🇬🇧 Intro: Solar Energy | | : UK - England Year 4

🇬🇧 Intro: Solar Energy

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UK - England Year 4

Discover how the sun provides the Earth with solar energy as part of a series on renewable energy. Program a micro:bit to sense light levels throughout an indoor area as well as outdoors.

Cover image

Overview and Objectives

05:00

Facilitators set the groundwork for students to understand the purpose and components of the project with a well-defined set of learning objectives. By delving into the lesson's fundamentals, students gain the confidence and insight to craft their unique renditions of the project.

Assign this lesson as a student resource. Have students read and watch the video.

This section prepares students to engage the lesson. Throughout the teaching of this entire lesson, the facilitator provides an opportunity for students to collaborate with each other and provide feedback on their individual or group project.

Preparation

30:00

Equip students for before starting the lesson by familiarizing them with frequently used vocabulary words, enhancing their writing skills, and engaging in constructive building exercises.

Get familiar with Sustainable Development Goals & vocabulary. Assign this lesson as student resources. Have students read the list and watch the video.

Imagine

15:00

Learn how the sun provides the Earth with solar energy.

Imagine section is a critical phase where students are encouraged to conceptualize, and visualize their ideas before diving into the building and prototyping stage in Build section. Pause to have a short group reflection.

Build

45:00

Program a micro:bit to track light levels with the light sensor, then display the results.

Watch the video to get an idea of the project's structure and a demonstration of how it works. Some may figure out how to construct the project just from pausing the video or looking at a few images from the steps. The instructions are helpful for new builders or those seeking general guidance.

National Curriculum

For KS2-1 and KS 2-2 - DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.

For KS2-2, KS2-1 Evaluation instruct students to gather feedback from peers or teachers regarding the strengths and weaknesses of their prototype. Ask students to consider how they can improve their design based on the feedback received. Assess their ability to critically evaluate their work and incorporate feedback to enhance their product.

For KS2-1, KS2-2, KS2-3, KS2-4 - Technical Knowledge Application assign a specific technical challenge related to the prototype, such as adding mechanisms like gears, pulleys, or electrical components like switches and bulbs.
Instruct students to incorporate the assigned technical challenge into their prototype.

SDGs

Goal 7

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Understand the disparities in energy access and its impact on communities. Begin with a reflective activity where students share their understanding of energy sources and their availability in different parts of the world. Encourage brainstorming of actions students can take to promote clean energy adoption, such as raising awareness, advocating for policy changes, or participating in energy-saving initiatives.

National Curriculum

KS2-1

Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups.

I can research and design a range of interesting, useful and appealing products that are aimed at certain people or groups.

KS2-2

Generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes, pattern pieces and computer-aided design.

I can develop and communicate my ideas through discussion. I can develop and communicate my ideas through sketches. I can develop and communicate my ideas through diagrams. I can develop and communicate my ideas through models. I can develop and communicate my ideas through patterns. I can develop and communicate my ideas through computer-aided design.

KS2-1

Investigate and analyse a range of existing products.

I can explore products, say how good they are and explain how they could be better

KS2-2

Evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work.

I can explain how good my own product is, listen to the views of others and explain ways I could make it better.

KS2-3

Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world.

I understand how key events and people in design and technology have helped shape the world.

KS2-1

Apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures.

I can build structures and explore how they can be made stronger, stiffer and steadier

KS2-2

Understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages].

I can explore and use things like gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages in my product.

KS2-3

Understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors].

I understand and can use electrical systems, such as series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors in my product.

KS2-4

Apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their products.

I can use computing to program, monitor and control my product.

KS2-1

Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts.

Year 3 - I can design and create programs. Year 4- I can use simple selection in programs. Year 5- I can create programs by decomposing them into smaller parts. I can use selection in programs. Year 6- I can use a range of sequence, selection and repletion commands combined with variables as required to implement my design. I can create procedures to hide complexity in programs.

KS2-2

Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output.

Year 3 - I can write programs that accomplish specific goals. I can use repetition in programs. I can work with various forms of output. Year 4- I can work with various forms of output. Year 5- I can use conditions in repetition commands. I can work with variables. Year 6- I can identify and write generic code for use across multiple projects.

KS2-3

Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs.

Year 4- I can use logical reasoning to systematically detect and correct errors in programs. Year 5- I can create programs that control or simulate physical systems. I can evaluate my work and identify errors. Year 6- I can critically evaluate my work and suggest improvements. I can identify and use basic HTML tags.

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