Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!
Fourth Graders Create a Solar Powered Classroom
Provided by: The Kid Should See This |Published on: April 27, 2021
Articles/Websites Grades 3-5, 6-8
Synopsis
- This video and article show how a fourth-grade class in Durham, North Carolina learned about solar energy, raised money to buy solar panels, and installed solar panels to power their classroom.
- Students will learn about renewable energy and see an example of successful and inspiring climate action at the classroom level.
Subjects: Engineering
Authors: The Kid Should See This, U.S. Department of Energy
Region: North America, USA - South, United States, North Carolina
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video will inspire and guide students who want to install solar panels at their schools.
- A short article provides several links, including a link to the class's Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $5,000 for the project.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should understand the environmental benefits of renewable energy and why it is more sustainable than electricity from fossil fuels.
- Students should understand that every school is different, and some classes might face more obstacles to switching to solar energy than others.
- The link in the article to energy.gov does not work.
Differentiation
- Students could create a flowchart of the people that would have to approve a solar panel project at their school. Students could use this article on solar power in schools to gather information, then create a presentation for decision-makers on why their class would benefit from switching to solar power.
- Other resources on this topic include this digital book on solar energy and this Khan Academy video on solar energy technology.
Scientist Notes
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Kid Should See This
The Kid Should See This is a Webby award-winning collection of over 7,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone. Start conversations, spark questions, and inspire offline exploration for all ages.
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
