SCIENCE BOX OVERVIEW
Kit #32
Name: “Powered by the Sun”
Grade Level: 6-8
Content Strand: Environmental Science
Content Standard and Description: Natural Science – Students will identify renewable and non-renewable energy resources. They will investigate the applied use of solar energy as a power source.
Summary: This science box is designed to teach students all about solar power. They will learn by doing fun activities such as building their own solar powered racing car. They will test and observe how the sun’s power is harnessed and used, as well as how it is harnessed and used. They will learn all about the tools used and needed in order to power something from the sun.
Learning Cycle Lesson Plans: Here is the list of the lesson plans in this kit.
1. “Renewable vs. Non-renewable Energy” – Students will learn the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy as classified by scientists. They will learn good examples of each type of energy, and through a group project they will be tested of their knowledge of the two
2. “Solar Energy Grab Bag” – Using a radiometer, students will learn how solar energy is measured. They will test what happens when it is in the sunlight vs. when it is covered up by something. They will gather their own data and evaluate what solar energy is best used for.
3. “Solar Car Design” – Students will watch a movie on solar racers, and in this activity they will get to build their own solar car. They will build it from the kit included within this box, and race
What to Expect: By the end of using this kit, teachers can expect a few specific things from their students. They will be able to investigate and describe the identifying characteristics of renewable and non-renewable resources. Also they will be able to explain how some natural resources are limited to their abundance and/or accessible location (e.g. water in the desert). Finally they will be able to describe how unintended consequences of technologies can cause resource depletion, and environmental degradation, but technology can also increase resources availability, mitigate environmental degradation, and make new resources available.
Evaluations: Here is what other teachers have said about this box.
1. “Thank you! The box was a great experience.”
2. “Thanks for providing this activity box.”
3. “Thanks for all of the work putting it together.”