Solar Sleuths: Investigating the Sun’s Impact on Our School
by Arlette Johnson
This third-grade STEM lesson introduces students to solar energy, the heat island effect, and data analysis. Students will use temperature gauges to measure different areas of the school at various times of the day, then create a line graph to track temperature changes. They will explore how different surfaces heat up due to solar energy and the heat island effect. To reinforce these concepts, students will build and test solar ovens, learning how solar energy can be harnessed for practical purposes. This hands-on lesson integrates science, math, and engineering while addressing real-world environmental issues.
Lesson Grade Level
3rd GradeLesson Plan Link/URL
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QTlD7TugoMeKa4yGIbd0Vo2KIOrW-JX4/edit?u…Subject Area
Science Earth and Space Science E1: Earth Systems Technology 4. Innovative Designer 5. Computational Thinker Engineering S2: Apply the Engineering Design Process Mathematics Measurement and Data (MD) English Language Arts (ELA) Reading (Informational Text) Writing Speaking & Listening
Featured
Off
Related Content
Grades:
2nd Grade, 3rd Grade
Students will research a biome around the world, including 3 animals, 3 plants, and 3 nonliving parts of the ecosystem. Students will construct a diorama of the biome and illustrate a natural disaster
Grades:
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade
Engineers often create small-size models of a new product to test its design. This is especially true with airplanes. Model testing tells engineers how a design responds to different air conditions
Grades:
Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
Most students are likely familiar with popular films like Happy Feet, Surf’s Up, Penguins of Madagascar, and classic books like Mr. Popper's Penguins. Capitalizing on this familiarity with penguins