Electrical Energy and Solar Module Efficiency

Car Charger Schematic
Average Rating:
0
Unit:
Intended Grade Level(s):
7-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
electrical energy
Calculating power
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will document necessary terms in their journals 2. Students will be able to set up a multimeter to measure voltage 3. Students will be able to set up a multimeter to measure current 4. Students will be able to calculate power from data collected 5. Students should be able to measure the collector area of a solar module (area of solar cell(s) within solar module) and represent this value in square meters (m^2)

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

This lesson will let students do research to define terms that will be used in this unit. They will record this information in their Journals, which can be scientific or simple homemade notebooks. This lesson will also introduce the multimeter, small solar modules, and how to calculate power. Students will compare the power of the module to its... View full description >>

Coeur d' Alene Tribe Natural Resources

Location:
Plummer, ID
Grade Level:
K-12
Technology Type:
PV System Size:
14.25 - kilowatts

The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is excited to host a solar-electric demonstration project that will educate students who will become the leaders in the area in the next generations. This 14.25 -kilowatt system sits atop the Tribe's Natural Resources building and was installed in 2016.
Educators from across the... Read full project narrative >>

Bioreactor Water Circulation System

Wort Chiller
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
7-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Physical science
Energy Fundamentals; Sustainable energy
Solar/Renewable energy
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will examine the properties of solar water pumping systems using KidWind solar water pumps or similar water pumps. 2. Students will experiment with the properties of water and its limitations in circulating due to pump power and distance. 3. Students will evaluate the use of a heat sink/chiller in the circulation of water through the bioreactor.

Solar energy is available when the sun shines but energy can be supplemented at night by the decomposition energy in a bioreactor. In this activity we will experiment with the feasibility of using heated water in a bioreactor to circulate it through a water trough or pipe system to prevent it from freezing in the winter. This method will save... View full description >>

Compost Bioreactor Design

Compost Heater
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
7-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Energy Transfer 101
Physical science
Energy Fundamentals
Sustainable energy
Solar/Renewable energy
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will research the science of composting and proper maintenance methods to build their own bioreactor. 2. Students will research the proper composition of compost for maximum heat production. 3. Students will transfer the thermal energy in compost to a container of water heat water with by placing a vessel in the middle of the active compost/bioreactor.

Solar energy is available when the sun shines but energy can be supplemented at night by the release of energy during the composting of organic waste. In this activity, we will experiment with the feasibility of harnessing thermal energy to heat water with a bioreactor. Students will experiment with using compost buckets as bioreactors, first... View full description >>

Passive Solar Water Heating

Solar Thermal Jug
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Passive Solar 101
Physical science
Energy Fundamentals
Sustainable energy
renewable energy
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will cover/manipulate milk jugs to achieve the most solar energy absorption. 2. Students will calculate the joules of energy absorbed by the solar heated water. 3. Students will measure and graph the temperature changes of their solar milk jugs. 4. Students will gain an understanding of the amount of energy in sunlight.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students retrofit milk jugs to absorb and retain the most solar energy. This process involves students collecting data that measures the impacts of different variables on the solar energy absorbed by each collection device. Students should be able to see patterns in both the absorption and retention of heat by various types of designs. During... View full description >>

Illuminate Me: Merging Conductive Sewing, Technology, and Solar Power

Arduino Angler Design
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
7-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
electricity
electronics
Conductive Thread
solar energy
Wearable technologies
Programming
Arduino
Battery charging
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will design and sew a wearable circuit using conductive thread. 2. Students will program a wearable microcontroller to light up garment with bright LEDs. 3. Students will incorporate solar power into a wearable garment project by recharging NiMH batteries for a renewable energy battery pack. 4. Students will apply knowledge of circuitry and energy transfer to maximize design.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Light up your clothing using solar power! For this unit, students will attach thin, flexible solar modules to a bike helmet and recharge NiMH rechargeable batteries for a renewable energy battery pack. The rechargeable batteries will be used to light up bright LEDs via conductive thread and a programmed microcontroller. ... View full description >>

Lancaster, PA - Educators' Workshop

Lancaster, PA thumbnail
Location:
Lancaster, PA
Grade Level:
6-12

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding an Arconic facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Intermediate Unit (IU) 13, a regional education resources agency for the Lancaster-Lebanon area, hosted this workshop at their conference center.  IU 13 works closely with regional districts and was able to pinpoint outreach through district leaders to the immediate Lancaster area and to the most high need schools.  All of the 14 participating teachers from seven schools from the School District of Lancaster, as well as their science... Read full project narrative >>

Pittsburgh, PA - Educators' Workshop

Pittsburgh workshop thumbnail
Location:
Pittsburgh, PA
Grade Level:
6-12

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Pittsburgh, New Kensington, and Cranberry Township in Pennsylvania.  This workshop was conducted with a partnership between Solar 4R Schools and ASSET Stem Inc.  The partnership was developed as a method of combining curricular resources and collaborating on new hands-on content for the workshop itself.  Specifically, workshop activities were reworked in order to be more inquiry driven and include formative assessment pieces that are effective for usage during... Read full project narrative >>

Wichita Falls, TX - Educators' Workshop

Location:
Wichita Falls, TX
Grade Level:
4-12

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Wichita Falls, Texas in Spring 2016. Twenty-four teachers across 18 schools in 14 Districts participated in a professional development experience organized by their Educational Service Center (ESC) that included one day focusing on renewable energy education with Solar 4R Schools. ESC Region 9 hosted this workshop and Ward Scientific sponsored lunch and door prizes. Teachers from 4th-12th grade took home one science kit to share for every school that included... Read full project narrative >>

Wenatchee, WA - Educators' Workshop

Wenatchee WA solar car team Thumbnail
Location:
Wenatchee, WA
Grade Level:
9-12

Arconic Foundation supported STEM teacher professional development for educators in the region surrounding Arconic facilities in Wenatchee, Washington in Summer 2016. Seven high school science teachers from Wenatchee High School and the River Academy gathered in August 2016 to incorporate solar and wind science into their curriculum while adding more data collection technology to their classroom science materials. The teachers anticipate providing renewable energy STEM education to over 500 students in the district in the first year.

Washington Green Schools also partnered with... Read full project narrative >>