Here's the perfect lesson for those who think the world needs faster pumps. Building on the previous activity, scholars work to make the pumps function faster in transferring water between containers. They try adding an additional solar module, using mirrors to direct light to the modules and ramps to change the angle of the solar modules. They record their data and determine which method was the best.

Concepts

solar energy, data collection, data display, hypotheses, the scientific method

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Instructional Ideas

• Have the class design their own additional experiments to conduct
  

Classroom Considerations

• Sixth of seven parts in the Understanding Science and Engineering unit
• Requires knowledge of electric circuits and water pumps from prior lessons
  

Pros

• Provides student worksheets and recording sheets
• Lists some possible extensions for learners in different grades
  

Cons

• Note that the handouts have multiple typos and grammatical errors

Common Core

W.2.8 W.3.7 W.4.7 W.4.9.b 2.MD.D.10 3.MD.A.2 3.MD.B.3