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NASA’S READY-TO-GO SOLAR SCIENCE AND SOLAR ENERGY ACTIVITIES
FOR THE K-5 CLASSROOM Ruth Paglierani
Center for Science EducationSpace Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley
November 1, 2014
THE SOLAR SCIENCE AND SOLAR ENERGY CONNECTION
Knowing about the Sun enhances understanding of solar energy Solar energy activities provides concrete, safe, first-hand experiences of the Sun Great opportunities for using math Authentic uses of expository writing
Solar Science and Solar Energy
SETTING THE SCIENCE STAGE
Sun/Earth/Moon system Size of the Sun Sun/Earth Distance Scale Motion and the Sun
Pre- and Post-Evaluation
Solar Science and Solar Energy
Something to write about
Exploring the comparative size and scale of the Sun, Earth and Moon with a student-created model.
How Big is the Sun?
Sun Size Predictions
How many earths would it take to go across the diameter of the sun?
1st Prediction
No data given: not shown size of sun or pictures
2nd Prediction Data given: students painted
surface of sun
3rd Prediction More data given: students
colored earths
1,000,000 2,000
5,000,000 1,000 1,050
15,000 200,000
10,000
100 5,000
200 500 150 600 400 105
100 95
115 110 189
90 50 80
As we received more data, our predictions became more accurate
and we felt more sure about them. Actual number: 109
Math: prediction, estimation, comparative sizes
Scientific and academic language: labeling, captions, definitions, explanation
More Detailed Models
Exploring the distance between the Sun and Earth and their comparative sizes
Exploring Scale
Capturing cyclical shadows through observation and illustration
Changing Shadows
Safe and easy-to-construct paper plate and plastic straw sundial
Using Shadows to Tell Time
Inquiry-driven discussion Creating and using models Hands-on experimentation Expository reading Science journals
Multiple Learning Modes
Current on-line version of Eye on the Sky
Solar cookers collect the Sun’s energy and convert it to heat. The Sun emits light across the
entire electromagnetic spectrum. Most of the invisible light is blocked by Earth’s atmosphere.The majority of energy reaching the Earth’s surface is visible light.
Putting all that sunlightto work
WHY USE DARK MATERIALS WITH SOLAR COOKERS?
Dark objects absorb much of the light shining on them, while shiny, light objects reflect much of the light
Absorbed light is converted to heatTake a look at a zebra and
the differentiated temperature
of black and white stripes.
Credit Steve Lowe
Some solar cookers work by collecting and focusing the Sun’s light so that food can be cooked more effectively.
Using Concentrated Energy
Curved concentrator or parabolic cookers
Interior is dark
and absorbs light
and surfaces HEAT
UP.
Trapping and Using Heat
Box cookers
Bag cookers The cooker is enclosed. The top allows light to enter
through glass or plastic.
Some cookers have dark surfaces AND are enclosed with plastic or glass AND have reflectors outside the enclosure collecting and channeling light into the oven.
Combined Effects: Maximizing the Sun
Panel cookers
Visible light passes through enclosure materials. The interior material absorbs the visible light, heats
up and emits infrared light. The IR is absorbed/reflected back inside by the
enclosing materials. The solar oven heats up and we are cooking W/O
gas!
Greenhouse Effect
B= Bring in the maximum sunlight
A= Absorb energy from sunlight
K= Keep the heat inside the cooker
E= Eat and Enjoy food cooked by the Sun.
B-A-K-E: The Basics of Solar Energy
Results, if the Sun cooperates…
1st Year: Pizza Cookers
Color/heat Experiment
2nd Yr: Experiment
Question:What color is most absorbent of light?
Prediction:Black Data Collection:
Recorded Temp
Conclusion
Concepts:• Direct sunlight• Reflection•Heating food•Heating Air•Insulation
More Background
