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Solar Relay Activity
Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education |Published on: March 18, 2024
Lesson Plans
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Synopsis
- In this lesson plan, students learn how solar panels produce electricity by acting as electrons moving through a giant model of a solar cell and electrical circuit.
- Students will expand their knowledge of Wisconsin's energy sources, develop a solar energy model, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using solar energy.
Subjects: Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
Authors: Wisconsin's K-12 Energy Education Program
Region: North America, USA - Midwest, United States, Global, Wisconsin
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The activity allows students to visualize firsthand how solar cells work.
- Students will love getting up and moving for this activity!
Additional Prerequisites
- To set up the model solar panel and cell, teachers need plastic cones, rope, and printed labels/pictures from the last 11 pages of the PDF document. Teachers must set this up ahead of time according to the diagram on page 2.
- The activity requires some open space, so teachers may need to move desks to accommodate this. Alternatively, teachers can set up the activity outside or in a gym or cafeteria.
- Students should already be familiar with the uses of electricity, where electricity comes from, and renewable vs nonrenewable electricity sources.
Differentiation
- This activity is an engaging resource for engineering and physical science classes learning about electrical circuits and cells.
- Earth and space science classes can use this resource to learn about solar and renewable energy.
- Teachers in younger grade levels should use simplified vocabulary and guide students more directly during the activity. Teachers can skip some of the more advanced introduction and discussion questions.
- Students can write pro/con lists for solar panels and traditional forms of electricity production like coal and natural gas and compare the lists to determine which sources of electricity they think are better.
- Students can write a summary of how solar cells produce electricity to synthesize and communicate what they have learned.
- Challenge students to describe how energy is transferred from solar to electric, kinetic, or electromagnetic energy in objects with solar cells, such as calculators, outdoor lights, toys, etc.
- Students can observe the community to determine where solar panels are currently utilized and identify additional locations that would be effective for solar panels.
- Students can research organizations in their area that help with solar energy installation and access.
- English language arts classes can connect with this lesson by tasking students with writing persuasive letters to their school, district, or city to encourage the installation of solar panels.
- Consider exploring KEEP's Solar Load Lessons to help develop inquiry skills while using solar panels and different loads. Lessons include a discussion on climate change.
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.
