In this series of activities, students apply their knowledge of electromagnetic radiation, energy, and energy transfer to solve this engineering problem, What are some ways that buildings can be made more energy efficient using the suns energy directly? Teams complete a prototype ...In this series of activities, students apply their knowledge of electromagnetic radiation, energy, and energy transfer to solve this engineering problem, What are some ways that buildings can be made more energy efficient using the suns energy directly? Teams complete a prototype activity during which they build and test a model of a small vacation home. In the design challenge, students build and test exterior features on their model houses so that the interior will remain cool when the summer sun shines at an angle of 70 . Assessment questions and STEM-based extension activities are also included.
Time Requirement Teacher prep, 60 minutes. Research and prototype activity, 90 minutes. Design challenge, 1 or 2 class periods.
Presentations and assessment, 1 or 2 class periods. Digital Resources Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup