Solar Hot Water and PV Lesson Plans

Solar Schools for BC

Solar BC, the B.C. Ministry of Education and WildBC have teamed up to produce a compilation of lessons to help educators and their students learn more about solar energy and solar installations.

Solar School Lessons

These cross-curricular, multi-grade lessons are linked to the BC Ministry of Education prescribed learning outcomes for science. The lessons are designed to be interactive and open-ended, inviting both educators and students to develop their understanding of solar energy and to engage in projects that provide tangible results of their learning. What better way to learn about solar energy than to build and race a solar powered car or discover the many ways solar energy can be used!

The lessons are organized under 6 sections and within each section you will find a series of lessons that give you the flexibility to be choosey, adapt easily and use in any order you like. We hope that you enjoy discovering solar energy with your students!

It will be helpful to look at the section "Introducing Solar Schools for BC" first to understand the background and the overall context for these lessons.

WHY SOLAR?

Exploring the connections between renewable and non-renewable resources:
 

• Greenhouse Gas Line-up
• Energy Alternatives, Nature Offers a Solution

HOW SOLAR IS PART OF OUR LIVES

Investigating how solar energy is used:
 

• Bright Lights
• Breakthroughs and Barriers

EXPLORING SOLAR

Introducing solar thermal and photovoltaic innovations:
 

• Cooking with Solar
• Solar Car Races

HOW IT WORKS

Understanding how solar energy works:
 

• The Magic of Solar Thermal
• Power of PV
• How a Solar Cell Works
• Picture This

MAKING IT REAL

Examining solar hot water and photovoltaic installations:
 

• Schools Going Solar
• Our Solar Roof
• Real-time Solar
• Solar Action Projects Gallery

CASE STUDIES

Discovering solar applications in British Columbia:
 

• Solar BC on the Map

Solar Information

Natural Resources Canada has produced the following informational documents:
 

• Introduction to Solar Water Heating Systems
• A Buyers Guide to Solar Water Heating systems
• Photovoltaic Systems Introduction
• A Buyers Guide to Photovoltaic Systems

Other Solar Education Links for Teachers

• Sunwind Solar is a BC based company that offers variety of solar energy kits and materials for your classroom.
• Kidwind is a US company that offers solar hot water classroom materials and kits.
• National Energy Education Development
• Project Florida Solar Energy Centre
• Teach Engineering
• SolarSchools.Net

Workshops on Solar School Lessons

Workshops are being scheduled around the province. For more information or to book a Solar Schools workshop please contact WildBC at wildbc@hctf.ca.

Let Us Know What You Think

We would be happy to receive any feedback on these lessons, if you would like to leave a comment on the page (below). You can also mail us at:

WildBC
#107-19 Dallas Road
Victoria, BC
V8V 5A6

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