Cost Effective Solar Cells: Titanium Dioxide Solar Cell Construction and Testing

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will construct titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cells
  2. Students will test titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cells under various conditions

 

This lesson is designed to be completed in two 80-minute sections. The teacher will show a basic procedure and video. The teacher will facilitate the construction of Organic Dye-Sensitized solar cells on coated glass plates with Titanium Dioxide. A fume hood with outlets for electric hot plates must be used for the first part of the... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Copper Oxide Cell Data Sharing

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will share and analyze oxidized copper sheet solar cell data

This lesson is designed to be completed in one 40-minute section. The teacher will facilitate the sharing of student solar cell data from indoor and outdoor testing through a gallery walk session. Variables such as lighting, photovoltaic effect, copper properties, salt water, and circuits should be discussed. Teachers will guide students in... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Copper Oxide Solar Cell Construction and Testing

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will construct an oxidized copper sheet solar cell

  2. Students will test an oxidized copper sheet solar cell for voltage and current

This lesson is designed to be completed in one 80-minute section, but can be done in two 40-minute sections. The teacher will facilitate student construction of copper oxide plates with electric burners or

... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Solar Panel Data Sharing

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
0 sec
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will analyze and share out power generation results with classmates

This lesson is designed to be completed in one 40-minute section. The teacher will facilitate the sharing of student solar panel data from indoor and outdoor testing with fans, music circuits, LEDs and any other combinations that were constructed. Teachers will guide students in making connections to basic circuitry and solar cell power... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Solar Panel Basics

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
1 hour
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will review circuitry basics and solar cell layers
  2. Students will model N-layers, P-layers, and the N-P junction in a physical circuit activity

This lesson is designed to be completed in one 40-minute section. Students will have already learned the concepts of basic circuits, including voltage, current, power, parallel and serial circuits. Teachers will then explain the basic concept of solar cells, introducing the concepts of N-type doping, P-type doping, and P-N junctions through a... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Engaging with Solar Panels

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
3 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will construct working solar panel arrays to power LEDs, fans, and music boxes
  2. Students will sketch models of working solar circuits

This lesson is designed to span 2 days with 80-minute sections. On the first day, the teachers will challenge the students to assemble circuits with solar panels that can power up 1) a motor with fan, 2) a music-playing circuit, and 3) an LED. Students will discover through trial and error circuits and solar panels that generate and utilize... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells: Solar Energy Equity and Sustainability

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
2 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will read at least three articles discussing solar power generation, and the social, cultural, and economic implications of sustainable solar energy
  2. Students will discuss social, cultural, and economic implications of sustainable solar energy in a Socratic Seminar format.

This lesson is designed to span 2 days with 40-minute sections. On the introduction day, three solar power articles will be read to set up a Socratic Seminar dialogue on Day 2. A teacher will need to read the articles. The articles investigate the pros and cons of solar energy, the sustainability of solar energy technology, and newer solar... View full description >>

Cost Effective Solar Cells Unit Plan

Average Rating:
0
Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Estimated Activity Length:
10 hours
Learning Goal(s):
  1. Students will discuss social, cultural, and economic implications of sustainable solar energy.
  2. Students will construct and test solar panel arrays to power LED lights, fan motors, and music players
  3. Students will review circuitry basics and solar cell layers
  4. Students will analyze and share out power generation results with classmates
  5. Students will construct and test an oxidized copper sheet solar cell
  6. Students will share and analyze oxidized copper sheet solar cell data
  7. Students will construct and test titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cells
  8. Students will collect and analyze titanium dioxide coated “raspberry juice” solar cell data.
  9. Students will discuss results and draw conclusions about variables that may affect power generation
  10. Students will visit a solar cell or silicon manufacturing facility and/or engage with guest speakers. Students will learn more detailed solar cell principles and manufacturing techniques involved in solar cell construction
  11. Students will research chemicals, materials and procedures for their own solar cell designs
  12. Students will build and present models of their proposed solar cells
  13. Students will construct and test unique solar cells
  14. Students will present construction progress and project obstacles
  15. Students will format solar cell data, draw conclusions, and construct an engineering report as a research poster

Through a series of solar panel and solar cell construction activities, students will learn the basic principles of energy conversion from light energy to chemical & electrical energy. Students will assemble and test pre-constructed solar panels to gain a working knowledge of power generation in parallel and series circuits. Using  pre-... View full description >>

Clark Public Utilities Renewable Energy Educator Workshop 2019

Location:
Vancouver, WA
Grade Level:
4-12

On October 26, 2019, a diverse group of 16 educators from 5 districts in Clark County, WA came together to explore clean energy topics at Clark Public Utilities in Vancouver, WA. Educators spanned grade bands and subjects, with general studies, library science, English language design, and engineering educators joining more traditional science educators. Together, they learned about the state of renewable energy in Clark County and Washington through a presentation by Clark Public Utilities staff. Using best-practice science inquiry methods, they explored energy and electricity... Read full project narrative >>

New Haven Clean Energy Educator Workshop

Location:
North Haven, CT
Grade Level:
1-12
On October 2, 2019, 10 educators from southern and central Connecticut came together to explore clean energy topics at the Energize CT Center in North Haven. Together, they learned about Connecticut’s role in clean energy and advanced manufacturing, with a focus on offshore wind energy development in the Atlantic Ocean. They explored wind energy inquiry and engineering design as well as fundamentals of both energy and electricity. Educators represented 6 districts across Connecticut and grades from 1-12, as well as informal education. Each school left with a science kit allowing them to... Read full project narrative >>