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Saved by the Sun
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/3406_solar.html

Jeff Lockwood, NOVA Teachers

This activity features video segments from a 2007 PBS program on solar energy. Students follow a seven-step invention process to design, build, and test a solar cooker that will pasteurize water. In addition, they are asked to describe how transmission, absorption, and reflection are used in a solar cooker to heat water and to evaluate what variables contribute to a successful cooker.

Activity takes five to eight 45-minute class periods. Additional materials required.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Energy Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:C) Collecting information
Other materials addressing:
C) Collecting information.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:A) Processes that shape the Earth
Other materials addressing:
A) Processes that shape the Earth.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:C) Energy
Other materials addressing:
C) Energy.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:B) Culture
Other materials addressing:
B) Culture.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.3 Humans and Their Societies:D) Global Connections
Other materials addressing:
D) Global Connections.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:D) Technology
Other materials addressing:
D) Technology.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:E) Environmental Issues
Other materials addressing:
E) Environmental Issues.
3. Skills for Understanding and Addressing Environmental Issues:3.1 Skills for Analyzing and Investigating Environmental Issues:C) Identifying and evaluation alternative solutions and courses of action
Other materials addressing:
C) Identifying and evaluation alternative solutions and courses of action.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • Given the nature and preparation of students, this activity can be a totally inquiry-driven investigation or the instructor can guide students toward a successful design.
  • Schedule the activity for a time when the sun is fairly high in the sky, such as early fall or mid- to late spring, particularly if you are in a temperate climate above 35 degrees N latitude.
  • Use of the associated NOVA video is not required/necessary for activity, but provides a wider context for solar energy.

About the Content

  • Students use a design prototyping and testing procedure to produce a solar oven capable of pasteurizing drinking water.
  • Comments from expert scientist:
    Scientific strengths:
    This practical activity is a sound way to make students familiar with some tricky topics of radiative transfer, such as absorption, reflection, transmission, different parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum, and the role of the Sun as a source of energy.

About the Pedagogy

  • Uses a strong 7-step design process that models how engineers work. It is a hands-on, small-group, building activity that would be best done towards the end of a unit/lessons on solar energy.
  • This activity meets the needs of the Connecticut Grade 9 Embedded Task for CAPT.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • The pictures and descriptions of sample solar cookers are helpful to guide teachers in their instruction and scaffolding of the project.
  • A comprehensive list of necessary building materials is provided.
Entered the Collection: June 2018 Last Reviewed: June 2016

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