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Solar & Farming: Harvesting Electricity and Veggies on the Same Land
Source: National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
Learn about innovative strategies for adding even more value to solar-developed lands, such as growing food or planting pollinator-friendly habitats.
Tinkercad: Create a Solar-Powered Invention
Source: Tinkercad
This project challenges students to use the engineering process to imagine, plan, and design a solar-powered invention. Students draw 2D sketches and 3D models of their designs using Tinkercad software. A scaffolded lesson plan is provided, complete with planning worksheets and an evaluation rubric. Skills: engineering, design, CAD software, geometry, geometric measurements.
NASA Climate Kids
Source: NASA
Climate change is closely connected to renewable energy. NASA Climate Kids is a great resource for teaching about the big-picture of climate change and the factors that contribute to it. Search their lesson library at https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/ for “Make Sun S’mores” and “Calculating Solar Power in Space” for two great lessons that dig into the details of solar energy.
Interpreting Solar Energy Dashboards Lesson
Source: Solar Empowered Schools
This inquiry-based lesson is a great introduction to the solar energy dashboard. Students first analyze graphs of solar production to form conclusions about seasonal and weather patterns, and then apply their understanding to make predictions about future production.
Rooftop Solar Installation Timelapse Video
Source: Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE)
See how solar panels are installed on the roof of a large school building in this 3.5-minute timelapse video.
Renewable Energy Jobs Card Game
Source: Mystic Aquarium & National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
In this game, played similarly to “Go Fish,”students explore different types of renewable energy – including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass – and survey roles of real people who work in those industries. Renewable energy is one of the fastest-growing job sectors, and that trend is only expected to increase in the coming years with the U.S. goal of achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
Fastest Growing Occupations: Occupational Outlook Handbook
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Renewable energy jobs – such as Wind Turbine Service Technician and Solar Photovoltaic Installer – are some of the fastest-growing occupations in the country. Using this Occupational Handbook, students can explore the pay scales, responsibilities, and training requirements of a wide variety of renewable energy careers.
Virtual Solar Tour
Source: Solar Empowered Schools
Explore the components of a roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar array through this interactive Google Slideshow.
Solar Technology Basics
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
This is a good introduction to solar technology, including written text and a 2-minute video.
Solar Technical Training Curriculum
Source: Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE)
This curriculum unit is perfect for CTE; students will learn about solar resource evaluation, siting, and design using the technical tools commonly used in the field. In addition to a thorough Solar PV unit, the Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education also offers free unit plans for other energy-based units, such as Energy Efficiency and Energy Bill Analysis.
Solar and Wind Competition
Source: KidWind
Each year KidWind runs statewide Solar and Wind challenges for grades 4-12. Students and teachers alike rave about this rich experience. Equipment and entry are free for participating clubs. No teacher expertise is necessary, as KidWind holds office hours for students and provides technical support for teachers.
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals & Lessons
Source: United Nations
Solar topics integrate beautifully with broader sustainability themes, such as the 7th U.N. Sustainability goal, "Affordable and Clean Energy". Visit this site for a wide range of captivating sustainability-related educational resources, including links to lessons about renewable energy through "The World's Largest Lesson."
Candy Collector: Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Activity
Source: National Energy Education Development (NEED)
In this fun, hands-on activity featuring CANDY(!) students choose between renewable and non-renewable energy sources to power their town. Common materials such as straws (extractors), M&Ms (non-renewable energy sources), and jellybeans (renewable energy sources) are used for the simulation. Teacher Tip: Search YouTube for "Candy Collector - Exploring Renewable & Nonrenewable" for a video demonstration of this lesson.
Project Wild Lessons about Pollinators and Adaptations
Source: Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Project Wild offers an excellent student-centered, experiential K-12 curriculum about wildlife and the environment, including lessons about pollination and adaptations. Teachers who participate in this FREE professional development workshop receive the treasured Activity Guide - a compilation of excellent standards-aligned, low-prep lessons that are feasible in any setting.
