Five Days of Solar Energy
This is a five day unit plan that will focus on solar energy in Arizona, it is targeted for the 5th grade classroom. This unit will be apart of the science and language arts standards that need to be taught in the classroom. It will allow the students to learn what solar energy is and the importance of this renewable energy source. The purpose of this lesson is to teach students about energy and environmental crisis we have as well as how solar energy can help it. Also this lesson will help students practice systems and futures thinking. In order to teach the students the unit will incorporate videos and information from this digital artifact. Below is a brief overview of the five day unit plan.
Day 1: What is solar energy?
Day 2: Why is solar energy the best option?
Day 3: What about the environment?
Day 4: Solar Energy right now in AZ
Day 5: How can we increase the use of solar energy?
Day 1: What is solar energy?
Day 2: Why is solar energy the best option?
Day 3: What about the environment?
Day 4: Solar Energy right now in AZ
Day 5: How can we increase the use of solar energy?
Day 1: What is solar energy?
For day one of this unit the learning goals will be that the students will be able to explain what solar energy is as well as how we harness the energy from the sun. Students can show their understanding by writing a paragraph or drawing a picture with annotations, this can be used to assess the students on their understanding. The correct vocabulary must be used to show understanding. For the first day of this unit it is important for the students to understand what solar energy is and to get excited about it. In order to get excited about it they must first have a background of the energy situation we are in. The teacher will explain that right now most of the world is dependent on non-renewable energy sources, but they are running out. The teacher will continue to explain that we will need renewable energy for the future generations. Then the class will watch a short video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDZzAIcCQLQ) on Solar energy and how it works. Afterwards the teacher and students will discuss as a class what the video taught them about solar energy. The teacher will reinforce the main ideas from the video by showing a powerpoint of what solar energy is and the science behind it. Students will then be asked to write two paragraphs describing what solar energy is and the science behind it. The students will also be given an option to draw a picture and annotate it with the correct vocabulary. In preparation for the lesson plan the teacher can refer to http://energy.gov/articles/solar-classroom-lesson-plan which shares great ideas for lesson plans on solar energy.
Day 2: Why is solar energy the best option?
On the second day of this unit plan the learning goals will be that students will be able to articulate the pros and cons of at least 5 different energy sources. Another goal will be that they incorporate their location in the pros and cons, for example a pro of solar energy in Arizona is that there is plenty of it. Students can show their understanding by drawing a chart with the different energy sources labeled, the pros and cons of the energy source should be clearly labeled as well. This lesson will begin with a powerpoint presentation on several different non-renewable and renewable energy sources. The powerpoint will explain the pros and cons associated with many different energy sources. To reinforce the learning we will look at a website together that shows why solar energy is so beneficial in Arizona (http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=solar_home-basics). Students will then be asked to create the chart of pros and cons of 5 or more energy sources to demonstrate their learning. This lesson will help the students get even more excited about solar energy as they learn how bountiful it is here in Arizona.
Day 3: What about the environment?
This lesson will focus on the environmental impacts of solar energy in AZ (and other places). One of the learning goals of this lesson is that students will be able to demonstrate systems thinking when it comes to thinking of renewable energy ,specifically solar energy. Students will be able to draw a diagram that is annotated with at least 20 environmental pros and cons of solar energy in AZ. To begin this lesson students will be asked to brainstorm what they think the pros and cons are of solar energy and its effects on the environment. Then the teacher will use prezi to instruct the students on the some of the major environmental issues with solar energy. After the presentation the teacher can show the students this website, http://www.solarcity.com/learn/solar-faqs.aspx. This website address's some of the pros and cons of solar energy, it can help the teacher prepare for the lesson and it can help the students get an idea on how to make their lists. The students will then be put into groups and they will be asked to draw a picture of a solar panel on a home with the environment around it. Students will be asked to use systems thinking to annotate their picture with all the effects solar energy has on the environment. When the students finish they will be asked to share their drawing with the rest of the class.
Day 4: Solar Energy right now in Arizona
This lesson will focus on the latest news for solar energy in Arizona and what that means for the class. One of the learning goals for this lesson is that the students will be able to articulate at least 5 recent stories of things that are happening in the news related to solar energy and what that means to/for them. The lesson will begin by watching a video clip from ABC15 which captures some of the recent news related to solar energy (http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/solar-power-in-arizona-aps-in-fight-with-rooftop-solar-firms-over-rates). After watching this video the teacher will engage the students in a discussion of whether they think it is right or wrong to make people pay for their solar panels. This will encourage the students to practice values thinking as well as think about ethics. The teacher will help guide the students to think about how this relates to them. Then the students will be put into groups and they will research on the computer about news in AZ related to solar energy. The teacher will begin by giving them all this website to look at (http://www.tempe.gov/index.aspx?page=670). After they have been given about 20 minutes groups will be encouraged to share at least five things in the news that they found and how it relates to them in Arizona.
Day 5: How can we increase the use of solar energy in Arizona?
As a result of this lesson students will be able to draw on information concerning
solar energy in Arizona from several digital sources, demonstrating an ability
to locate information on how to increase solar energy use quickly. Students
will be able to combine the information they gathered in a cohesive letter and share their findings with the class. In this lesson students will be asked to get into groups of
2 or 3. They will then go online and choose a search engine that they are comfortable with in
order to research ways to get people to use solar energy more in Arizona. The teacher will begin by looking at a resource with the class (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/18/business/energy-environment/arizona-utility-tries-storing-solar-energy-for-use-in-the-dark.html?_r=0), the teacher will then share how to use this resource in a letter to a parent for example. Students will be given 30 minutes to go online and find at least 6 reliable
resources that give ideas on how to increase solar energy use in Arizona. Students can use this digital artifact to find sources. After
the students are done researching the topic they will be asked to write a letter to a family member or friend of someone in the group. They will also be asked to read their letter in
class and share how they found the resources and what they came up with. This is the day that the complete lesson plan will be presented on.
Complete Lesson Plan for Day 5
complete_lesson_plan.docx | |
File Size: | 179 kb |
File Type: | docx |