Informative Writing: Where Does Energy Come From?

Sources of Energy
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
3-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
energy sources
renewable energy
Non-Renewable Energy
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will understand ten renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the earth.
  2. Students will learn the locations of different energy sources on the earth.
  3. Students will learn the history of energy sources and how they have been used by humans.
  4. Students will learn about innovations and inventions used to find, recover, store and release energy for human consumption.
Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

This lesson is a (stand alone or in-unit) guided non-fiction research and writing project, which includes a differentiated choice menu and list of ideas for publishing the completed project. Each student will choose one of ten energy sources to research, including coal, natural gas, petroleum, propane, uranium, biomass, wind, geothermal,... View full description >>

Solar Updraft Towers Unit Overview

Solar Updraft Tower
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
3-8
Subject Area(s) Covered:
energy sources
renewable energy
Non-Renewable Energy
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will understand ten renewable and non-renewable energy sources on the earth.
  2. Students will learn the locations of different energy sources on the earth.
  3. Students will learn the history of energy sources and how humans have used them.
  4. Students will learn about innovations and inventions used to find, recover, store, and release energy for human consumption.
  5. Students will understand that hot air rises
  6. Students will understand why hot water and hot air rise and cold air and cold water sink.
  7. Students will learn that wind is produced by warm air rising and cold air sinking.
  8. Students will learn that the energy of moving hot air can be converted into other forms of energy.
  9. Students will understand that energy from the sun can be converted into heat.
  10. Students will discuss the effects of the chimney stack phenomenon.
  11. Students will understand that wind energy can be converted into other forms of energy.
  12. Students will determine different methods to increase the effectiveness of a wind turbine blade by harnessing and converting the mechanical energy of the wind.
  13. Students will determine that thermal energy resulting from the sun’s radiation can create an updraft that will power a turbine to spin.                                       
  14. Students will identify characteristics of turbine design that improve the success of their device.
  15. Students will utilize content from previous phenomena they investigated, such as the chimney stack effect and Norwegian candle toys, to determine how to best harness the energy transformed by their device from the sun.
  16. Students will be able to define and explain what a solar updraft tower is.
  17. Students will make connections between their previous engineering challenge and a real world solution to the world’s growing energy demands.
Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Students will combine research, direct observations, and hands-on investigation to lead them into an engineering design project involving the construction of a solar updraft tower.  During this process, students will make references to specific phenomena they witnessed in the classroom involving convection currents, solar energy, energy... View full description >>

Wave Attenuator Unit Overview

Electric Current Induction
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Electromagnetic Induction
Faraday’s Law
Electromagnets
Magnetic Properties of Current-carrying Wires
renewable energy
Wave Fundamentals
Electricity Generation
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will demonstrate energy transfer through space using electromagnetic phenomena.
2. Students will design a model that demonstrates that a current-carrying wire can induce magnetism.
3. Students will define and build an electromagnet.
4. Students will demonstrate electromagnetic induction.
5. Students will describe and model the energy transfer and transformation in a wave attenuator.
6. Students will build a wave attenuator using a diagram and selected materials.
7. Students will test the model wave attenuator they built.
8. Students will investigate variables that may affect the output of an energy conversion device (wave attenuator).
9. Students will interpret data to identify which variables increase electrical output for these model wave attenuators.
10. Students will communicate results from scientific inquiry to identify factors that are important to optimizing the design of a wave attenuator.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

Through a series of learning experiences, students will experiment with the basic concepts of motion to electrical energy transformation. Students start by building a series of models that demonstrate the interactions between magnetic and electric fields. Students then apply this background knowledge to convert ocean wave power into electricity... View full description >>

Testing a Tidal Wave Attenuator

Wave Attenuator
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Electromagnetic Induction
renewable energy
Wave Fundamentals
Electricity Generation
Estimated Activity Length:
5 hours 40 min
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will investigate variables that may affect the output of an energy conversion device (wave attenuator).
2. Students will interpret data to identify which variables increase electrical output for these model wave attenuators.
3. Students will communicate results from scientific inquiry to identify factors that are important to optimizing the design of a wave attenuator.

