Includes a clear introduction to the driving question, full student objectives, project timeline overview, detailed materials list, step-by-step daily procedures for each phase of the project, and an assessment rubric.
Student-Designed Solar Photovoltaics Investigation
Summary
Student teams act as solar energy consultants, calculating laptop charging demand, sizing a PV array, selecting an installation site, then designing and running their own experiment to test what affects panel performance. The eight-day investigation closes with a scientific presentation where teams defend a final solar design recommendation backed by their own data. Includes a teacher guide, project timeline, five student handouts, and a presentation rubric for high school Earth and Environmental Science or Physics energy units.
Activities
Lab - Student Guide
Project Timeline and Tasks
Introduces students to the Student-Designed Solar Photovoltaics Investigation and orients them to the full eight-day project.
Lab - Student Guide
Part 1
Students calculate how much energy is needed to charge their school’s laptops and estimate the size of the solar array required to meet that demand.
Lab - Student Guide
Part 2
Student teams identify and evaluate two potential solar PV installation sites on their school grounds, then select the optimal location using evidence-based reasoning.
Lab - Student Guide
Part 3
Student teams design a controlled experiment to test how one environmental factor affects photovoltaic (PV) panel performance.
Lab - Student Guide
Part 4
Student teams carry out their approved photovoltaic efficiency experiment, collect data, analyze results, and connect their findings back to their school solar array design.
Lab - Student Guide
Part 5
Student teams synthesize their work from Parts 1 through 4 into a scientific presentation that defends their final solar array recommendation for their school.
Downloadables