Exploring Alternative Energy St.

Clair RESA Middle School Alternative Energy Grant: Final Report Submitted by: Julie McDowell, Yale Jr. High School - Yale, Michigan

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The Yale Junior High School received a grant from RESA to be used in the development of lesson plans integrating alternative energy projects. Over the course of the 2010-11 school year, students participated in projects based learning activities. We focused on alternative/renewable energy and the concept of relating them to everyday use. As stated, the primary focus was exploring alternative/ renewable energy resources. However, we were also able to use these lessons as introduction into career fields related to these technologies. The materials purchased for the lessons were selected for their relevance to the topic as well as their experimental content. We tried focus on hands-on experimentation which allowed the students to be proactive participants in the development of the projects. This method encouraged inquiry learning guided by the teacher. Students began the projects with focus questions pertaining to the sources of alternative/renewable energies. Students were then given the tools to manage and execute projects and learn to work in peer teams as they progressed through a process of discovery and reflection. Students developed individual portfolios for the projects that contained observations and experimental data. These portfolios were instrumental in reviewing their work as a team and we were also able to observe their individual grasp of the material. Purchased Items
Vendor Name Kid Wind Kid Wind Kid Wind Kid Wind Kid Wind Kid Wind Kid Wind Kid Wind Kid Wind Item Description Visual Meter Solar Thermal Kit Power House Al Turbine 5.6 Volt solar Panel Fuel Cell Science Kit Plastic Cardboard Blades 1000 Wind Speed Meter Digital Multimeter Quantity 4 4 5 4 6 4 1 1 5 Cost/ea. $17.50 $50.00 $130.00 $109.00 $22.00 $69.00 $60.00 $85.00 $12.50 Sub Total Shipping Order Total $125.87 Sub Total Shipping Order Total Expenditure Total Cost $70.00 $200.00 $650.00 $436.00 $132.00 $276.00 $60.00 $85.00 $62.50 $1,971.50 $101.00 $2,072.50 $251.74 $251.74 $0.00 $251.74 $2,324.24

Super Science Fair Projects

Windmill Farm ,Vertical axis

Total

Specific topics addressed y y y y y y y Build a wind turbine and explore pitch and blade designs. Measure wind speeds using wind meter. Build an electric car that used a hydrogen fuel cell to generate electric power. Use thermal solar energy kits to design a solar water system. Explore locations at Yale Junior High to place a Solar Array. Build and design a power house, using only alternative energy resources. Using volt and visual meters to measure the generated electric power.

Materials and methods used to measure the success of project In addition to the purchased items, the following materials and methods were used as either learning tools or student achievement metrics: y y y Content based student surveys were given prior to, during and as a follow-up to ascertain content knowledge increases over the period of the projects. Rubrics were given to students to guide instruction during project development. Templates were used to guide students through the learning process, conferences, interviews, journals, and portfolios.

Other successes were observed in the areas of student inquiry and growth: these were a few that were acknowledged: y y y Students willingly moved from a lectured based environment to one that was student driven. Students became proactive participants in collaborative learning. Students took active interest when given the opportunity explore careers field related to alternative/ renewable energy.

Future Expectations My plan is to continue using the materials and to build on the current curriculum. It is my hope that this introduction of alternative/renewable energy resources in the junior high classroom is carried into the high school setting. Also, It is one of my goals to begin an after school science club that will encourage students to further develop their science skills with a focus on alternative/renewable energy.

Some available educational Resources: The following pages contain sample lessons used in presenting the alternative energy curriculum: E21 Energy Education for the 21st Century http://www.pspb.org/e21/media/student_energy_survey.html Useful survey-Thinking about Energy www.need.org www.kidwind.com Useful site to help incorporate Project Based Learning Activities http://pbl-online.org/ProjectPlanning/BeginWithTheEnd in MInd.htm Kidwind.org - website that offers much information and advice on implementing the windmill activity for your class

Windpower.org - get a crash course on wind power. Good website that keeps concepts simple for quick understanding.

Watts up with torque - good information with history of windmills Energy Kids page - Good website for students to read to get overall background on windmills and wind energy James Madison University. "Alternative Energy Educational Resources." Lesson Plans and Activities (2011): n. page. Web. 24 May 2011. http://aeer.cisat.jmu.edu/activities.html I also found helpful worksheets on the Kidwind Free Curriculum website: "Wind Turbine Blade Design." Kidwind Project. U.S. Department of Energy, 2006. Web. 25 May 2011. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/pdfs/wind_turbinebladedesign.pdf

Name____________________

Blade Experiment Sheet

What variable will you test for your experiment? _____________________ Describe how you will perform this experiment. BE SPECIFIC! What materials will you use, how many times will you test, how will you change your variable, how will you record input. Use another sheet if necessary!