Students will test the efficiency of the tidal wave attenuator models that they previously built. They will determine variables on their models they can manipulate, such as wire gauge and magnet strength, and measure the effects of manipulating this variable on the success of their design. They will report their findings in a presentation to... View full description >>

Building a Tidal Wave Attenuator

Wave Attenuator
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Electromagnetic Induction
renewable energy
Wave Fundamentals
Electricity Generation
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours 30 min
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will describe and model the energy transfer and transformation in a wave attenuator.
2. Students will build a wave attenuator using a diagram and selected materials.
3. Students will test the model wave attenuator they built.

This lesson is designed to build upon investigations of electromagnetic energy by applying these phenomena to transfer the kinetic energy moving in waves to electricity by building a wave attenuator. View full description >>

Introduction to Electromagnetism

Electric Current Induction
Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
6-12
Subject Area(s) Covered:
Electromagnetic Induction
Faraday’s Law
Electromagnets
Magnetic Properties of Current-carrying Wires
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours 10 min
Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will demonstrate energy transfer through space using electromagnetic phenomena.
2. Students will design a model that demonstrates that a current-carrying wire can induce magnetism.
3. Students will define and build an electromagnet.
4. Students will demonstrate electromagnetic induction.

Through a series of goal-oriented activities and research, students will build physical models that demonstrate the interactions between magnetism and magnetic fields as well as interactions between magnetism and electric fields. Students will be challenged to engineer devices that: change a magnetic field using electricity, creating a magnet... View full description >>

Oregon Coast STEM Hub

Location:
Newport, OR
Grade Level:
PK-12

On October 10, 2016 the Oregon Coastal STEM Hub hosted the 2016 Coastal Learning Symposium at Newport Middle School with a goal to make meaningful connections to the Oregon Coast for PK- 12 educators and students. The Solar 4R Schools program offered a Renewable Energy Inquiry and Engineering workshop to area teachers. There were a total of 22 attendees from 3 different school districts present. Participants at the workshop engaged with a variety of activities; including the construction of a Copenhagen solar oven, exploring electric circuits, and crafting solar boats. Every teacher... Read full project narrative >>

Seattle Puget Sound

Location:
Everett, WA
Grade Level:
K-12

In 2015, 18 educators from 8 different school districts convened for a “Solar Energy and Opportunities for Inquiry in My Classroom” workshop. The workshop was held at Everett Public School District Community Center. Teachers worked together on activities that included making a Copenhagen solar oven, building simple circuits, and putting together solar cars. Along with the renewable energy workshop, teachers received custom science kits and access to the online educator library to implement in their classrooms.  Read full project narrative >>

Rainier School District #13

Location:
Rainier, OR
Grade Level:
K-12
Technology Type:
PV System Size:
8.00 - kilowatts

Rainier School District’s photovoltaic (PV) system was installed in summer of 2017. A collaboration between the Rainier School District, Columbia River PUD, and Bonneville Power Administration, this 8-kilowatt PV installation demonstrates the practicality of photovoltaics while providing additional learning opportunities for vistors of the District. In addition to building a dedicated community of renewable energy educators, Solar 4R Schools has transformed the school's existing PV system into a... Read full project narrative >>

Zenger Farm

Location:
Portland, OR
Grade Level:
K-9
Technology Type:
PV System Size:
7.60 - kilowatts

Through Portland General Electric’s Renewable Development Fund, Zenger Farm added solar energy education to its suite of hands-on environmental education programs in 2017. Over the course of one day, 8 volunteer and staff educators came together to increase their understanding of and comfort teaching about solar electricity and circuits and started the process of integrating solar heating and solar electric concepts into existing programs around plants, the sun, and seasons. Zenger Farm’s 7.6 kW photovoltaic (PV)... Read full project narrative >>