Students will work to build their own Solar (and wind) Houses, then join together to connect them into a Solar Town. Students will also engage in the Solar Scavenger Hunt to understand how solar panels work and how to make them operate most efficiently. Students will apply this knowledge and use basic electrical engineering skills to design and build an electrical system that is powered by their solar panel or wind turbine.
This kit includes enough materials for 6 solar houses and/or 6 wind houses:
Solar panels
Mini wind turbines and/or Fireflies
AA batteries
Supercapacitor
On/Off switch
LEDs (various colors)
Incandescent lights (various colors)
Buzzer
Motor
AA battery pack
Uncoated wire
Alligator clips
Aluminum tape
Diode
Boxes
Tags
Motor wheels
Acetate
Foam sheets (or other supplies for decorating houses)
Multimeter
Wire stripper
Additional Equipment Needed:
Lights (or sun)
NOT included:
Scissors
Scotch tape
Protractors
Rulers
Box fan (or 2 – if using wind turbines)
1-3 lamps
High wattage incandescent bulb (100 watts or higher)
Compact fluorescent bulb (optional)
LED bulb (optional)
Hot glue guns
Markers/crayons
Alternative building materials such as craft moss, colorful paper, paint, cardboard, anything that students can use to decorate their houses!
EXTENSION ACTIVITY: Head out on a Solar Scavenger Hunt to find which light sources and conditions generate the most solar power. Gather data, record changes in variables, and measure solar power output. This kit includes everything for a successful Solar Scavenger Hunt, but parts may also be used to supplement solar circuits in our kits like the Solar Town Class Pack.
Worksheets:
Solar Town Deisgn Brief
Renewable Energy Town Design Brief
Solar Siting
Wind Siting
Design a Solar Home
Solar Town Activity Guide
Solar Scavenger Hunt Activity Guide