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Can Wisconsin Go Solar?

Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education |Published on: July 13, 2023

Lesson Plans

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Synopsis

This lesson leads students through an exploration into Wisconsin's potential for solar power production, including data analysis, ArcGIS maps, and a focus on solutions.
Students will interpret solar dashboards, maps, and graphs to determine if Wisconsin is an ideal location for solar power.

Subjects: Geography, Mathematics, Engineering

Authors: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point K-12 Energy Education Program

Region: North America, USA - Midwest, United States, Wisconsin

Languages: English

Positives

There are a few opportunities for extension listed, as well as other lessons on climate issues that follow a similar format.
Directions to navigate the solar dashboards are easy to follow and many students could follow these directions without adult guidance.

Prerequisites

Students should already know how to interpret graphs, maps, and charts. With younger students, it may be helpful to go over how to read each map and graph as a class.
It may be helpful if students know about greenhouse gases, the greenhouse effect, and how current means of energy production are contributing to climate change.
Some students, including English language learners, may need the terms geospatial, generation, array, and photovoltaic defined prior to starting the lesson.
Students should have a basic understanding of latitude and longitude.

Differentiation & Implementation

For students who do not speak/read English, the slides can be translated to their primary language using the translate function in Google Slides.
Strategic pairing can be used if you have a few students who struggle with interpreting data and if many students struggle with this concept, the worksheet can be completed as a class.
Students can map out where solar panels are located in their area and/or discuss where the placement of solar panels would be in their area.
Students can extend this exploration by researching what their school would need to do to incorporate solar power if they don't already.
Students can learn more about solar using the solar dashboards with lessons from KEEP's Wisconsin Solar Schools Map and Dashboard.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.