Adventures in Solar Energy
The Adventures in Solar Energy curriculum is designed to instruct students about the sun and earth; how solar energy technologies work; how they compare to other sources of heat and electrical energy; and how they can be used. Students will explore concepts and technologies that will help them decide if they want to use solar energy in their future home or consider a "green career" in the field of solar energy.
The curriculum begins with an introduction to the basics of solar energy and includes in-depth chapters on the following:
Introduction: Sunlight and Energy
- Exploring the Relationship Between the Sun and Earth
- Collecting And Using Solar Thermal Energy
- Solar Photovoltaics: Sunlight to Electricity
- Putting Solar Energy to Work
The curriculum contains teacher pages which contain overview elements, guiding information, answer keys, and instructions and suggestions for carrying out all of the explorations. Explorations include two “What do you think? What do you know?” pages which can be used as pre/post tests to assess student learning, With the exception of Chapter Three (Solar Photovoltaic: Sunlight to Electricity), any chapter or lesson may be used independently of the others. Presenting a complete chapter will enhance the depth of learning.
Lessons are structured to help differentiate among student abilities. High performing students can conduct explorations with minimal direction or supervision. The curriculum provides additional tools designed to help guide all students through the lessons so they can discover at their pace, leading to learning successes
Chapter | Next Generation Science Standards | Climate Literacy Essential Principles |
Introduction | HS.ESS-CC: g |
|
1. Exploring the Relationship between the Sun and Earth | HS.PS-E:b | EP1-c |
2. Collecting and Using Solar Thermal Energy | HS.ESS-CC:f |
|
3. Solar Photovoltaics: Sunlight to Electricity | HS.ESS-CC:f |
|
4. Putting Solar Energy to Work | HS.ESS-CC:a,f,g | EP2-c, |
* Educators who have attended a workshop, can access curriculum and other materials, at Schoology, a learning management system that is separate from eesmarts. Using your Schoology teacher account and the Schoology access code provided at the eesmarts workshop, teachers can view, download, or print curriculum and other resources. Only teachers who have attended a workshop can download materials.
