Wonders of the Sun Student Guide

Wonders of the Sun

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Student Guide

ELEMENTARY

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What is Energy?

Energy is many things. Energy is light. Energy is heat. Energy makes things grow. Energy makes things move. Energy is electricity to run machines.

Energy is the power to change things. Energy is the ability to do work.

Energy is Light We use light energy to see. Our light during the day comes from the sun. At night, we turn on light bulbs powered by electricity.

We also burn candles. Flashlights use batteries to make light.

Energy is Heat We use energy to make heat. We burn fuel to cook our food. The food we eat helps our bodies stay warm. When it is cold outside, we use energy to heat our homes. A campfire makes heat, too.

Light

Factories burn fuel to make the products they sell. Some power plants burn coal and natural gas to make electricity.

Energy Makes Things Grow All living things need energy to grow. Plants use light from the sun to grow. Plants change the sun’s energy into sugar. The sugar is stored in their roots and leaves and provides nourishment for the plant. This process is called photosynthesis.

Heat

Animals cannot change light energy into sugars. Neither can people. We eat plants and use the energy stored in them to grow.

Tree

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Energy Makes Things Move It takes energy to make things move. Cars use the energy in gasoline to speed down the highway.

Many toys run on the energy stored in batteries.

Sailboats glide across the bay, pushed by the energy in the wind.

Water flows down creeks and rivers from mountain tops to the ocean, pulled by the force of gravity.

Leaves that fall from the trees on the river bank are carried down by the water, too.

After a long game of soccer, you may feel too tired to move. You’ve run out of energy. You need to eat some food to refuel.

Energy Runs Machines It takes energy to run our TVs, video games, computers, and microwaves. This energy is in the form of electricity.

We use electricity every day. It gives us light and heat. It runs our games and appliances. What would your life be like without electricity?

We can make electricity by burning coal, oil, gas, and even trash. We can make electricity from the energy that holds atoms together. We can make electricity with energy from the sun, the wind, and moving water.

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Energy is Change

GAS STATION

When we use energy, it does not disappear.

We change it into other forms of energy. When we burn wood, we change its energy into heat and light. When we drive a car, we change the energy in gasoline into heat and motion.

When we eat food, we change its energy into motion and heat.

Energy is the Ability to Do Work The word work means many things. Your parents may leave the house every morning to go to work. Exercise is often called working out. Your teacher gives you homework to do. You might think that work is the opposite of play.

Image courtesy of bp

SOCCER

In science, work has a different meaning. Work is using a force to move an object across a distance. To do work, there must be energy.

Energy is the ability to do work.

Think about playing soccer. A soccer ball cannot move by itself. You must kick it. The food you eat gives your body energy. Your muscles use this energy to kick (a force) the ball.

The soccer ball (the object) rolls (moves) across the field (distance) to score a goal. You have just done work! Would you have done work if you had missed the goal? Yes, the ball still moved across a distance.

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Image courtesy of Adobe Stock Energy allows you to play soccer and move the ball down the field.

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U.S. Consumption of Energy by Source, 2024

91%

Nonrenewable Sources Renewable Sources 0%

9%

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PERCENTAGE OF UNITED STATES ENERGY USE

Nonrenewable Energy Sources and Percentage of Total Energy Consumption *Propane consumption is included in petroleum and natural gas figures.

PETROLEUM 38% Uses: transportation, manufacturing - Includes Propane

NATURAL GAS 36% Uses: heating, manufacturing, electricity - Includes Propane

URANIUM

Uses: electricity

9%

COAL

Uses: electricity, manufacturing

8%

PROPANE

1%

GEOTHERMAL <1%

Uses: heating, manufacturing

Renewable Energy Sources and Percentage of Total Energy Consumption

BIOMASS

5%

Uses: heating, electricity, transportation

WIND

Uses: electricity

2%

HYDROPOWER 1% Uses: electricity

SOLAR

Uses: heating, electricity

Uses: heating, electricity

Data: Energy Information Administration *Total may not equal 100% due to independent rounding.

Energy Sources In the United States we use ten energy sources to do work. We put these sources into two categories: nonrenewable and renewable.

The nonrenewable energy sources we use are petroleum, coal, natural gas, propane, and uranium. These sources are found in the Earth. It takes a very long time for the Earth to produce these sources. Once we use them, we can’t use them again or get them back quickly. We use nonrenewable energy sources to move our cars, heat our homes, and make electricity.

Renewable energy sources can be used over and over again. It does not take very long to replenish the supply of these resources, so we will never run out. Renewable energy sources are biomass, hydropower, solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy.

Day after day, the sun shines, the wind blows, and the rivers flow. We use renewable energy sources mainly to make electricity.

Nonrenewable sources are relatively inexpensive and we can use them 24 hours a day.

