaluate the feasibility of installing a photovoltaic system on the roof of a new school being planned for their community. They research the topoc and then each student assumes the role of a specialist having a specific point...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Photocells Work

For Teachers 7th - 10th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperature and the Tomato

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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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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...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Climate Zones

For Teachers 5th - 11th Standards
The climate at the equator is hotter than the climate at the poles, but why? The lesson goes in depth, explaining how the angles of illumination relate to the heating rate at different latitudes and seasons. Scholars use a strong lamp,...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Optimization

For Students 9th - 12th
In this optimization of satellites worksheet, high schoolers read about the Octagonal IMAGE satellite and solve 4 problems related to the size and shape of the satellite and the solar cells used to power the satellite. Students find the...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Teach Engineering

Maximum Power Point

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the maximum power output of a photovoltaic panel with a lesson that introduces the class to the maximum power point. Individuals learn how to determine the maximum power point of a solar panel by using Ohm's law and the power...
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Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

Ice, Ice, PV!

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Knowing the temperature coefficient allows for the calculation of voltage output at any temperature. Groups conduct an experiment to determine the effects of temperature on the power output of a solar panel. The teams alter the...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Engine of Life

For Teachers 5th - 11th Standards
There is a specific zone, or distance from a star, that a planet must be in order to have water in a liquid form. The activity demonstrates how flux density depends on its distance from the source. A photovoltaic cell gets power to...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Teach Engineering

Pointing at Maximum Power for PV

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Following detailed directions, teams collect the voltage and current outputs of a photovoltaic cell by adjusting the resistance. Using the collected data, they determine the highest power output. Implications for weather and a large...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Sunlight to Electric Current

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore concept of current in electrical circuits. They examine how energy from the sun can be used to power everyday items, including vehicles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Make a Solar Car

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students transform a car that they have built out of K'NEX into a solar car. Students add one or two solar cells to the car to power a DC motor then connect the motor to the car and come up with a method to drive the car. This is the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spotlight on Photovoltaics and Fuel Cells

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students utilize Internet resources to uncover the pros and cons of two topics in alternative energy technology: photovoltaics and fuel cells. Students analyze the structure and function of each system to make observations about the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Racing with the Sun - Creating a Solar Car

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers use a purchased kit to build a solar powered car. They connect a solar photovoltaic panel to a motor which runs the car forward and backward. They determine how to wire the car to move in both directions.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Bonneville

Three Ways to Generate Electricity

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Get your hands on electricity. Pupils investigate magnetic fields and make the connection to generators in the fourth lesson in a series of six lessons on wind versus solar energy. Learners use a small electric motor as a generator to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Simple Ammeter

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students build and work with a simple ammeter to test theories on why solar cells connected in parallel produce more current that in series. Students use the ammeter to indicate the presence, direction, and strength of an electric...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Powered Cars

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students build and race solar powered cars after a teacher lecture. They answer questions based on their experiences with the car they build.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Running on Renewables

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate the costs and benefits of switching their school to sustainable technology energy production. They use software called HOMER developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab to do the cost/ benefit analysis. They then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maximum Power Point

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate how to optimize the power output of a photovoltaic cell using a home-made gnomon stand. They use data collected to create current-voltage and power-voltage curves to determine the "maximum PowerPoint," (MPP) at which...
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Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

Concentrating on the Sun with PVs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Concentrate to determine the best reflector design. Pairs use the engineering design process to build a reflector to increase the current output of a photovotaic panel. Teams arrive at a final design and present it to the class along...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Alternative Energy Resources

For Students 7th - 8th
In this alternative energy resources instructional activity, students identify the ore that is commonly used in nuclear power plants and how it is processed. Then they determine the reaction that occurs when uranium atoms are split....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electrolysis of Water

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the electrolysis of water by completing an experiment.  In this water lesson students will explain how hydrogen can be extracted from water and how energy flows through an electrolysis system. 
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Unit Plan
Tennessee Valley Authority

Renewable Energy Sources

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Not all energy sources are renewable, as learners investigate in this unit. Made up of six lessons that span a few weeks of instruction, the unit has learners examining US energy reserves and consumption, using data to draw conclusions...
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Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

Quantum Dots and Colors

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Introduce teams to quantum dot solutions with an activity that has them expose solutions to a blacklight, observe the colors, and take measurements. Groups graph the data and analyze the dependence between particle size and...