Unit Plan: A Community Powered by Renewable Energy

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

LEARNING GOALS – PART 1

1.Students will define and explain the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

2.Students will research, summarize, and present the (short- and long-term) benefits and drawbacks of utilizing wind and solar energy. 

3.Students will research, summarize, and present the (short- and long-term) benefits and drawbacks of utilizing fossil fuels.

4.Students will generate questions about the greenhouse gas effect, identify and isolate variables, and then conduct an experiment to answer a class generated question about the greenhouse gas effect.

5.Through Socratic seminar, students will use the knowledge gained over the course of this lesson to discuss the potential long- and short-term benefits and drawbacks of using fossil fuels, solar energy, and wind energy.

6.Students will define scientific vocabulary related to electricity.

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

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

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

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

11.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.

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

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

14.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.

LEARNING GOALS – PART 2

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 work with professionals to compile criteria for placement of wind and solar energy sources.

3.Students will conduct experiments to 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 use prevailing wind data in your region to examine energy output of various sized small wind turbines as wind speeds incrementally increase.

5.Based on local wind speeds, students will determine a range of potential kilowatt generation from wind power.

6.Students will conduct experiments to determine how electrical output of solar panels change as the tilt, azimuth, and shade coverage change.

7.Students will generate, compare, and evaluate various solar configurations for a solar project in your region.

LEARNING GOALS – PART 3

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

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

3.Students will assess where commercial and municipal solar projects can occur within your town or city 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 calculate the average amount of energy generated by wind turbines and solar panels in various conditions to determine the quantity of renewable energy sources required to power the city.

7.Students will use their projected energy calculations to propose a combination of wind and solar sources to meet your locality’s energy needs, based on benefits and drawbacks of each source of energy.

8.Based on prevailing winds and building orientation, students will explore potential sites for wind turbines and solar panels.

9.Students will develop a final proposal to meet future energy needs through a combination of energy generation and reduction of energy consumption, prepare a brief slide presentation that summarizes their comprehensive plans, and present their finding to local energy conservation groups and local government staff or elected officials.

Relevant Common Core Standard(s):

In this three-part comprehensive place-based and project-based unit, students will learn and apply rebnewable energy content to devise action plans at an individual, family, and local level. Students will use primary and secondary research explore energy sources and consumption, ultimately working with local professionals to craft an energy... View full description >>

Bettendorf, IA -- Extended 2-Day Workshop

Location:
Bettendorf, IA
Grade Level:
6-12

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Bettendorf has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  As it is the second round of delivery for this region, a focus on expanding the initial impact was made and the workshop was extended to two days.  CE co-planned with a workshop with the district to get a sense of how the initial workshop had impacted their curriculum and hands-on... Read full project narrative >>

Pittsburgh, PA - Extended Two-Day Workshop

Location:
Homestead, PA
Grade Level:
K-12

This project was made possible with funding from the Arconic Foundation. Arconic Foundation’s mission is to support non-profit partners who advance STEM Education and Workforce Development in Arconic communities. This is the second time that Pittsburgh has been a location for an Arconic workshop with CE.  As it is the second round of delivery for this region, a focus on expanding the initial impact was made and the workshop was extended to two days.  CE co-planned with workshop with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit to get a sense of how the initial workshop had impacted their curriculum and... Read full project narrative >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Unique Solar Cell Engineering Report

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will format solar cell data into tables and graphs
  2. Students will draw conclusions based on testing data
  3. Students will construct an engineering report in a research poster format

This lesson is designed to be completed in three 80-minute sections. The teacher will have students write their engineering reports with the following sections: Introduction (taken from Lesson #10), Design (incorporating the model from Lesson #10), Methods, Results, and Discussion. The teacher has students design research posters for a... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Construction Progress and Obstacles

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will present construction progress and project obstacles

This lesson is designed to be completed in one 80-minute section. The teacher will facilitate 3-4 groups as they share their construction progress and obstacles. Students will share individual results in a fishbowl setting and will participate in providing warm and cool feedback. Teachers should assign students to heterogenous groups, so... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Unique Solar Cell Construction & Testing

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
0 sec
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will construct their unique solar cells
  2. Students will test unique solar cells
  3. Students will revise procedures based on solar cell testing results
  4. Students will re-build and re-test solar cells

This lesson is designed to be completed in four 80-minute sections. The teacher will facilitate the construction of unique solar cells for student projects. General chemistry equipment and fabrication equipment will be needed for student construction and testing. The teacher will facilitate student note-taking and celebrating failures. The... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Unique Solar Cell Model Sketch and Presentation

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will sketch 2D or 3D models of their proposed solar cells
  2. Students will present their unique solar cell design ideas and sketches of their solar cells

This lesson is designed to be completed in two 80-minute sections. The teacher will facilitate brief class presentations on the unique solar cell models. Teachers will model and encourage students to provide warm and cool feedback to the presenters, propelling projects forward.

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Researching Chemicals and Materials for Solar Cell Construction

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
4 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will research chemicals, materials and procedures for their own solar cell designs
  2. Students will write an introduction to the problem, including criteria, constraints, and solar cell concepts
  3. Students will research and write a rough materials and procedure for the solar cell
  4. Students will research and describe their solar cell designs.

This lesson is designed to be completed in three 80-minute sections. The teacher will facilitate student research on solar cell designs centering around the engineering problem: How can we make a cheaper, cleaner or more efficient solar cell? Teachers should encourage students easy-to-obtain materials either found already in the Chemistry... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Solar Cell Manufacturing Field Trip and/or Guest Speaker

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will visit a solar cell or silicon manufacturing facility and/or engage with guest speakers.
  2. Students will learn more detailed solar cell principles and manufacturing techniques involved in solar cell construction.

This lesson is designed to be completed in two 80-minute sections. The teacher will facilitate a field trip to a nearby silicon manufacturing facility, solar panel manufacturing facility, or other semiconductor facility. These facilities often require long advance notice and time is needed to work through school district field trip... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Titanium Dioxide Raspberry Solar Cell Data Sharing

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will collect and analyze titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cell data.
  2. Students will discuss results and draw conclusions about variables that may affect power generation.

This lesson is designed to be completed in one 80-minute section. The teacher will facilitate the sharing of student titanium dioxide solar cell results with emphasis on variables during data collection.

... View full description >>