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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Harnessing Solar Energy

Lesson Description:
Helps students to to discover the properties of light (radiant) energy from the sun by experimenting with solar collectors, cookers, and calculators.
Lesson Type:
  • Experiment

Sustainability Topic:
  • Energy

GEF Program Category:
  • Green Energy Challenge

Standards Addressed:
This investigation could be the beginning of a unit on the many forms of energy.

Ideas in this lesson are also related to concepts found in the following benchmark:
  • 4d the physical setting: structure of matter, (6-8) #3

Materials Needed:
-cardboard box
-black paint
-4 small metal cans
-4 thermometers
-sand
-salt
-water
-torn-up paper
-shoebox (without a top)
-aluminum foil
-black construction paper
-clear plastic wrap
-scissors
-tape (clear and masking tape)
-water
-small paper cups
-heavy corrugated cardboard (or foam board)
-flexible cardboard
-rulers/meter sticks
-compass
-thin wooden skewers
-hot dogs
-solar-powered calculator
-light source (including the sun)

before class, paint the cardboard box black and let it dry.
School or Group:
Science Netlinks
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Notes:
For Further Information Please See:http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.php?docid=14
Located in: Science

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