Teaching Solar
As participants in the Illinois Solar Schools program, students and teachers have an opportunity to better understand what solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is all about, and how it contributes to changing the way we generate electricity.
There are many different technologies that use sunlight to generate energy, and although the Illinois Solar Schools grant program focuses on solar PV technology, we feel that this is the beginning—not the end—of a conversation with your students about renewable energy, environmental science, and other topics.
Below are some helpful links to help you develop new ideas on how to teach solar energy topics:
National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) Resources for Teachers
- Correlation to Illinois State Education Standards
- Primary Energy Infobook
- Elementary Energy Infobook
- Intermediate Energy Infobook
- Secondary Energy Infobook
Energy Infobooks are the resource for many NEED activities and include an introduction to energy, information on major sources of energy, new technologies, energy conservation, electricity, climate change, and other energy information. They are available on four reading levels and are revised and updated annually.
- Energy From the Sun Teacher Guide (e-publication) *
- Energy From the Sun Student Guide (e-publication) *
* Look under size drop-down menu for different product options.
Intermediate students learn about solar energy through investigations that explore radiant energy transforming into thermal energy, kinetic energy, chemical energy, and electricity. The kit includes a Teacher Guide, a class set of Student Guides, and the materials necessary to conduct the activities.
- Exploring Photovoltaics Teacher Guide (e-publication)
- Exploring Photovoltaics Student Guide (e-publication)
Secondary students learn how solar energy is used to generate electricity. Students are introduced to photovoltaic systems, concentrated solar power, and developing solar technologies. Activities explore how photovoltaic cells work and what variables affect their electrical output.
Power Point Presentations
- Introduction to Solar Energy (long version)
- Introduction to Solar Energy (short version)
Solar Energy Animations
These animations were in Flash, and with Flash going away at the end of 2020, and our new website not supporting it, they were not uploaded. Our graphic designer will be working on converting the files to another user friendly format.
Department of Energy—Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources
- Energy Education and Workforce Development
- K-12 Lesson Plans and Activities
- NASA’s Build a Solar Oven Lesson Plan
- NASA’s Build a Solar Oven Experiment Sheet
- K-12 Energy and Environment Competition Opportunities
- Curriculum Guides
Illinois-Manufactured Solar Oven for Purchase: SUN OVEN
DIY Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Kits for purchase:
Research out of Northwestern University resulted in the development of dye-sensitized solar cell kits that can serve as a classroom teaching tool. See below for videos on the technology and purchasing options.