Solar Switch Challenge
Source: Solar Empowered Schools
Through this hands-on activity, students apply principles of electricity and solar technology to design, build, and test on/off and dimmer switches. The introduction is intentionally low-instruction to encourage a student-led engineering design process, and multiple challenge levels ensure that all students can be successful. Equipment required; materials list included.
National Energy Education Development (NEED) Solar Curriculum
Source: National Energy Education Development (NEED)
NEED specializes in K-12 renewable energy curriculum and teacher professional development. Their site includes a huge library of standards-aligned lesson plans (free) and hands-on experiment kits (for purchase).
Intro to Renewable Energy - Free Online Course
Source: Solar Energy International (SEI)
This free self-paced online course covers the basics of electricity, conservation and efficiency, and renewable energy technologies. This course is perfect for teachers seeking professional development or motivated high school students.
Careers in Renewable Energy Video
Source: Advanced Technology Environmental Education Center (ATEEC)
This 4-minute video introduces the wide span of jobs in the renewable energy industry, including some less commonly featured technologies like wave energy.
Energy Transformations Lesson and Solar Circuit Challenge
Source: Solar Empowered Schools
In the first part of this lesson, students will explore different forms of energy and discuss how energy can be transformed. In the second part, they will apply their understanding as they build their own circuits using solar panels, motors, lights, and switches. Ideal for 5th grade, but applicable for grades 4-12. Equipment required; materials list included.
Classroom Kit Lending Library for Renewable Energy Experiments
Source: Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Energy (CASE)
Virginia teachers can check out classroom sets of hands-on learning kits for free! The library includes experiment kits for solar and wind, NEED experiments, and energy-related books.
Solar Career Map
Source: Interstate Renewable Energy Council
This interactive career map is a perfect way to introduce the breadth of job opportunities in the solar field. Students can explore job details of specific positions and a path to their ultimate career goals. Don’t miss the short videos from actual solar professionals on the "About the Industry" tab.
Escape Room - Energy for Your World...And Beyond!
Source: Solar Empowered Schools
Energize your classroom with this fun escape-room activity! Teams of students will work together to unlock energy solutions for a newly discovered planet whose climate is similar to Earth's. Excellent as an introduction to -- or summary of -- energy and environmental impact, this one-hour lesson touches on themes of renewable energy, greenhouse gasses, and carbon dioxide emissions while encouraging problem-solving and collaboration.
Energy Career Activities and Lessons
Source: National Energy Education Development (NEED)
The Energy Careers Excursion curriculum pack includes activities suitable for all ages. With activities like "Energy Industry Guess Who?" and "Soft Skills Soirée", students assess which types of energy jobs match their interests and skills.
Solar Suitcase Project: Local Learning, Global Impact
Source: We Share Solar
This hands-on STEM education program links practical engineering skills with global humanitarian service as students build and share We Share Solar Suitcases with schools in energy-scarce regions of the world.
NABCEP Solar Installer Certification
Source: North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
A NABCEP certification makes a solar installer's resume shine, as it serves as a powerful signal of solar PV knowledge and training.
OSHA-10 Safety Certification
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
An OSHA safety certification makes candidates for solar field positions stand out.
"Solar at Our School" Infographic Project
Source: Solar Empowered Schools
This project leads students to learn about their schools' solar array, investigate the environmental benefits of solar, and create an infographic poster about solar at their school.
Hear from Women in Solar - Video
Source: Solar Energy International
Women from across the world talk about their roles in the solar industry in this 4-minute video.
Switch: Free Energy Documentaries and Curriculum Modules
Source: Switch Energy Alliance
Switch is an award-winning documentary that explores all types of energy, from coal to solar, and examines our energy decisions. In addition to the free full-length film, Switch Classroom offers six free curriculum modules. The content is non-partisan and the modules are self-paced and asynchronous - ideal for a flipped classroom style or a substitute plan.
Clean Energy Jobs and Planning
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Resources for clean energy careers, such as career maps for many types of renewable energy (solar, wind, bioenergy, fuel cells, and more) are available on this website.
