Lesson 9: Solar Energy Exploration

Timing: Year Round (could be really interesting in the winter!)

Objective: Students will learn about how solar energy heats different surfaces by comparing temperature changes in black and white containers left in sunlight. They will observe how color and material affect heat absorption. They will design and build a basic solar oven.

SMART Learning Goals:

• K-2nd Grade: Students will put two jars (black and white) in the sun and draw which one got hotter in the journal after 30 minutes.
• 3rd - 5th Grade: Students will compare water temperature in black and white containers over 30 minutes and write a conclusion explaining why the results happened.

Materials:

• 2 identical containers (cups or jars with lids)
• Paint one black (no extra space should be showing)
• Paint one white (no extra space should be showing)
• 1 cup of water in each container
• 2 thermometers
• Timer or stopwatch
• Clipboard, pencils, and science journal

Activities:

Begin with a class discussion. Ask: How does the sun warm our planet? Where does heat come from?

• Discuss how when sunlight hits something dark vs. something light the temperature changes.
• Ask students to make a prediction: what will happen to water in a jar covered in black paint vs a jar covered in white paint? Which one do you think will warm up faster in the sun? Why?

Explain

• The concept of sunlight absorption vs. sunlight reflection.

Set Up

• Fill each container with the same amount of room-temperature water.
• Paint one container with black paint and the other with white paint.
• Put both in full sunlight for 30 minutes.
• Have students record the start time and starting temperature of each container.

Classify and Record

• Record the final water temperatures.
• Compared to starting temperatures and between containers.
• Calculate the difference in temperatures.

Discuss

• Ask students questions like: Which container got warmer? Why does black absorb more heat than white? How does this relate to what we wear in summer?
• Explain how the Sun warms the Earth’s surface and how some materials affect climate.

Reflection

• Students should use their science journals about why the color of the container affects the water temperature. Have them write or draw examples in real life where this concept is important.

How this activity supports Common Core Science Standards

K–2:

• K-PS3-1: Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth's surface.
• K-PS3-2: Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area.

3–5:

• 4-PS3-2: Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.

Related Lessons:

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Living vs Non-Living Things
• Lesson 3: Soil Discovery and Decomposers
• Lesson 4: Plant Growth
• Lesson 5: Wind Direction and Study
• Lesson 6: Pollinator Patrol
• Lesson 7: Butterfly Garden
• Lesson 8: Seed Dispersal
• Lesson 10: Microhabitat Study
• Lesson 11: Decomposition Detectives
• Lesson 12: Building a Scale Model of the Solar System

Lesson 9 - How to Build and Teach From Outdoor Science Learning Labs.pdf