Some renewable sources like solar and wind are free to use, because no one owns the sun or the wind. The machines and parts needed to turn these sources into energy we can use can be expensive, however. Every source of energy has advantages and disadvantages to using it. ©2026 The NEED Project Wonders of the Sun

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Electricity Electricity is Mysterious

LIGHTNING

Electricity is a mysterious form of energy. We cannot see it like we see the sun. We cannot hold it like we hold coal. We know when it is working, but it is hard to understand exactly what it is.

Before we can understand electricity, we need to know about atoms.

What are Atoms?

Everything is made of atoms—every star, every tree, every animal. Even you and I are made of atoms. The air and water are too. Atoms are the building blocks of the universe. They are very, very tiny particles. Millions of atoms would fit on the head of a pin.

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock Lightning is a form of electrical energy.

Atom

Atom PROTON NUCLEUS

NEUTRON

ELECTRON

Atoms are Made of Even Smaller Particles An atom looks like the sun with the planets spinning around it. The center is called the nucleus. It is made of protons and neutrons. Electrons move around the nucleus in clouds, or energy levels, far from the nucleus.

Electricity is Moving Electrons The electrons near the nucleus are held tight to the atom. Sometimes, the ones farthest away are not.

We can push some of these electrons out of their energy levels. We can move them. Moving electrons are called electricity.

We Generate Electricity With Many Fuels In the U.S., natural gas is the top energy source for making electricity. It generates over 40% of the electricity we use. Power plants burn the gas to heat water. When the water gets very hot, it expands and turns into steam. The steam is under high pressure and rushes through pipes to spin turbines. The turbines are connected to generators. As the turbines spin, the generators spin to make electricity.

Solar energy can also generate electricity. Sometimes solar energy is used to make steam to turn a turbine and generate electricity. Most of our electricity from the sun is created by the use of solar panels that do not use a generator. Solar energy generates about 5% of the electricity we use.

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We Get Our Electricity Through Wires A power plant makes electricity. The electricity flows through power lines called transmission lines held up by power towers. The transmission lines carry large amounts of electricity to electric poles in cities and towns.

Distribution lines carry small amounts of electricity from the electric poles to houses and businesses. The electricity flows through the wires in our homes, providing the energy to operate our lights, machines, and appliances.

Transporting Electricity

Transmission line carries electricity long distances

Power plant generates electricity

Transformer steps up voltage for transmission

POWER TOWER

Distribution line carries electricity to house

ELECTRIC Neighborhood POLES transformer steps down voltage

Transformer on pole steps down voltage before entering house

There are Other Ways to Produce Electricity Electricity can also be produced in other ways. Wind and water, for example, can move to turn a turbine. A battery turns chemical energy into electricity.

A battery produces electricity using two different metals in a chemical solution. A chemical reaction between the metals and the chemicals pushes electrons free from their energy levels.

One end of the battery is attached to one of the metals; the other end is attached to the other metal. One end has more electrons pushed away and develops a positive charge. The other end develops a negative charge. If a wire is attached from one end of the battery to the other, electrons flow through the wire to balance the electrical charge.

A load is a device that does work or performs a job. If a load—such as a light bulb—is placed along the wire, the electricity can do work as it flows through the wire.

In the picture of the battery and the light, electrons flow from one end of the battery through the wire to the light bulb. The electricity flows through the wire inside the light bulb and back to the other end of the battery. ©2026 The NEED Project Wonders of the Sun

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Electricity Flows in Circuits Electricity travels in closed loops called circuits. Electricity must have a complete path before the electrons can move. If a circuit is open, the electrons cannot flow. When we flip on a light switch, we close a circuit. The electric current flows from the wire through the light and back into the wire. When we flip the switch off, we open the circuit. No electricity flows to the light.

When a light bulb burns out, the circuit is also opened. The path through the bulb is gone.

The bulb will no longer light.

We Use Electricity Every Day Electricity does a lot of work for us. We use it many times each day. It lights our homes, warms and cools them, and helps us keep them clean. It runs our TVs, DVRs, gaming systems, computers, and sound equipment. It cooks our food and washes our dishes. It can power our lawn mowers. It can even run our cars.

Electricity is different from the other energy sources because it is a secondary source of energy. We must use another energy source to produce it.

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Electric Circuits Electrical Circuits FLOW OF ELECTRONS

–

WIRES

+

LOAD ENERGY SOURCE

CLOSED SWITCH

closed circuit path allowing electricity AA closed circuitisisa complete a complete path allowing electricity to flow flow from energy source to thetoload. to fromthe the energy source the load.

FLOW OF ELECTRONS

–

WIRES

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LOAD ENERGY SOURCE

OPEN SWITCH

An open circuit has a break in the path. There is no flow of

An open circuit has a break in the path. There is no electricity because the electrons cannot complete the circuit. flow of electricity because the electrons cannot complete the circuit.

Machines That Use Electricity

Sound System

Computer

Television

Video Game System

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Solar Energy Our Earth gets most of its energy from the sun. We call this energy solar energy. The root sol refers to the sun.

