We live in a world that is facing an energy dilemma. We need to move our focus from a country that is oil dependent to one that can harness and use some alternative energies.
My students in the Earth and Environmental classes are freshmen.
Our school is a high achieving school, ranked number 2 in our state's ABC ranking system. It is a rural school, and we seek all opportunities to challenge our students. Hands-on activities are the most important tool for the science educator, and these supplies that show the power of the sun and the potential of the wind are a favorite of the freshmen!
My Project
The supplies are quite simple. I would like replacement solar engines that can be hooked up to a solar panel. Students can work in teams of two--the more students actively engaged the better. Students can test several questions: Does the angle of the sun affect the panel's ability to move the propeller? Does covering half of the solar panel affect its effectiveness?
The solar bags are just sheer fun. Huge black solar bags are filled with air; the heat from the sun causes them to rise like a zeppelin. My students LOVE this outside activity.
Radiation kits are also in the project to test the power of the sun as it applies to intensity, color of test materials, and insulation. Having 15 kits would insure that students could work in pairs.
The project has also included a request for anemometers to check the speed of the wind. Since we live right on the coast, students hope to get data, graph it and make some predictions about the wind's viability as an energy resource.
Alternative energies are important to everyone on the planet.
By inspiring my students to take a peek at the power of the sun and the potential energy of the wind, perhaps they will make better decisions about its use and make a change that our planet needs!
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