Roberta A. Mazzucco
The final area which the unit would consider is solar. This seems to be the best chance for solving our future needs. The unit will lead to the conclusion that solar offers the best possibility for a solution to the energy needs of the planet. Solar energy is also basically a free source of energy but it depends on the hours of daylight, and absence of cloud cover. There are two basic ways to use solar energy. One is to heat hot water so it can make steam to generate electricity. The other is to directly change solar energy into electricity. The problem has always been to find ways to harness the energy and use it efficiently. One way we are gathering this energy is now being done using solar panels. However, this is relatively still an expensive source of energy for most households.
There are a few demonstrations that students can do to imitate a solar panel as well as a solar cooker. There are small solar cells that students can use to try powering model cars and/or heating model homes.
Activity 9: Make a Solar Cooker
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Materials: A sunny day, black construction paper, aluminum foil, sheet of clear plastic laminate, non-toxic glue, tape and scissors, ruler and magic marker, one wood dowel rod
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1. Draw and cut out a window in the top of the pizza box. Leave one side connected so you can fold it back.
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2. Cut 2 pieces of foil to fit on the inside of the lid and to line the inside of the box. Smooth out any wrinkles, and glue.
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3. Tape a piece of plastic to the underside of the opening you cut. Make sure it is tightly sealed because this is the oven window.
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4. Glue corners of a piece of black construction paper to the bottom of the inside of the box on top of the foil.
Place the items you want to heat on the inside of the box. Use the dowel to open the window and position the oven so that the lid reflects the maximum amount of sunlight through the window. Try heating up s'mores, hot dogs, or melt some cheese on nachos
Energy Conservation
One of the main objectives of the unit has to be to give students recognition that our energy future is not secure, and that we need to take care of the resources we presently have while our energy needs and other technologies are explored and expanded. Our dependency on fossil fuels will end in the foreseeable future, and this next generation has to take energy conservation seriously. While it is acknowledged that we have a limited supply of fossil fuels, the challenge for us and the next generation is to ration the use of these fuels while we try to wait for advances in technology that will help solve the problem of our future energy needs.
To that end, there are a number of sites that include calculations of your carbon footprint. Students are asked to enter in their daily use of water, phones, appliances and computers, etc. The calculator figures out how much carbon is produced as well as, energy used and the average cost for that energy.
Culminating Activity
Usually, the ending of any unit of study requires students to show, in some tangible way, that they have grasped some of the main objectives of the unit. A good culminating activity for this unit would be energy fair. This would give students a chance to explain their findings to other classes. There are also a number of field trips that could enhance the unit such as a visit to a local power facility, or perhaps to visit the Phoenix Wind Turbine in New Haven. Students will read about things they can do to conserve energy. They will also design a pamphlet and posters to express what they have learned. Part of the learning fair would allow students to recreate some of the experiments they have seen for other students.