Valerie Ford
J. Bartlett Elementary School
Grade 6
Work Number 603-374-2331
e-mail
Location of Exterenship: installation of solar-panels at Kennett High School with KW Management Inc. Wilton, NH
Solar Energy as Alternative, Constructing Solar Cars

Lesson Plan

Lesson Description: Students will research energy sources, renewable and nonrenewable resource, and solar energy as an alternative to using fossil fuels. Students will construct model cars which will be connected to individual solar panels. The culminating activity will be a timed race of the solar cars, using the formula for speed (S=D/T).

Subject Area: Science

Science Standards Addressed:

2c. Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand that science and technology affects individuals. and that individuals in turn can affect science and technology.

5c. Students will demonstrate an increasing ability to understand the relationship among different types and forms of energy.

5e. Students will demonstrate an increasing understanding of how an unbalanced force evened on an object causes a change in the state of rest or motion of that object in the direction of the unbalanced force.

6c. Students will understand the meaning of models. their appropriate use and limitations. and how models can help them in understanding the natural world.

Materials for Constructing Solar Cars:
Legos, or any materials students choose to construct vehicles
starting ramp (basically any board wide enough to hold two cars)
two stop watches
tape to mark distance
pencil, chart for recording racers and times
two solar panels
motor
wires with alliator clips

Steps for Culminating Activity: Students design and build cars, individually or working in pairs. Solar panels are attached to motors with alligator clips and wire. ramp and track are set up outdoors so panels are in direct sunlight. Race time is set. Timed trial runs are made. Students may alter their car designs after a trial run.

Student: race vehicles two at a time. beginning on starter ramp. Speed of vehicles is formulated and recorded on a chart.

Preparation for Teacher: Preparation time is dependent upon students' prior Knowlede of energy and resources. For students with little prior knowledge. several weeks may be spent gathering information and experimenting with electricity.

A simple experiment for demonstrating absorbtion of the sun's energy (heat) is:
(1.) Wrap a paper cup in black paper and another in white paper.
(2.) Place one ounce of water in each cup.
(3.) Place both cups in the sunlight for 30 minutes.
(4.) Place a thermometer in each cup for ten seconds. Record and discuss temperature.

Three to four one hour sessions are devoted to designing and constructing model cars. which range between 10in. - 20in. in length, depending on matrials.

Teacher needs to gather resources for investigation; provide materials for models, wires with alligator clips. and solar panels: set up race course: and provide students with an assessment rubric prior to start of activity.

"Student Guide For the Junior Solar Sprint Competition." produced by Krisztina Holly and Akhil Madhani, is an introduction to building solar car.

Kits for The Junior Solar Sprint are available through:
Charlie Garlow
US EPA 2242
401 M St. SW
Washington. DC 20460
202-564-1088

Student Directions: Student directions need to be determined according to curriculum. grade level. and prior knowledge of the group. Areas that teachers want students to focus on should be clearly defined in writing and should be on the assesment rubric, which is explained to students at the start of the project.

Student Assessment: