Turn the Lights On!: An EngrTEAMS-CISTAR Collaboration Unit
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Abstract
Turn the Lights On! is an engineering design-based STEM curricular unit codesigned by the EngrTEAMS and CISTAR projects. The unit aims to facilitate the learning of major science and mathematical concepts and skills within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) respectively. The unit includes teacher guides, class activities with solutions, and assessment guidelines.
Grade Level: 8
Approximate Time Needed to Complete Unit: eighteen - 50-minute class periods
Unit Summary: In this unit, students are taught the mathematical and scientific concepts related to electrical energy and renewable resources by incorporating an engineering design challenge. At the outset of the unit, students are introduced to power generation and the client, the members of Indiana Office of Energy Development, who need to determine a new power generation system that will effectively reduce contamination of chemical releases in the environment. Students use what they know about electrical energy and renewable resources to develop a strategy to test for electrical power generating systems. Finally, students write a final letter, including their designs and design justifications, to pitch their experimental design to the client.
| Science Connections | Technology & Engineering Connections | Mathematics Connections |
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Chemical and physical changes, Kinetic and potential energy, Variance energy, Electrical energy, Ecosystem and biodiversity, Renewable and non-renewable resources
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Complete full engineering design process, including: problem scoping (define and learn about the problem), solution generation (plan, try/build, test, decide about a solution), redesign, and communication of final design to the client, Use of measuring instruments such as anemometer, thermometer, etc. | Proportional reasoning, Representing graphics and analyzing diagrams, Collecting and representing data |
List of Lessons:
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Engineering Design
- Objectives: (1) Describe the essential features of an engineering design process; (2) Define an engineering problem from the perspective of stakeholders; (3) Engage in problem scoping - define the problem and the needs of the client and end-users.
- Lesson 2: Power Grid Energy Transformation
- Objectives: (1) Describe the concept of a power grid and how it works; (2) Define the criteria and constrains of the engineering design problem.
- Lesson 3: Fossil-Fuel Power Plants and Chemical Energy
- Objectives: (1) Describe how thermal power plants use chemical energy to get electrical energy; (2) Analyze experimental data to identify if a chemical or physical change has happened; (3) Recognize that chemical reactions absorb or release thermal energy.
- Lesson 4: Wind Turbines and Hydropower Plants
- Objectives: (1) Identify the fundamental parts of a wind turbine and hydropower plant; (2) Explain how the power generating plant transforms kinetic energy into electrical energy; (3) Describe the relationship between kinetic energy and the speed of the wind.
- Lesson 5: Solar Panels and Radiant Energy
- Objectives: (1) Comprehend that solar radiation is energy made up of different wavelengths; (2) Relate the light’s wavelength with the amount of electrical current produced by the solar panel.
- Lesson 6: Environmental Impact of the Power Generation System
- Objectives: (1) Evaluate their electric power generating systems according to the physical and biological impacts upon the biodiversity of nearby ecosystems; (2) Use a model to test their electrical power generating system and determine how well it meets criteria and constraints; (3) Reflect on how the engineering and their own decisions impact the environment.
- Lesson 7: Cost Analysis and First Prototype
- Objectives: (1) Use ratio and rate reasoning to calculate the construction and operation cost of their electrical power generating system; (2) Develop a model to compute the total construction and operation cost of their electrical power generating system; (3) Evaluate how their system meets the criteria and constraints of the engineering problem.
- Lesson 8: Redesigning the Electrical Power Generation System
- Objectives: (1) Use evidence from problem scoping, core science/mathematics concepts, and initial design test analysis to plan an improved design; (2) Plan, try, and test a new power generation system based on a set of criteria and constraints; (3) Evaluate competing electrical power generating designs to determine how much they fill the criteria and choose the one that better solves the problem.
- Lesson 9: Decision and Communication Client
- Objectives: (1) Evaluate the alignment between their proposed solution and the problem; (2) Communicate their design solution using evidence-based reasoning; (3) Justify why their design solution is appropriate based on application of core science/mathematics concepts, information obtained in problem scoping, and interpretation of acquired or gathered evidence.
Unit Standards:
- NGSS: MS-ETS1-1; MS-ETS1-2; MS-ETS1-3; MS-ETS1-4; MS-PS1-2; MS-PS3-1; MS-PS4-1; MS-PS4-2; MS-LS2-5
- CCSS: MP.4, 6.SP.B.4; 6.SP.B.4; 6.RP.A.1; 6RP.A.3
Link to Online Professional Development for this Unit: https://nanohub.org/courses/CISTAR/overview
Sponsored by
Copyright CISTAR & EngrTEAMS © 2021 Purdue University Research Foundation
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant NSF DRL-1238140 and EEC-1647722. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
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Lopez-Parra, R., Fagundes, B., Wallace, D., Bhide, N, Godwin, A. F., & Moore, T. J. (2021). Turn the lights on!: An EngrTEAMS-CISTAR collaboration unit. [DOI]