Solar Energy Science Lesson
What You Are Learning
Have you ever seen a solar panel? Do you know how they work to convert energy from the sun into energy we can use to power our homes or even cars? This lesson will help you understand what solar panels are, how solar energy works, and why it is so important to produce clean and renewable energy.
How You Will Learn
You'll learn through STEM Ed Today's 7 Step Learning Framework: recall, notate, read, write, watch, craft, and test. First, we'll start with the recall section to help spark your memory about today's lesson. Next, you will take notes about important facts. After, you will read a story about the subject to help build your understanding. Later, you will explain your learning through writing which helps develop your scientific learning. Nearing the end, you will watch a video that helps explain the concept and better solidify your understanding through visual representation. After, you will have a hands-on project that will let you show off your newly learned skills. Last, you will be tested so we can see what you may need to study more of. Whichever the case, you will have a comprehensive learning experience with this lesson.
Let's Get Started
So scroll down, follow the directions, and explore the fascinating topic of solar energy!
Recall
Directions
Recalling science information before learning is a good idea because it helps us remember and understand new information better. It's like warming up before doing exercise or stretching before playing a sport.
Read through the article below to spark your memory of what solar energy is and how it can affect our lives. After you finish reading, answer the questions from the What Do You Already Know Worksheet. If you need to download the worksheet, click on the picture of it or here.
The Power of the Sun: Exploring the Benefits of Solar Energy!
Hey world, welcome to STEM Ed Today! We want to talk about something very cool - solar energy! Solar energy is a kind of energy that comes from the sun. Did you know that the sun gives off enough energy in one hour to power the entire world for a whole year? That's a lot of energy! What do you already know about solar energy or solar panels?
But how does solar energy work? Well, it all starts with the sun's rays, or photons. When the sun's rays hit a solar panel, something amazing happens. The solar panel takes the energy from the sun and turns it into electricity! This electricity can be used to power all kinds of things like homes, schools, and even cars.
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So why is solar energy so important? For one thing, it's a renewable resource, which means we can use it over and over again without ever running out. Unlike fossil fuels like oil or gas, which will eventually run out, the sun will always be there to give us energy.
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Another great thing about solar energy is that its use doesn't pollute the environment. Fossil fuels, like oil or gasoline in cars, release harmful gases into the air when they're burned, but solar energy is clean and doesn't produce pollution when in use. This means that using solar energy can help us protect our planet's atmosphere and keep it healthy for generations to come.
But wait, there's more! Did you know that using solar energy can also save you money? That's right! When you use solar energy to power your home, you don't have to pay for electricity from the power company. This can save you a lot of money on your monthly bills.
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So, now have a little background about solar energy, what can you do to help? Well, you can start by telling your family and friends about the benefits of solar energy. You can also try to use less energy by turning off lights when you leave a room or unplugging electronics when you're not using them. Every little bit helps!
Thanks for visiting STEM Ed Today to learn a little bit about solar energy with us. Who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one designing the next generation of solar panels!
Notate
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Directions
Taking notes means writing down important information that you learn in science class. It's like making a list of important things you want to remember. When you take notes, it helps you to remember what you learned and to study better. Science can be a little tricky, but taking notes can make it easier to understand the big ideas and remember important details.
Launch the presentation below to learn some more science facts about solar energy. As you read, fill out the Science Notation Worksheet. Try to take at least 1 note per page.
Read
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Directions
STEM professionals rely on reading a lot to get the information they need for their work. To be successful in STEM, students should learn ways to better understand what they read, especially when it comes to nonfiction texts and the important things they need to know.
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To get started, click on the book below and read it carefully. Once you have finished reading, move on to the Reading Reflections Worksheet and complete it. The Reading Reflections Worksheet is located below the book. If you feel ready, take the formative test below.
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The Sun Squad: Solar Powered Solutions for a Town In Need
In the story, "The Sun Squad," a group of four friends in the town of Sunville come together to create solar-powered machines to help their community after a massive storm causes chaos and power outages. The friends face challenges, such as opposition from the power company, but with hard work and determination, they are able to get emergency approval for their solar-powered machines and help the town. The story shows the benefits of renewable energy sources and inspires readers to think about ways they can use them in their own lives.
Reading Reflection Worksheet
After finishing reading, the Sun Squad, work on this Reading Reflection Worksheet. These questions were designed to help get you thinking about the story, solar panels, and many other things were learning about in this lesson.
Formative Test
Introducing "The Sun Squad: Solar-Powered Solutions for a Town in Need" Formative Test! This test is designed to help test your understanding of the book and about renewable energy's benefits for communities in need.
Write
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Directions
Writing is an important part of science because it helps us learn better. When we learn something new in science, we have to understand it and use words to explain it. This helps us remember and understand it better. When we write about what we learn in science, we have to think carefully and use our own words to explain it. This helps us understand it even more deeply. So, writing about science helps us learn more and remember what we learned better.
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Let's work on the Scientific Writing Worksheet below! By completing this worksheet, you can learn even more and practice your existing knowledge and engineering skills.
Writing Challenge
Think about the process of creating a solar-powered machine, like the ones the Sun Squad built in "The Sun Squad: Solar-Powered Solutions for a Town in Need." Imagine that you are in charge of building your own solar-powered machine to help your community.
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Are you up for the challenge? This is your chance to use your creativity and engineering skills to design a machine that runs on solar energy! Get ready to put your knowledge into action and make a positive impact on your community. Let's get started!
Watch
Directions
Have you ever watched a movie or TV show that has cool science stuff in it? Maybe you saw a cartoon that explained how your body works or a video game that taught you about space. These are all examples of artistic representations of scientific ideas or facts, and they can be really helpful for you to understand and remember science concepts.
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When you see a picture or a video that shows you how something works or how it looks, it can be easier for you to remember it. It's like when you draw a picture of something to help you remember it for a test. Artistic representations can also make science more fun and interesting, especially if you don't like reading or listening to lectures.
Edpuzzle Videos
Get ready to be amazed by this awesome Edpuzzle video! It's filled with exciting visuals and information that will help you better understand and explore the topic. When asked, answer the questions throughout the video by typing in your answers. So, click on the video preview and let's discover new things together!
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Create
Directions
Hands-on, project-based learning activities are great for learning science. They help you understand scientific concepts in a fun and engaging way. When you work on projects, you get to use your hands to experiment and explore, which helps you understand things better. By doing projects, you get to see and experience scientific ideas for yourself, which helps you understand them much better. Hands-on projects also help you think creatively and solve problems, which is a really important skill in science and in life.
Solar Powered Mini House STEM Project
In the cardboard solar-powered house project, you get to design and build a small cardboard house with a special panel on the roof that uses the sun's energy to light up a tiny LED light inside. You'll learn about how the sun's energy can be turned into electricity, and you'll get to use your creativity and problem-solving skills to make your house look really cool!
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Materials Needed Include:
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Cardboard boxes
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Scissors
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Ruler
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Pencil
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Mini solar panels with wire attached to an LED diode
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Glue or tape
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Markers or paint (optional)
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Test
Directions
The big test you will take covers different things about solar energy and how it turns into electricity. It will ask you about the good and not-so-good things about solar power, how solar panels work, and how sunlight travels and does things with a solar panel.
The test is for kids your age, and the questions are made to be easy to understand. You will draw a picture of how solar energy turns into electricity and label the parts you drew. You will also answer questions with different choices or in a short answer about solar energy. The test wants to see how much you know about solar energy and how it helps make clean energy.