Sarah+Marks

=**Renewable, Alternative, and Green Energy Resources Project**=

__**Introduction**__
In the 6th grade students explore a unit on energy and simple machines. In order to deepen student understanding of some of the most socially relevant content in this unit I want to plan a project on renewable sources of energy that incorporates community resources in NYC.

Students will explore sources of renewable energy in NYC and strategies on how to "green" their own schools and lives through two field trips and associated in-class lesson plans. First students will visit Solar One, a green energy arts and education center. Second, students will visit the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Their experiences will culminate in an end of unit project that requires them to synthesize what they have learned through the field trips and lessons to build energy efficient models, machines, and homes.

__**Field Trips/Events**__
Solar One has a Renewable Energy course that will teach students about the science of electricity and how it is produced and consumed in NYC. The session will use hands-on design activities to explore alternative renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, and bio-diesel. The sessions are approximately an hour to an hour and a half and can be scheduled as two or three sessions either on site at Solar One or at your school. The site provides a variety of different teaching resources and materials.
 * Sessions at Solar One**

The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum is offering free Program Tours and Workshops to K-12 School Groups from May 14, 2010 - January 7, 2011. For the purposes of this project students would focus on Workshop 1: Green Transportation System. Students will explore the future of NYC transportation system by learning about electric cars, high speed trains, and solar powered ships. Students will be involved in an activity that challenges them to think like designers and create a system to connect two currently inaccessible NYC locations.
 * Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum**

__**Workshops/Activities Overview**__
At Solar One: Three Sessions in school or at Solar One Introduction to Energy & Electricity in NYC (at your school) Introduction to Renewable Energy (at your school) Renewable Energy Workshop (on site at Solar One)
 * [[file:Solar One Energy Workshop Outline.pdf]]

At Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum:** WORKSHOP 1: Green Transportation System

**__Logistical Details__**
Cooper-Hewitt Museum: Contact -212.849.8351 or email Chtours2@si.edu
 * Contact Information**

Solar One: education@solar1.org info@solar1.org Phone: 646-576-5667


 * Dates/Prices**
 * Solar One:** The cost for a 3-session Enrichment Program with Solar One is $464.30 per group. Approximately $15/student


 * Cooper-Hewitt:** 05/14/10 – 01/07/11 - Free Tours and Workshops at Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

Solar One Building: 24-20 FDR Drive, Service Road East, New York, NY 10010 Hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm By Subway & Bus: take the (6) to 23rd St. and the M23 east to Avenue C *or* take the (L) to 1st Ave and walk about 10 minutes to the site or take the M15 north to 23rd St. and walk along East 23rd St. The M16 and M21 buses also stops near E. 23rd St. and Avenue C.
 * Location/Travel**

Cooper-Hewitt: 2 East 91st Street New York, NY 10128. Take the 4,5,6 to 86th St. Station

Solar One Pre-Visit Trip Form Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum Tour and Workshop Reservation Form
 * Forms/Documents**


 * Permission Slip**s

**__Connection to Curriculum – Pre/Post Activities__**
Energy and Simple Machine Unit Lesson Plans LP 1: Introduction to Energy - Basket of energy LP 2: Forms of Energy LP 3: Energy Transformations (2 Days) LP 4: Kinetic and Potential Energy (3 Days) LP 5: Rollercoaster Lab LP 7: Renewable and Nonrenewable Ener****gy** Solar One Sessions Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum LP 10: Review LP 11: Quiz LP 12: Simple Machine LP 13: Forces and Simple Machines (Friction) LP 14: Simple Machine Project Challenge LP 15: Review LP 16: Universal Assessment
 * LP 6: Energy Notions
 * LP 8: Unit Project Introduction**
 * LP 9: Unit Project Work Time (1-2 weeks)**


 * Bold - Lesson Plans Attached**

__**Unit Final Project**__
Overview: Students will design either a green machine or a green building (house) that uses energy in the most efficient ways. The green machine must incorporate one or more simple machines. The green machine and green building must be designed to meet certain parameters and each will be tested to see which is able to use energy in the most efficient way. See Project Details for a detailed task, rubric, instructions, and experiment materials.

**Energy Unit Project Topics**
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS FOR YOUR PROJECT:

o Taking the solar-powered car that you built at Solar One, you will run a series of experiments that include testing to see how the drive belt works as a pulley to turn the wheels, testing how the gears change the direction or speed of rotation, testing to see the effect of wheel size on your car, testing to see where there is friction in your car or what surfaces produce the most friction, and a variety of other tests that students can choose from and implement themselves.
 * The Solar-Powered Car - Extension**

o Your task is to design a machine that is powered by a renewable source of energy (ie water, wind, or solar). Your “Green Machine” must include at least one simple machine working to generate the maximum amount of electricity (measured in volts). Your machine must be environmentally friendly (green) and efficient.
 * The Green Machine**

o Your task is to design a green home that is powered by a renewable source of energy (ie water, wind, or solar). Your “Green Home” must be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Your “Green Home” will undergo various tests to determine the best design for gaining and losing heat energy.
 * The Green Home**

__**Additional Resources**__
Comment: This looks like a great idea....I'll look for the details. JC

Comments from James Cornwall: I took a field trip to Cooper Hewitt with an after school program I help out with and it was a big success. They have tons of awesome educational resources. Feel free to contact me if you need some help getting in contact with people at the museum. JCornwall1@fordham.edu