Norcross, GA -- Gwinnett County Regional Clean Energy Teacher Training

Location:
Lawrenceville, GA
Grade Level:
K-8

CE partnered with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, Georgia Green & Healthy Schools, Green Cell Atlanta, Gwinnett School District, and Georgia Gwinnett College to deliver a regional teacher training in the summer of 2023 focused on renewable energy and engineering topics. Collaborating with this diverse range of partners, CE aligned with local standards and activity needs to provide a training that facilitated quick and easy usage of new hands-on materials and STEM activities. The workshop also included pre-service teachers from the university. This workshop laid the foundation for... Read full project narrative >>

Alcoa, TN -- East TN Clean Energy Teacher Training

Location:
Knoxville, TN
Grade Level:
3-12

CE partnered with East TN STEM Hub at the University of Tenessee to deliver a hands-on teacher training to 3rd-12th grade teachers from across the Alcoa/Knoxville region in the summer of 2023. This training was the first time the program had delivered a project in the state, and was intended to lay a foundation for much deeper work with Clean Energy Coaches or other teacher leaders in the future. The content in the training emphasized architecture and solar energy project design, intending to set teachers up with individual classroom kits that could support the integration of engineering... Read full project narrative >>

Davenport, IA -- 2023 Clean Energy Teacher Training

Location:
Davenport, IA
Grade Level:
3-12

CE delivered this in-person hands-on renewable energy training to Quad Cities teachers in April of 2023, leveraging existing and newly developed curriculum built by teacher leaders to train new educators around these highly effective tools. CE has partnered with schools in the region since 2017, cultivating deeply collaborative relationships and in the process supporting the development of elementary curriculum in 2021 using individual STEM packs of circuitry materials. CE continued this relationship in 2023 by collaborating with a Clean Energy Coach to co-design curriculum at the high... Read full project narrative >>

Bloomsburg, PA -- 2022 Clean Energy and Ambitious Science Teaching

Location:
Milton, PA, PA
Grade Level:
K-12

In August of 2022, CE collaborated with Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit in Bloomsburg, PA to co-design training focusing on clean energy topics aligned to best practices in Ambitious Science Teaching. Working with a Clean Energy Coach, CE identified activities that aligned with STEELS standards being implemented across the state. These included middle and high school activities examining circuitry and power grid principles as well as Elementary lessons using Storytime STEM packs to link literacy with engineering. 28 teachers attended the training from across the IU's service area,... Read full project narrative >>

Part 3 – Lesson 1: A Plan for Renewable Energy Goals

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours 10 min
Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will utilize previously acquired information about energy needs to create a renewable energy proposal for their city or town.

2.Students will perform a solar energy audit on their homes and use class averages to calculate the amount of renewable energy that can be generated on residential properties.

3.Students will assess where commercial and local government solar projects can occur within the city or town to meet the energy needs for non-residential consumers.

4.Students will determine potential locations for larger scale wind and solar farms to augment the remaining energy needs of the community.

5.Students will prepare a comprehensive renewable energy plan that totals the calculations for potential residential, commercial, and agency renewable energy generation.

6.Students will prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation that summarizes their comprehensive plans that will be presented to a panel of elected officials or local experts/stakeholders.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students will utilize their home energy audits from Part 1, the information they gathered from the wind and solar assessments in Part 2, and the knowledge they gained from the solar project in Part 2 to devise a plan for your city or town to meet renewable energy goals set either by the town/city or by the students. View full description >>

Part 2 - Lesson 3: Solar Energy

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Estimated Activity Length:
6 hours 40 min
Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will conduct an experiment to determine how electrical output changes as solar panels as the azimuth and tilts are incrementally changed.

2.Students will conduct an experiment to determine how electrical output changes as solar panels are shaded.

3.Students will work with the staff from your city or town to calculate the amount of potential electrical energy that can be collected from solar panels based upon the location and size of the system.

4.Students will use existing solar data to determine the number of solar panels required to power the building in question.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students will work with local government staff or another local energy professional to propose a way to create enough solar power energy to supply the annual energy needs for a real building. Students will be provided with on-site options, and will evaluate options based on initial installation costs and projected return on investment.... View full description >>

Part 2 - Lesson 2: Wind Energy

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will conduct an experiment where blade angles are the variable and wind speed is constant.

2.Students will conduct an experiment where blade angles are constant and wind speed varies.

3.Students will collect and analyze data to provide a conclusion to the questions: What is the optimal blade angle for generating the most energy? What is the optimal wind speed for generating the most energy?

4.Students will research prevailing winds and use a provided map of their region to indicate wind speed and direction.

5.Students will propose locations for wind farms based on optimal energy generation and zoning restrictions.

6.Based on their proposals, students will determine a range of potential kilowatt generation from wind power.

Students will learn about wind and how wind varies across geographies. Students will use Vernier Wind Turbine kits or homemade wind turbines to experiment with blade angles and wind speed. During experimentation, students will collect data as blade angles change and wind speeds change. Students will analyze their data to determine the optimal... View full description >>

Part 2 - Lesson 1: Renewable Energy Panel

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour 40 min
Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will gain background information regarding the limitations of having and wind and solar generating infrastructure within city and county limits, including environmental, aesthetic, and cultural considerations. 

2.Students will compile criteria for placement of wind and solar energy sources.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students will meet with local planners or other available energy experts to discuss public policy regarding the use of wind turbines and solar arrays to generate electricity. Students develop questions for a panel of professionals regarding considerations such as wildlife migration patterns, visual corridors, archeology sites, drainage, and... View full description >>

Part 1- Lesson 3: Home Energy Audit

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours 10 min
Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will identify all ways that energy is consumed within their homes.

2.Students will perform an energy audit of their home and calculate the amount of energy used by each electronic device and appliances.

3.Students will create a spreadsheet demonstrating the electricity required to operate each electronic device and appliance, along with a summary of finding that clearly identifies how energy consumption can be reduced within their home.

4.Students will explore various ways to reduce energy (goal is 30% reduction).

5.Students will propose a variety of energy reduction plans and present those options to their families for discussion.

6.After discussion with their families, students will itemize the agreed upon plan and identify specific actions that result in quantifiable outcomes that will implemented to reduce energy consumption by their families.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

During this lesson, students will focus on where energy is used within their homes, how energy consumption is calculated, and how energy consumption can be reduced. Students will conduct a home energy audit and determine multiple ways to reduce energy consumption. Students will compare their savings to the overall community goal of thirty... View full description >>

Part 1 - Lesson 2: What is electricity and how do we use it?

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Estimated Activity Length:
5 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1.Students will define scientific vocabulary related to electricity.

2.Students will be able to describe how electricity moves through a conductor.

3.Students will draw and describe series and parallel circuits.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

During this lesson students will learn about how electricity originates at an atomic level and that electricity moves through conductors and can be directed using circuits. Students will used guided reading techniques to explore informational texts and videos, learn to read their energy bill, and explore circuitry using Snap Circuits or other... View full description >>

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