Super STAAR

Supporting Lessons

Let the Sun Shine! TeachEngineering (website) - Students learn about different ways we use energy from the sun.

Let the Sun Shine!
TeachEngineering, www.teachengineering.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

In Search of Light: Power Sleuth (website) - Series of downloadable PDF lessons through which students consider the role of light energy in daily human life, learn that that sunlight is the primary source of light energy on Earth, and investigate light-emitting devices.

In Search of Light
Power Sleuth, www.powersleuth.org

Heat, Light and Sound: Discovery Center (PDF) - Students investigate the properties of heat, light, and sound energy in a series of fun activities and demonstrations. Includes student pages and assessment.

Heat, Light and Sound
Discovery Center, www.discoverycenter.org

Assessment Ideas

Ask your class the following questions and discuss students’ answers.

• Where would be the coolest place to sit on a hot summer day: in the shadow of a big building or in full sunlight in the middle of a baseball field?
• When it’s freezing and snowing outside, which is the warmer spot: in the shadow of a big building or in full sunlight in the middle of a baseball field?

Literature Connections

Light: Energy in Action. Mahaney, I. (ISBN-13: 978-1404221857)

My Light. Bang, M. (ISBN-13: 978-0439489614)

Sound and Light. Glover, David (ISBN-13: 978-0753455128)

Day Light, Night Light: Where Light Comes From. Branley, Franklyn (ISBN-13: 978-0064451710)

Rainbow and You. Krupp, Edwin (ISBN-13: 978-0688156015)

Additional Resources

Light: 42 Explore (website) - Extensive list of links to teaching resources, information and classroom activities focused on the exploration of light energy.

Light
42 Explore, www.42explore.com

Resources for Teachers and Parents: Energy Quest (website) - Links to resources and science lesson plans that deal with energy, including light energy.

Resources for Teachers and Parents
Energy Quest , www.energyquest.ca.gov

For Teachers: Energy Kids (website) - Links to lesson plans, ideas for science fair experiments and field trips, and other resources for teaching students about different forms of energy, including light.

For Teachers
Energy Kids, www.learner.org

The Science of Light: Annenberg Learner (website) - Information about how humans perceive light and how light behaves as particles and waves. Includes links to lessons related to the science of light.

The Science of Light
Annenberg Learner

Renewable Solar: Energy Kids (website) - Students learn about the ability to convert solar energy into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity.

Renewable Solar
Energy Kids, U.S. Energy Information Administration, www.eia.gov/kids

Energy: TeachEngineering (website) - A series of nine lessons that teach students about different types of energy, including electrical, light, sound and thermal.

Energy
TeachEngineering, www.teachengineering.org

Sensing Energy: Science NetLinks (website) - Students perform simple experiments that help them to explore unseen energy produced by the sun.

Sensing Energy
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com