Activity Introduction
Quick summary: This lesson is designed for a flipped classroom, where students learn new content by watching a video in their own time. This strategy provides the opportunity for students to build their knowledge, attitudes and values by themselves, thereby freeing up class time for hands-on work.
Learning goals:
- Students understand some of the challenges associated with creating solar energy.
- Students build their thinking and questioning skills.
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.
Australian Curriculum content descriptions:
Year 7 Science
- Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
Year 8 Science
- Energy appears in different forms including movement (kinetic energy), heat and potential energy, and causes change within systems (ACSSU155)
- Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (ACSHE135)
Year 9 Science
- People can use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they should accept claims, explanations or predictions (ACSHE160)
Year 10 Geography
- The human-induced environmental changes that challenge sustainability (ACHGK070)
Syllabus Outcomes: GE5-2, GE5-3, SC4-11PW, SC5-13ES, SC4-12ES, SC4-10PW.
Time needed: 20 minutes.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – allow students to explore the topic independently.
Resources required: Internet, laptops and earphones, Student Worksheet.
Key words: Solar, energy, power, electricity, renewable, solar tower, solar panels.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
Teacher Preparation