The Sun and Energy

Michelle DavidMichelle VanTuyl

GLCE

K-PS3-2. Use tools and materials to K-PS3-2. Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area.* [Clarification Statement: on an area.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of structures could include Examples of structures could include umbrellas, canopies, and tents that umbrellas, canopies, and tents that minimize the warming effect of the minimize the warming effect of the sun.]sun.]

Lesson Overview

After this lesson, the students will be able After this lesson, the students will be able to:to:

Explain the effect the sun has on the Explain the effect the sun has on the Earth.Earth.

Explain how shade effects an area.Explain how shade effects an area.

Know examples of sun shelters.Know examples of sun shelters.

Know how to construct a sun shelter.Know how to construct a sun shelter.

Materials

Construction Construction paperpaper

ScissorsScissors

GlueGlue

TapeTape

Popsicle sticksPopsicle sticks

Toilet paper/paper Toilet paper/paper towel rollstowel rolls

String/yarnString/yarn

Other craft Other craft materialsmaterials

EngageBegin by asking the students how they Begin by asking the students how they protect their body from the sun.protect their body from the sun.

Some answers may be hats, umbrellas, trees, etc.Some answers may be hats, umbrellas, trees, etc.

Use this link to show the students different Use this link to show the students different examples of shade and have them point examples of shade and have them point out where the shade is; out where the shade is; http://www.aahealth.org/pdf/shade.pdf

Then, have the students think of places at Then, have the students think of places at their house or at school that create shade.their house or at school that create shade.

ExploreTo explore the concept further, pose the focus To explore the concept further, pose the focus question: how does the sun effect the Earth’s question: how does the sun effect the Earth’s surface? Put out samples of soil, rocks, water, surface? Put out samples of soil, rocks, water, and sand so that the students can make and sand so that the students can make predictions about how the sun effects each predictions about how the sun effects each surface. Record the students’ predictions on the surface. Record the students’ predictions on the chalkboard.chalkboard.

Place a sample of each “surface” inside and Place a sample of each “surface” inside and away from sun/heat as to represent the away from sun/heat as to represent the surfaces under a sun shelter.surfaces under a sun shelter.

Place a sample of each “surface” under a heat Place a sample of each “surface” under a heat lamp/in the sun for 20 minutes. (if you use a lamp/in the sun for 20 minutes. (if you use a heat lamp, be sure to tell the students that the heat lamp, be sure to tell the students that the heat lamp represents the sun).heat lamp represents the sun).

Explore (continued)When the 20 minutes are up, have the students When the 20 minutes are up, have the students line up in front of the samples that were line up in front of the samples that were underneath the heat lamp. Have them walk by underneath the heat lamp. Have them walk by each sample and hold their hand out to feel if each sample and hold their hand out to feel if there is heat coming off of it, or if it is cool to there is heat coming off of it, or if it is cool to touch. Have the students record/draw on their touch. Have the students record/draw on their worksheet which samples were warm and which worksheet which samples were warm and which ones were cool.ones were cool.

Take the “sun sheltered” samples out and Take the “sun sheltered” samples out and repeat the previous steps of having them feel repeat the previous steps of having them feel the samples and record/draw their the samples and record/draw their observations.observations.

Explain

Ask the following discussion questions:Ask the following discussion questions:

How did the different samples change after How did the different samples change after 20 minutes under the heat lamp/in the sun?20 minutes under the heat lamp/in the sun?

Which sample is hotter?Which sample is hotter?

Which sample is cooler?Which sample is cooler?

Return to the original discussion question: Return to the original discussion question: how does the sun effect the Earth’s surface? how does the sun effect the Earth’s surface?

ElaborateIn this activity, students will create their In this activity, students will create their own sun shelters using the materials own sun shelters using the materials provided.provided.

Before the designing and building processes Before the designing and building processes begin, walk around the school grounds and begin, walk around the school grounds and have the students notice the construction of have the students notice the construction of the shelters already in place.the shelters already in place.

Give the students time to discuss how they Give the students time to discuss how they want to construct their shelter. When the want to construct their shelter. When the students are done, have them present their students are done, have them present their shelter to the rest of the class.shelter to the rest of the class.

Evaluate

One way to evaluate the students is to One way to evaluate the students is to observe the student groups as they observe the student groups as they work together and construct their sun work together and construct their sun shelters.shelters.

Another way to evaluate would be for Another way to evaluate would be for the students to fill out the reflection the students to fill out the reflection section on their activity worksheet. section on their activity worksheet.

References

Lesson plan/Activity worksheets: Lesson plan/Activity worksheets: http://www.wecanchange.com/sites/wecanchange.com/files/pdf/K-2_Energy.pdf

Engage activity visual: Engage activity visual: http://www.aahealth.org/pdf/shade.pdfhttp://www.aahealth.org/pdf/shade.pdf