Description

Overview:

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students complete real-world calculations related to residential solar energy use, including the number of solar panels needed to power the average house and how many solar panels could fit on their own home or a local building.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson lets students evaluate the impact of solar energy in addressing the energy crisis and energy inequities, especially in low-income communities. It would build their analytic skills in calculating the amount of energy a solar panel can produce per hour, which is important information for houseowners to choose the size of solar panels to build. All materials embedded in the lesson are illustrative and were fact-checked thoroughly. On that account, this lesson has passed our science credibility process and is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-Students are able to use algebra skills in real-world applications.
-The lesson is engaging for students because it is personalized to each student's actual home or local building.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This lesson is 2 of 5 in our 6-8th Grade Renewable Energy Algebra unit.
-If teachers did not complete lesson 1, omit questions 1, 3, and 5 on the Student Document and use this video to introduce solar energy and its connections to climate change.
-Slides 14-16 are vocabulary words from the first lesson that teachers may wish to review with students again or introduce if teachers skipped lesson 1.
-Students need access to computers and calculators for this lesson.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Students can work individually or in groups.
-If students do not feel comfortable using their actual address, they can select a random nearby address to use.
-Teachers can walk students through certain calculations as a class. Teachers can also pull small groups to work through any areas with the most needs.

Subject:

Mathematics

Level:

Middle School

Material Type:

Lesson Plan

Author:

Effie Albitz, Mallory Swafford

Provider:

SubjectToClimate

Date Added:

06/30/2023