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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Electricity ~ The Colour Sensitivity of a Photovoltaic Cell

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Teacher's notes, a materials list, detailed procedure, tips, and extension ideas are all included to make teaching this lesson on photovoltaic cells a sunny spot in your day! After some brief background reading, physical science...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienting a Photovoltaic Cell

For Teachers 9th - 12th
By mounting a light bulb on a stand and a PV cell on another, physics apprentices experiment with the angle of incidence. Their goal is to determine the optimum angle for collecting solar energy. The use of a scientific calculator is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The Green Education Foundation found that this lesson plan, written by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, is right up their alley when it comes to teaching sustainability. It is ideal as a first lesson plan on photovoltaic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Photovoltaic Cells and Systems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This interesting document suggests nine different activities for shedding light on photovoltaic cells. A bit of background information is furnished for you, as well as many, many resource links. Listed for each activity are a learning...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #14 - Solar Cells as Control Devices

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Given four suggested concepts, emerging electrical engineers research, design, and constuct a working device that willrespond to changes in the intesnisty or the direction of sunlight. This is a challenge for learners to rise to, as the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Photoelectric Effect in Photocells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Illuminate your physics class with this examination of a photovoltaic cell. Teach the structure and operation of the device using a diagram. Then make a human-powered, larger-than-life sized model of a PV cell. Learners become electrons...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junior Solar Sprint Series: Electrical Power

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Through scientific inquiry, middle schoolers discover how to arrange solar cells in order to produce electricity. This activity is intended to prepare learners to be able to design and construct solar cars. As with other resources...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Series or Parallel?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Emerging electricians extend mental models of light bulbs and resistors in series and or in parallel circuits to include the connection of photovoltaic cells in arrays. They investigate open circuits, using a DC voltmeter, a light...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cell Simulation

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars study photovoltaic technology. For this photovoltaic technology lesson, students simulate a photovoltaic system. Young scholars discuss how to simulate a cloudy day.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaves, the Sun, and the Water Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 8th
As a way to combine life and physical science, or simply as an investigation of plant transpiration, this lesson is sure to inspire! Middle schoolers capture the moisture given off by plants that are placed in different conditions. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #3 Parts of a Solar Panel - Part I

For Teachers 4th - 6th
A solar cell is similar to a rechargeable battery in many ways. Science lab groups connect each in a series circuit to run a mini motor and then compare and contrast them by answering questions and completing a Venn diagram. This is an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson plan, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienting a Photovoltaic Cell

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the optimum angle for orienting a solar collector relative to the rays of incoming sunlight. They review equinoxes, solstices, and various locational ideas before students investigate using meters, light sources, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Series or Parallel?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Physics classes that are studying electricity connect photovoltaic cells into both series and parallel circuits. Inquiry and critical thinking come into play as learners try to determine which circuit is more productive. They associate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Photocells Work

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Give small groups of physical scientists tokens that represent electrons in a photovoltaic cell. They play a dice game in which they move the tokens around, representing the flow of electrons through the p-n junction of a semiconductor...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Car Races: Build and retrofit for speed

For Teachers 6th - 9th
If you have solar car kits for your junior high schoolers, they can experiment with photovoltaic cell angle, light intensity, and aerodynamic design to discover what makes their car move more quickly. This is a classic activity to use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Car Series: during What Part of the Day Can the Most Sun Power Be Collected?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
In preparation for solar car races, middle schoolers attempt to discover what time of day the most solar energy can be collected. Begin by demonstrating the use of a voltmeter for measuring solar cell output. Take them outdoors to take...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Characterizing a Solar Cell

For Students 9th - 12th
Young classes are sure to get a charge out of this instructional activity! Learners experiment with circuits of a solar cell. They practice determining current, voltage, and power for the circuit and maximize the voltage and current of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Experiments with Photovoltaic Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain how sunlight is converted to electricity. In this series of physics lesson, students study how varying the characteristics of the light source affect photovoltaic cells. They research their different uses in other...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Solar Cells Work: Converting Sunlight to Electricity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine how to convert sunlight to electricity.  In this renewable energy sources lesson students explain how solar cells are used and use a voltmeter to measure the energy produced by a solar panel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maximum Power Point

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate energy using a photovoltaic cell. In this electricity lesson plan, students collect data from current-voltage and power-voltage curves to determine if photovoltaic systems have an advantage over conventional electric...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maximum Power Point

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how to optimize the power output of a photovoltaic cell using a home-made gnomon stand. They use data collected to create current-voltage and power-voltage curves and determine the "maximum power point," (MPP) at...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #15 - Solar-Powered Electrolysis of Water and the Hydrogen Economy

For Teachers 10th - 12th
An outstanding lesson awaits your physics fledglings! After reading about how hydrogen can act as an energy carrier, they examine the electrolysis of water using solar power. They test the gases produced for flammability and will...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to answer basic questions about the process of turning light energy into electrical energy. They are introduced to the basic physics and chemistry behind the operation of a solar cell. Students explore how a single...

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