This document provides a rationale and collection of resources for teaching students about solar energy using technology. It explains that technology allows students to closely examine the sun through visuals and interactive content, access new information as the field develops, and for teachers to share ideas. A variety of online resources are presented, including YouTube videos, blogs, podcasts, and websites from NASA and other organizations that provide images, articles and activities about the sun and solar energy. Sample teaching materials like apps, worksheets and experiments are also included.

1. Solar Energy
Appropriate for grades 3 – 5
By AnetaKlusak

2. Statement of Rationale
• The sun affects our global climate, seasons, plant life,
and even human health. It also has enormous potential
for providing our society with energy in an age of “energy
crises.” Technology offers students the opportunity to
take a close look at the sun through both real and
digitally created visuals, child-friendly articles, and
interactive games. As the field of solar energy develops,
technology also allows us to access new information as
it becomes available through the most credible research
communities. Finally, thanks to shared online content,
technology allows teachers to share ideas and students
to access relevant material both in the classroom and as
extensions at home.

3. Rationale Video

4. Links
• The websites in this PowerPoint have been checked
for updated information and connection to credible
organizations.
• Images are hyperlinked to the corresponding
websites for easier access. Web addresses can be
found in the slide notes.

5. Online Resources - YouTube
• “Energy 101: Solar Power” is a
short, animated, and child-friendly
introduction to the concept of
harnessing solar energy.
• “Bill Nye the Science Guy: The
Sun” is a full, 22 minute episode in
which Bill Nye offers an
entertaining look at the size,
temperature, and energy
contained within the sun, among
many other thought provoking
facts and science experiments
students can do in the classroom
or at home.

6. Online Resources - Blog
“The Great Energy Challenge” is a blog supported
by the National Geographic Society. Contributing
authors examine the issues surrounding today’s
“energy crisis,” ideas for lowering our carbon
footprints, and the variety of ways that scientists are
trying to harness clean energy (including solar
power).

7. Online Resources - Podcast
• Science Friday is a radio show, accessible online,
that aims to communicate developing issues in
science to the public. Their “Solar Energy Update”
show (click on image to access) was dedicated to
explaining the relevance of solar energy in today’s
world. They also have a variety of other shows that
address solar energy topics with experts in the field.

8. Online Resources - Video
• “Mysteries of the Sun” is a free, five part video
series created by NASA that can be used to explore
the sun’s effects on the solar system as well as the
earth. It is accompanied by a free PDF book with
colorful and detailed diagrams of the sun’s structure.
The information presented in the videos is more
appropriate for older students, but teachers can use
this as resource to build their own knowledge of the
sun.

9. Website
• Colorado’s High Altitude Observatory, a division of the
National Center for Atmospheric Research, makes its
research available online. Part of the HAO’s mission is
“to understand the behavior of the Sun and its impact on
the Earth.” The HAO gives us insight into the way the
sun has been studied in the past and how it is being
studied today. HAO’s “Education” page has information
on the history of solar physics and famous solar
physicists, among a number of links to other credible
websites.

10. Website
• Gizmodo is a blog that keeps us updated on the
latest news in designs and technology. Just recently,
an article about the world’s largest solar plant was
posted, complete with a series of images that can
be shared in the classroom.

11. Organization #1
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
provides high resolution images, videos, informative
articles, and online activities related to the exploration of
our universe. Searching for “sun,” “solar energy,” or other
related terms brings us directly to these.
• Resources are categorized for both teachers and
students in grades K-8.

12. Organization #2
• “Solar in the Schools” is an outreach program created by
Solar Energy International. This organization dedicates a
portion of their website to links that teachers can use to
teach students about solar energy and energy
conservation. These links include interactive games and
websites that students can explore in the classroom or at
home.
• SEI also offers a free online course for teachers to
introduce them to renewable energy.

13. Organization #3
• Solar 4 R Schools was created
by the Bonneville
Environmental Foundation to
“provide schools nationwide
with hands-on teaching tools
such as science kits, lesson
plans and photovoltaic solar
arrays so students can learn
about solar, wind and other
renewable energy
technologies.” This
organization offers to help
secure local funding and build
a solar electric system for your
own school!

14. Teaching Material – iPad App
• “Sun by KIDS DISCOVER” allows students to
explore the sun from a variety of angles. For
example: the sun in comparison to other stars, the
sun’s core, and solstice vs. equinox.
• Features images, video, audio, animations, quizzes,
puzzles, and other games.

15. Teaching Material – Word
Search

16. Teaching Material –
Solar Energy Unit Plan
• Sample worksheet
from unit plan.
Provided by the
Florida Solar
Energy Center, a
research institute of
the University of
Central Florida.

17. Teaching Material – Experiment

18. Kidspiration Organizer
• Students can use an O – W – L chart in Kidspiration
to organize their findings after performing an
experiment to study the effects of the sun, such as
the one on the previous slide.

19. Subject-Specific Website
• “Windows to the Universe” is created by the National
Earth Science Teachers Association. By navigating
to the “Solar System” page, teachers can find a
“Sun” page that offers information on the sun and a
variety of video and image galleries that can be
presented in class. These give students the
opportunity to truly “look” at the sun in a way that
they cannot in nature.

20. Web 2.0
• Twiducate allows teachers to create and monitor a
“social network” for their class. Through this website,
students can post material, have discussions, and
even share pictures and videos. Twiducate offers a
safe and private network through which students
and teachers can collaborate both in and outside of
school. Teachers can also add other teachers and
their classes to the discussion.

21. Slideshare
• This PowerPoint can also be found on Slideshare,
where it can be accessed by others in the
educational community.