Solar energy travels from the sun to the Earth in rays. Some are light rays that we can see.

Some are rays we can’t see, like x-rays. Energy in rays is called radiant energy.

The sun is a star, made of mainly hydrogen and helium. It sends out huge amounts of energy every day in every direction. Most of this energy goes off into space. Even though only a tiny fraction of the sun’s energy reaches the Earth, it is still more energy than we can use.

When the rays reach the Earth, some bounce off clouds back into space—the rays are reflected.

The Earth absorbs most of the radiant energy. This solar energy becomes thermal energy, which warms the Earth and the air around it, the atmosphere. Without the sun, we couldn’t live on the Earth—it would be too cold. This is called the greenhouse effect.

The Greenhouse Effect

SUN RA

s Atmo DI

p he re

AN

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NE

RG Y

HEAT HEAT EARTH

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Solar Energy is Important We use solar energy in many ways. During the day, we use sunlight to see what we are doing and where we are going. The amount of light you receive depends on the season, the location, and the weather. Solar energy is also important to nature.

FOOD Plants use the light from the sun to grow. Plants absorb (take in) the solar energy through their leaves and use it to grow. The plants keep some of the solar energy in their roots, fruits, and leaves. They store it as chemical energy. This process is called photosynthesis.

The energy stored in plants is the beginning of most food webs. When herbivores and omnivores eat plants and food made from plants, this solar energy is stored in their bodies.

We use the energy to grow and move. We use it to pump our blood, think, see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. We use energy for everything we do.

When carnivores and omnivores eat meat, it also can be traced to the sun. Animals eat plants to grow. The animals store the plants’ energy in their bodies. The energy moves from producers to consumers through the food chain.

Photosynthesis In the process of photosynthesis, plants convert radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of glucose (or sugar). Photosynthesis occurs in the leaves of a plant.

RADIANT ENERGY

WATER GLUCOSE

RADIANT ENERGY

CARBON DIOXIDE OXYGEN

OXYGEN

CARBON DIOXIDE

WATER

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How Coal Was Formed Before the dinosaurs, many giant plants died in swamps.

Over millions to hundreds of million of years, the plants were buried under water and dirt.

Heat and pressure turned the dead plants into coal.

FOSSIL FUELS CONTAIN ENERGY FROM THE SUN Coal, oil, and natural gas are called fossil fuels because they were made from prehistoric plants and animals. The energy in the plants and animals originally came from the sun.

Oil and Natural Gas Production Pump

We use the energy in fossil fuels to cook our food, warm our homes, run our cars, and make electricity. Most of the energy we use today comes from fossil fuels.

THERMAL ENERGY We also use the energy stored in plants to stay warm. We burn wood (biomass) in campfires and fireplaces. Early humans burned wood to provide light, cook food, make tools, scare away wild animals, and stay warm.

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Trapped gas

Trapped oil

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All objects are made of very tiny particles called atoms.

Atoms are too small to see with a microscope! When solar energy hits objects, it transforms, or changes, into thermal energy. Just like when you move faster, you feel warmer; as the atoms move faster, they get warmer. We feel warmer in the sun than the shade because solar energy makes atoms move faster.

Solid (Ice) H

H

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H O

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O H

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H O

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O H

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Molecules vibrate in one place.

Liquid (Water) H O

H

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H O

Molecules spin and move close together.

Gas (Water Vapor) O

H

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O

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The molecules in a gas have enough energy to move all over the place and get away from each other. Gases spread out to completely fill whatever container they are in. Gas molecules are moving very fast and bump into each other as well as other objects. You cannot feel air molecules bumping into you because they are very small.

H

H

The atoms or molecules in a liquid move around much more, and often tumble around each other. However, the molecules do not have enough energy to completely get away from each other. This is why a liquid spreads itself out to the shape of the container, but does not necessarily fill the container.

O

Everything is made of atoms. Atoms combine to form molecules. When the substance is a solid, the atoms or molecules are fixed in one location and just vibrate back and forth in place. This is why solids stay the same shape.

H

H

THERMAL ENERGY OF SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS

Molecules spin faster and move far away from each other.

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of an electric clothes dryer vs. a solar clothes dryer?

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WATER CYCLE Solar energy powers the water cycle. The water cycle is how water moves through the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface. The sun heats water on the Earth. The water evaporates— it turns into water vapor and rises into the air. The air in the atmosphere is cool. The water vapor condenses into liquid water to form clouds. The water falls from the clouds as precipitation— rain, sleet, hail, or snow.

When water falls on high ground, gravity pulls it to lower ground. There is energy in the moving water. We can capture that energy with dams and use it to make electricity. The electricity made from moving water is called hydropower.

