Solar Sleuths: Investigating the Sun’s Impact on Our School

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.