Solar Homes

This unit allows students to explore solar energy and sustainable home design. Students will learn about concepts including light transmission and absorption, thermal conductivity, and solar energy through scientific investigations and hands-on activities. Throughout this unit, students will create and test a model solar home, collecting and analyzing data to determine best sustainable design practices to apply to real-world scenarios.  

Hands-on Activities: 

• Surface temperature investigation 
• Jump rope wave demonstration 
• Cyanotype sun prints  
• Thermal conductivity experiment 
• Solar energy data collection  
• Solar design cost-benefit analysis  

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

MS-PS4-2 •  MS-PS3-3 •  MS-PS3-4