The amount of water on Earth does not change. All of the water is found in one of four places: in the atmosphere as a gas or moving through the water cycle; in bodies of water as a liquid; in the ground as a liquid; or frozen solid in ice and snow. When precipitation falls, it either adds to ice and snow, is pulled by gravity into streams and rivers, or filters into the ground, collecting in aquifers.

The Water Cycle SOLAR ENERGY

CONDENSATION (Gas to Liquid)

PRECIPITATION

(Liquid or Solid)

EVAPORATION

(Liquid to Gas)

EVAPORATION

(Liquid to Gas)

OCEANS, LAKES, RIVERS (Liquid)

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The Sun Makes the Wind How Wind is Formed WA RM A

IR

Solar energy is responsible for the winds that blow over the Earth. The sun shines down on the Earth. Some parts of the surface heat up faster than others. Land usually heats more quickly than water. Areas near the Equator receive more direct sunlight. These areas get warmer than regions near the North and South Poles. When air is warmed, it becomes less dense and rises. Cooler air moves in to replace the warm air that has risen.

This moving air is called wind.

CO O L A I

R

1. The sun shines on land and water.

2. Land heats up faster than water.

Wind turbines can capture the wind’s energy. The 3. Warm air over the land rises. wind turbines turn the energy in moving air into 4. Cool air over the water moves in. electricity. The wind pushes against the blades of the turbine and they begin to spin. A generator inside the turbine changes the motion into electricity.

Latitude and Intensity of Solar Energy The Earth is not standing still in space. It moves around the sun in an orbit, taking one year to make a full revolution around the sun.

Earth’s Tilt NIGHT

AXIS NORTH POLE

EQUATOR SOUTH POLE

The Earth is slightly tilted on an axis. This tilt, combined with its revolution around the sun, are what cause the seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. People who live in the southern hemisphere, south of the Equator, experience their hottest summer days when the northern hemisphere is experiencing winter.

The Earth also rotates on its axis. This rotation is what gives us sunlight during the day and darkness at night.

Why are areas closer to the Equator usually warmer than areas closer to the North or South Pole? This is due to the location’s latitude, or distance from the Equator.

The sun strikes different latitudes at different angles. Even during spring or fall, areas near the poles receive less direct sunlight than the Equator. This is because the Equator is always receiving its sunlight directly from overhead. As you move away from the Equator, you are actually walking on the surface of a sphere, and moving so the sun is no longer directly overhead.

DIRECTION OF EARTH’S SPIN

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DAY

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Sunlight is most intense when it is directly overhead, and least intense when it is coming in from a low angle in the sky. This is why the hottest part of the day is when the sun is at its highest point compared to where you are, and why the days are cooler at sunrise and sunset.

We Can Capture Solar Energy Lots of people put solar collectors on their roofs. Solar collectors capture the energy from the sun and turn it into heat. People heat their houses and their water using the solar energy. A closed car on a sunny day is a solar collector.

Solar Collector On a sunny day, a closed car becomes a solar collector. Light or solar energy passes through the window glass, is absorbed by the car’s interior, and converted into thermal (heat) energy. The heat energy becomes trapped inside.

SOLAR ENERGY TRAPPED HEAT

Solar Energy Can Make Electricity Photovoltaic (PV) cells turn the sun’s energy into electricity. The root photo means light, and volt is a measure of electricity. Most PV cells are made of pieces of silicon, the main component in sand. Each side of the silicon has a different chemical added. When radiant energy from the sun hits the PV cell, the sides of the silicon work together to change the energy into electricity.

Scientists are always researching other materials to use in PV cells and working on new ways to capture solar energy.

Solar Panels

Some toys, calculators, and outdoor lights use small PV cells instead of batteries. Large groups of PV cells can make enough electricity for a house, Image courtesy of Adobe Stock/Wirestock a neighborhood, or an entire town. PV Some schools use solar panels on their roofs to cells are good for houses far away from generate electricity. power lines, or for homes that want to save energy costs. Some schools have PV cells on their roofs or on the school grounds. The electricity helps reduce the amount of money schools must pay for energy. The students learn about the PV cells on their school buildings. Today, solar energy makes about five percent of our electricity in the U.S., mostly from PV cells like these. ©2026 The NEED Project Wonders of the Sun

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Solar Energy and the Environment Solar energy use is often good for people and the planet, but using solar technology can still impact the Earth. Making solar panels involves mining raw materials.

This mining can create carbon dioxide emissions, erosion, and harm habitats.

Solar panel creation also involves the use of some harmful substances and lots of water. Constructing solar panels often uses lots of land, which can take away habitats for animals and land for farming.

And, what happens to solar panels when they are no longer in use? Recycling programs must be used to make sure the solar equipment does not create pollution.

SOLAR PANEL IN FIELD

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock/Ckip

Solar energy keeps us warm, provides us with electricity, and powers many of Earth’s natural cycles. It is a clean, renewable resource, and it is available almost everywhere. Most solar energy technologies do not emit greenhouse gases that impact our atmosphere and climate. Solar technology can be built in a way where they provide shade to buildings and communities, and the land can still be used for growing crops.

