Student-Designed Solar Photovoltaics Investigation – Project Timeline and Tasks

Summary

Project Timeline and Tasks Handout

The Project Timeline and Tasks handout introduces students to the Student-Designed Solar Photovoltaics Investigation and orients them to the full eight-day project. It frames the driving question, can we design a photovoltaic (PV) array that can charge all of our school’s laptop computers, and lays out the five sequential parts students will complete: estimating energy demand, evaluating installation sites, designing a PV efficiency lab, conducting the experiment, and preparing a scientific presentation.

This orientation handout helps students see the full arc of the investigation before they dive into the daily work. It identifies key tasks and deliverables for each part, making it easier for student teams to plan their time, distribute responsibilities, and stay organized across the multi-week project. Teachers can use this handout as a roadmap during the launch class, as a reference document students keep in their science notebooks, or as a planning tool for student teams to track their progress.

The handout is designed for high school physics, environmental science, AP Environmental Science, and engineering classrooms. It pairs with each individual student handout and the overall Teacher Guide.

Extend the Lesson: Use this handout at the start of the full Student-Designed Solar Photovoltaics Investigation. Build foundational knowledge first with the Introduction to Solar lesson, and use the Science of Solar lesson for additional background reading throughout the project.