Important!! What things do you have to keep the same (constant) as you perform this experiment?

Make a prediction! What do you think will happen as you change your variable?

Data Tally Sheet Trial # 1 2 3 4 5 6 Variable (Length, Number, etc.) Voltage (mV or V) Amperage (mA or A) (VxA)=Power (mW or W)

Make a quick graph of your data

Power Output (Voltage? Wattage?)

Variable Testes (Length, Number, etc.)

How did the voltage/amperage/wattage change as a result of manipulating your variable?

Do you think that your variable has a large or small effect of power production?

What was the optimal setting for the variable that you tested?

If you were a lead design engineer, what would you recommend your company do to their turbine blades? Why?

What problems did you encounter as you performed your experiments? What other variable was it hard to hold constant?

Design Team_____________________

Wind Turbine Blade Competition

Details: The Wind NRG Corporation needs a team to wind engineers to design and build a set of blades for their new wind generator. These blades must be durable, quiet, and effective at converting the energy of the wind into electrical energy. Time: Unfortunately the Wind NRG Corporation needs these blades fast. You have two periods to build and test an optimal set of blades. Design Constraints: y y y y y y Can use any material found in the resource area Cannot use any manufactured blades or propellers Blades cannot be more than 20 long Must have no sharp points Must keep track of the material you use on your data sheet Must test blades at least once before presentation time

Competition Each blade set will be tested at high and low wind speeds for 30 seconds. Power output will be calculated and averaged. The team with the highest average output will be the winner. Design Questions How many blades do you plan to place of your hub? How long are you going to make these blades? What materials are you going to use? Why are you going to use these materials?

After you first test, what modifications did you make to the blades? Why did you make these modifications?

Final Design How many blades Length of blades Width of blades _______ _______ (cm) _______ (cm)

What materials did you use to make your blades? Individual Power Data High Wind Speed Low Wind Speed Voltage ________ Voltage ________ Amperage_________ Amperage _________ Power Output_________ Power Output_________

Average Power Output (High and Low) _____________________________ Class Data Group Blade # Material Length (cm) High Power Low Power Average

Which blades seemed to perform the best?

Participant Information:
Name: Julie McDowell

Lesson Standard: Solar and Wind Energy Effects P.E.N.M6

Statement: Expectation: This lesson focuses on heat and light energy from Students will use Power House Experiment Science kit to build a model house. the sun, students will learn how to transform energy from the sun and how it is transformed into Understanding how nuclear reactions take place in the sun producing heat and light. Big Idea:

School: Yale Junior High Grade Level: 7 Email: jmcdowell@yale.k12.mi.us

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Grade

useful alternative energy.

Assessments (formative/summative): Pre- test Vocabulary review Formative Keep a Science notebook, construct Data, charts and Graphs Summative- Complete a survey, share journal (give feedback)

Career Connections: Students will conduct experiments in the fields of Solar, Electrical, and wind. These experiments focus on the roles and responsibilities of each profession.

Materials: 6- Solar Power House Kits Kits include complete materials to build a Power house with additional materials to generate alternative energy.

Websites and Recourses:

www.weatherlink.com/user/sccresatec http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/roleplay ing/examples/energyde.html www.kidsfootprint.org http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/ee k/index.htm

Vocabulary: Alternative energy Wind Powered Generator Sun collector, Solar Power, Green House, Current indicator, Hygrometer, Power Stations, Heat Trap, Heat and light energy, Harness, Photosynthesis

Unit Title: Exploring Alternative Energy

Math, Literacy, Technology Connections: Literacy: Students will read journal entries

Lesson Title: Power House

Technology: Students will use the internet to learn how to power the energy of the sun and wind and to tap the energy. Math: Students will learn to

Time Required: 2Weeks

Lesson Plan
Lesson Time Sequenced Instructional/Assessment Activities Resources Needed Power house Experiment Science Kit (See Attachment)

Day 1-3

Collect and gather materials to complete a Power House. Assign duties and responsibilities of the project. Provide a science notebook on the building process and keep take of progress of your solar powered house. Using Movie Maker, have one student be the reporter. Construct a Power House for your group.

Day 4

Use your resources to collect the suns rays to heat water. Students will build a sun collector to warm water for their house. Assessment: Model how using the suns heat rays can provide warm water for your power house. Plan and create a wind powered generator to provide light energy to your power house. Compare the amount of energy is needed to provide enough for more than one light.

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8-10

Assessment: Demonstrate how wind energy provides energy to your home. Wrap up Complete Student led conferences, Present video.