Solar Energy is Renewable Solar energy is free and clean. Solar energy is renewable. We will not run out of it. The sun will keep making energy for millions of years.

Why don’t we use the sun for all our energy needs?

We don’t have the technology to do it yet. The hard part is capturing the sun’s energy. Only a little bit reaches any one place. On a cloudy day, some of the solar energy never reaches the ground at all. Although the sunlight is free, the equipment needed to capture and store the energy can be expensive. Scientists and engineers are working to create more efficient technology.

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SOLAR BATTERY BANK

Image courtesy of Adobe Stock/Lovetnihouse

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Reading a Thermometer Body Temperature 98-99ºF

Freezing Water 32ºF

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Solar Energy to Heat ? Question 

What is the relationship between absorbed solar energy and color?

 Hypothesis Before going outdoors, predict which thermometer will be the hottest by numbering the thermometers 1-3. Label the hottest with a 1 and the coolest with a 3.

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10 1. Put three thermometers in a 0 0 0 -20 -20 -20 -10 -10 -10 sunny or bright place.

2. Cover the bulb of one thermometer with black paper. Cover the bulb of one thermometer with white paper. Leave the bulb of the third thermometer uncovered.

3. Complete Reading a Thermometer activity.

4. Record your results by coloring the tubes of the thermometers to show their temperatures.

5. Look at the results and re-number the thermometers 1-3 with 1 as the hottest, and 3 as the coolest.

 Conclusion 1. Which color absorbed the most energy? What evidence from the activity shows you this?

2. How should this information affect your clothing choices?

3. Which will be hotter on a sunny day, a car with a dark blue interior, or a car with a light gray interior? How do you know? Use your results to explain your answer.

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NaturePrint® and Construction Paper ? Question 

How does sunlight affect the chemicals in different kinds of paper?

 Hypothesis Predict how sunlight will affect construction paper.

Predict how sunlight will affect NaturePrint® Paper.

Predict whether a plastic bag will make a difference in how the sunlight will affect NaturePrint® Paper.

 Materials 1 Cut-out of the sun 2 Sheets of NaturePrint® Paper Objects found outside or brought from home One plastic bag Sunscreen Pencil or pen Shallow pan of water Watch or stopwatch

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Procedure Part A 1. Cut out the sun picture on page 20.

2. Place the sun picture and/or your objects on the NaturePrint® Paper.

3. Place the piece of paper in direct sunlight.

4. After two minutes, pick up the NaturePrint® Paper and carefully carry it to the shade.

5. Remove the objects and sun picture and place the NaturePrint® Paper in water for one minute.

6. Allow the NaturePrint® Paper to dry.

Part B 1. Place a new piece of NaturePrint® Paper inside a plastic bag. Leave a half inch of the NaturePrint® Paper outside of the plastic bag exposed to the sun.

2. Take the plastic bag and apply sunscreen in a design to cover approximately half of the NaturePrint® Paper.

3. Arrange one of your objects on the plastic bag over the NaturePrint® Paper beside the sunscreen, but not touching the sunscreen, and place in direct sunlight.

4. Observe and record what you see every 30 seconds for two minutes. Make sure to note any color differences between the paper within the plastic bag and the paper outside of it.

5. After two minutes, pick up the NaturePrint® Paper and carefully carry it to the shade.

6. Remove the object and take the paper out of the plastic bag. Place the paper in water for one minute.

7. Allow the NaturePrint® Paper to dry.

Part C 1. Record what you see when looking at your dried NaturePrint® Papers on your observation charts.

Part D 1. Look at the five pieces of construction paper your teacher prepared. Observe similarities and differences. Record your observations.

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Observations Make a diagram of your first piece of dried NaturePrint® Paper below.

Side with Sun Cutout

Side with Objects You Chose

Make a diagram of your second piece of NaturePrint® Paper placed within the plastic bag below.

Side with Sunscreen

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Side with Objects You Chose

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Data NaturePrint® Paper with the sunscreen and plastic bag at 30 second intervals Time in the Sun Beginning

Appearance of NaturePrint® Paper within the plastic bag Solid Blue

Appearance of NaturePrint® Paper outside of the plastic bag Solid Blue

30 Seconds

60 Seconds

90 Seconds

120 Seconds

 Analysis Use your data table above to describe how the NaturePrint® Paper changed over time.

Why did this happen?

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Construction Paper Data Make a diagram of your final observation of the construction paper sheets below.

Construction Paper

Time in the Sun Appearance of Construction Paper 0 Hours

1 Hour

2 Hours

3 Hours

4 Hours

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 Conclusions Write your conclusions using complete sentences.

1. How does sunlight affect construction paper?

2. Compare the amount of time required for the NaturePrint® Paper to change to the amount of time for the construction paper to change.

3. You and your little sister receive the same plastic toy as a gift. You keep yours in your room on a shelf, carefully taking it down to play. Your little sister leaves it outside over summer vacation. At the end of vacation, you both take your toys and compare them. Explain the differences you see and what might have caused them.

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UV Bead Activity ? Question 

What factors affect the amount of sunlight that reaches plants? & Background UV stands for ultraviolet light, a type of electromagnetic radiation that travels in a wave-like pattern. UV light is found within sunlight, but is invisible. You are probably aware of the effects of UV radiation because you wear sunscreen and sunglasses to protect you from it. UV light causes chemical reactions that can make a substance glow or your skin to burn or tan. It also causes the formation of Vitamin D, an essential vitamin for humans and other organisms. A good amount of harmful UV radiation is blocked by the Earth’s ozone layer, but the little amounts that get through will cause these chemical changes. UV beads contain special color-changing pigments that are sensitive to UV light from the sun and other sources.

 Hypothesis Predict how sunlight will affect the UV beads.

Predict how sunlight affects plant growth.

 Materials 5 UV beads 1 Pipe cleaner

Writing utensil Plant information sheets

Procedure 1. String the UV beads onto the pipe cleaner. Twist the pipe cleaner into a loosely-fitting bracelet and wear on your wrist.

2. Bring your bracelet, plant information sheet, and materials for mapping outside.

3. Draw a map of the outdoor area where your teacher directs you to explore. On your map, label which locations are sunny, partially shaded, and full-shade areas, and show where you would plant each type of plant using a key you create.

4. On page 28 or in your science notebook, write a letter to your principal explaining how you used the UV beads to discover and decide which plant would grow best in which area.

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Data Map of the assigned area

Key ( ( (

)Sunny Area )Partially Shaded Area )Fully Shaded Area

( ( (

The Sunflower is a plant native to the Americas. To grow best, sunflowers need full sun.

The Maidenhair Fern is a fern native to the Americas that thrives with no direct sun.

Source: Smithsonian Institute

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)Plant #1 Sunflower )Plant #2 Maidenhair Fern )Plant #3 Impatiens

Impatiens are a plant which prefer partial shade.

Source: Smithsonian Institute

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Write a letter to your principal explaining how you used your UV beads to discover which plant would go in which area.

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Video Instructions

Solar Chameleon https://youtu.be/qmVZY79CDX4

Background The sun provides us with energy. This energy comes to Earth in a few different ways: visible light we can see, infrared radiation you can feel as heat, and UV radiation that cannot be seen or felt.

UV radiation can be called UVA, UVB, or UVC. Plants and animals need sunlight to help them grow and function, but too much of the sun’s rays UV radiation can sometimes be bad for some organisms, like humans. Chameleons, however, need the sun and lots of it.

Chameleons need at least 10-12 hours a day of UVB light rays. While chameleons do need lots of UVB rays, they can sometimes become too hot. Chameleons are cold-blooded creatures and must use the surroundings around them to regulate their temperature. Natural chameleon habitats include places where the lizard can move in and out of sunlight to get the UVB light it needs and move into the shade when needed. ? Question 

What does a good habitat for a chameleon look like?

How can you tell if UVB light is present?

 Materials 4 Pipe cleaners About 20 UV beads Scissors Hot glue gun with glue sticks, or craft glue

Procedure 1. Make the head of your chameleon. Use one pipe cleaner and form one end into a round or oval shape. Twist the end around to close the loop. The rest of the pipe cleaner will remain straight as the body of the chameleon.

2. Use a second pipe cleaner to fill in the head. Attach this pipe cleaner just below the loop of the head. Twist to attach, and then wrap the pipe cleaner around and through the head loop to fill it in. Twist it around the body to make sure it stays attached. Get creative in how you wrap and fill to make the head look the way you want it to.

3. Take a third pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Fold each half in half again, so you have a pipe cleaner with four segments. Cut all four segments apart. These will form your chameleon’s legs.

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4. Take two of the leg pieces and fold them in half. Attach the folded point of one leg piece to the body of the chameleon just around the neck. Twist it closed around the neck and fan out the ends. Repeat with the other leg piece so that you have two front legs, one on each side of the body. Each leg should have two toes, just like a chameleon. Set the remaining two leg pieces aside for later.

5. String all but a few beads onto a fourth pipe cleaner. Attach one end of this pipe cleaner to the body, just below the neck. Once it is attached, space out your beads so there is a little space between each one. Wrap this beaded pipe cleaner around the body of your chameleon to make its torso. Shape it however you wish, but be sure twist both ends tightly onto the body so that the beads stay in place. Also make sure you have a little empty space at the tail end of your body pipe cleaner to create a tail and attach the remaining legs.

6. Use the remaining two short pipe cleaner pieces, or legs, and attach them at the back end of the torso to form the back legs, just as you did in step 4 above. You should have two back legs, each with two toes.

7. Glue two beads to the head of your chameleon to make the eyes.

8. Curl the remaining end of the pipe cleaner to make a curly tail for your chameleon. If you have additional pipe cleaners remaining you can use them to create more shape or body to your chameleon. You can also use an extra pipe cleaner to create a hook or use a safety pin to attach your chameleon to a bookbag or key ring.

9. Take your chameleon outside and observe what happens to your beads.

10. The beads on your beaded chameleon are special UV beads that react when UV radiation is present. Use your beaded chameleon to find the best location for a real life chameleon to spend its time.  Extensions

Read more about chameleons. https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/chameleon https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/chameleon https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/mellers-chameleon Read a story about chameleons, A Color of His Own, by Leo Lionni. Compare the story to what you know or research about chameleons. Compare and contrast the story to real chameleons.

Create a habitat for your model chameleon that would provide everything a chameleon might need.

Use your chameleon to evaluate and serve as a reminder for when you should use sunscreen.

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Radiometer Activity ? Question  How does color affect the direction of a radiometer’s spin? & Background A radiometer has four vanes. One side of each vane is white, the other side is black. When radiant energy hits the vanes of the radiometer, they begin to spin. One side of the vanes gets hotter than the other. The air near the hotter side of the vanes gets hotter and pushes against the vanes. The radiometer changes radiant energy to heat, then to motion.

 Hypothesis Predict the direction the radiometer will spin by shading in the appropriate prediction arrow on the diagram below.

 Materials Radiometer Bright sunlight, or a bright source of light

Procedure 1. Put the radiometer in bright sunlight or another bright light source.

2. Observe the radiometer.

3. Record your results.

4. Color the result arrow that shows the direction the vanes are spinning in the diagram below.

 Conclusions 1. Explain why the radiometer spins in the direction you observed.

2. Make a diagram showing how the radiometer transforms energy.

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The Water Cycle Draw a picture of the water cycle. Include arrows and labels to identify each step of the cycle. On the lines below, write a paragraph describing how the water cycle works. You may use the words in the word bank as labels on your picture and in your written explanation.

Word Bank air atmosphere cloud condensation evaporation gas gravity lake liquid ocean precipitation river solar energy water water vapor __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

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Solar Oven ? Question  How can solar energy be used to cook food?

 Materials Solar oven Thermometer Food to cook

Procedure 1. On a very sunny day, take the solar oven outside and put it in a sunny place.

2. Place the food and thermometer in the oven.

3. Observe how long it takes to cook the food and how warm the oven becomes.  Observations Draw a diagram of the solar oven. Use arrows Record your observations below. How long to show how solar energy cooks the food. did it take to cook the food? How did the food change in appearance or smell as it was cooking?

 Conclusion Describe when a solar oven would be useful.

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Solar Critter ? Question  How can solar energy transform?

 Materials Solar critter cut-out Scissors Tape (double-sided, foam, or clear) Conductive maker tape Solar cell Self-stick motors Googly eyes Art supplies Ruler

Procedure 1. Cut out your critter template.

2. Color your critter.

3. Peel the sticker back off of the self-stick motor. Stick it on the back side of the solar cell so that it will sit above the + and – symbols.

4. Cut two small strips of conductive maker tape (about 1 cm each).

5. Use the tape to attach the motor wires to the + and – contacts on the back of the solar panel.

6. Test your solar panel and motor by putting it into the sun. If it wobbles or moves, your circuit works. If not, check the tape and contacts to be sure the ends of the wires are touching the contacts on the backside of the panel.

7. Once your circuit is working, take a piece of tape or double-sided tape and place it on the back of your solar circuit.

8. Stick the other side of the tape to your critter cut-out’s body, so that the panel is inside the rectangle box.

9. Peel the backing off of a few googly eyes and stick them on the under side of your critter.

These will act like feet.

10. Place your critter in the sun and watch it bop around!

NOTE: Having trouble with your critter? Watch the assembly instructions video by our friends and solar bug experts, Brown Dog Gadgets. https://youtu.be/MSWvy_RoMPU Activity instructions modified and printed courtesy of Brown Dog Gadgets, www.browndoggadgets.com.

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Observations and Conclusions 1. What do you observe happening to your solar critter?

2. What is the energy transformation that makes your solar critter work?

3. How can you change (speed up, slow down, etc.) the motion of your solar critter?

Story Time Work with your team to write a short story picture book that includes your solar critter. The story must explain how it works, how it gets its energy, and include at least two energy forms and one energy transformation. Divide your story into pages and map it in the boxes on the next page.

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Story Board Boxes

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Solar House ? Question  How can solar energy be used in your house?

 Materials Cardboard box Scissors Clear transparency film or plastic wrap Black construction paper 2 Sheets of white paper

Clay Tape Solar house kit Ruler

Procedure 1. Using the scissors, cut large windows and a door on one side of the box.

2. Tape clear transparency film over the windows if you have it. Use plastic wrap as a substitute.

3. Make a round water storage tank from black construction paper. Attach it to the side of the house with tape.

4. Make two holes 1 cm in diameter in the top of the box.

5. Push the shaft of the motor through one of the holes.

6. From the inside of the house, attach the fan blades to the motor. Make sure there is enough room above the blades for the fan to turn without bumping the ceiling. Use a strip of tape to hold the motor in place.

7. Push the LED through the other hole and tape it in place.

8. Attach the PV cells to the fan and LED. 9. Lay the PV cell with tubing on top of the house with the tubing extending down to the black water storage tank. Tape in place, or use clay to hold in palce.

10. Carefully carry the house model into the sun. Observe the speed of the fan and the brightness of the LED. Tilt the PV cells so they are directly facing the sun. How does this affect the speed of the fan? Use a piece of clay under the PV cells to leave them in this position.

11. Simulate a bright, overcast day by placing a single sheet of white paper over the PV cells.

Observe the speed of the fan and the brightness of the LED. 12. Simulate a very cloudy day by placing two sheets of white paper over the PV cells. Record your observations of the fan speed and LED brightness.

13. Simulate nighttime by placing a piece of cardboard over the PV cells. Record your observations of the fan speed and LED brightness.

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Data and Observations Make a diagram of your solar house below. Label the parts.

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Data and Observations Continued Record your observations in the table below.

Light Conditions Fan Speed

LED Brightness

Bright sunlight, PV cells laying flat Bright sunlight, PV cells tilted toward the sun Bright overcast (one sheet of paper) Cloudy (two sheets of paper) Nighttime (cardboard)

 Conclusions 1. Did the PV cells work differently laying flat or pointed towards the sun? Explain which worked better.

2. How would the change in seasons and different location of the sun in the sky affect how well a PV cell works where you live?

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Solar Career Trading Card Instructions: Go to the website careeronestop.org. Research a career in the solar industry. Add the information to your trading card. Cut out the card. Fold it in half along the dotted line. Glue both sides together.

EXAMPLES OF CAREERS IN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY: Solar Photovoltaics Installer Solar Sales Representative Solar Thermal Installer Solar Energy Installation Manager Solar Energy Systems Engineer

CAREER:

Number of Workers:

ILLUSTRATION

Median Salary: Education to Start: Daily Activities: 1.

2.

3.

DESCRIPTION:

Special Skills: 1.

2.

3.

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a

b Glossary c

absorb aquifer atmosphere atom axis biomass carnivore chemical energy condensation consumer Equator evaporation fossil fuel generator gravity greenhouse effect hemisphere herbivore hydropower latitude molecule omnivore photosynthesis photovoltaic cell precipitation producer

to pull into oneself underground reservoir of collected water mixture of gases surrounding a planet smallest unit of matter; smallest particle of an element imaginary line running through the center of the Earth from pole to pole renewable energy source from recently living things, such as grass and trees organism that exclusively eats animals form of potential energy that is used by causing chemical reactions process of a gas changing to a liquid organism that cannot create its own food and depends on other organisms for nutrients imaginary line running around the midpoint of the Earth’s surface, halfway between each pole process of a liquid changing to a gas; evaporation is usually accomplished slowly nonrenewable sources of energy formed from living things that died many years ago device that transforms motion energy into electrical energy by rotating a coil of copper between magnets force of attraction between two objects; smaller object usually feels a stronger pull toward the larger object when the atmosphere allows light to pass through but traps the energy as heat one half of a sphere; one half of the Earth organism that exclusively eats plants source of energy obtained from moving water imaginary lines of reference that are parallel to the Equator two or more atoms chemically bonded together; smallest particle of a compound organism that eats both plants and animals process plants use to transform radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy object that transforms radiant energy into electrical energy; also called a solar cell water falling from clouds to the ground, in solid (snow, sleet) or liquid (rain) form green plant or organism that makes food from photosynthesis

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radiant energy rays reflection renewable revolution rotation silicon solar collector solar energy thermal energy turbine water cycle water vapor wind

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energy released by stars that travels in rays outward from the star energy that travels in one direction only, such as from the sun to Earth radiant energy striking one surface, and bouncing off that surface in a different direction energy sources that are easily replaced, such as biomass, or will never run out, such as wind or solar energy the Earth’s movement around the sun in its orbit the spin of the Earth around its axis second most plentiful element on Earth; major component of sand device that collects solar energy and transforms it into thermal energy that is either used or stored radiant energy from the sun energy found within a solid, liquid, or gas; the particles of warmer substances are moving faster device that changes straight-line motion into rotating motion, such as in a windmill or hydropower plant process of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff of water on Earth gas phase of water (H2O) air moving across the Earth’s surface

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Games, Puzzles, and Activities Check out some fun energy games, coloring pages, puzzles, activities, and more at www.NEED.org/need-students/games-puzzles-activities.

WIND

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BIOMA

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