Cooking With Solar Energy
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion
Overview:
This WebQuest is designed for Physics or Physical Science classes in grades
9-12. It covers the following Georgia Performance Standards:
Introduction:
The League of Solar Pioneers is planning a cookout and in order to recruit
new members, they are looking for students to take an active part in this annual event. The students
that can rise to the occasion and complete this challenge will reap the
rewards. Good Luck!
Process:
Step
1: Choose roles within your group.
Each group member will choose one of the following jobs. Remember,
the group's success will rely on how well you accomplish your individual
responsibilities. The member tasks are as follows:
A. Solar Energy Historian: Your responsibility will be
to research the history and breakthroughs of solar energy.
B. Solar Cooker Expert: This individual will be researching
the cookers themselves. You will be responsible forkeeping
track of the different features of solar cookers and reporting this
information back to your group so you can make a collaborative decision
on which features you will choose for your cooker.
C. Solar Technician:
This individual will be responsible for researching the different
materials that can be used for building solar cookers and listing the
pros and cons of each material. The Solar Technician is also
responsible for taking the temperature every minute during the
competition and recording it on the graph.
Step
2: Fulfilling your individual roles.
Before you can begin building your cooker, you will need to familiarize
yourself with the overall method of creation.
As individual members
of the group, you will visit several websites that will provide you
with a template for this process. By exploring the sites about
solar energy and solar cookers, you should develop a good understanding
of what is expected of you and the steps you will need to take to accomplish
your mission. You are required to keep a written journal for every
site provided. Include in your entries all information that
can be used to guide you through your challenge. Click on
the appropriate link below that will allow you to complete your individual
task.
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Step
3: Design a blueprint for your cooker.
Now
that you have completed your research, you can finally start designing
your solar cooker. You are required to create a drawing to scale
of your cooker. Click here for
your drawing requirements.
Step
4: Build the Cooker.
Your next step as a group is to build and test the cooker.
Step
5: Create a Solar Cooking Presentation.
Before preparing the meal, each group will be required to perform an oral
presentation to the other teams. The presentations should:
1) Introduce your cookers and the features you chose to complete it:
Included in this information should be how each feature was decided upon,
and how you hope it will affect the cooker's performance. You should
also state what special techniques you will use to make sure the cooker
works.
2) Give a brief history of the cooker's creation: This part of the
presentation will inform the class on your team's "journey" throughout
the creative process. Include any mishaps, problems, or parts of
the process you disliked. Also, you should touch upon any part of
the process that was enlightening, enjoyable, or amusing.
*Criteria:
To receive full credit, all members of your group should speak at least
once. The presentations should be a minumum of 5 minutes long and
a maximum of 10 minutes.
Step
6: Let the Boiling Begin!
Following the presentations, the group will move outside to begin the
competition. Make sure you have everything you need before you go
outside.
Self
Evaluation.
To end this project, you will fill out a grade sheet on the process of
this challenge from start to finish. You will not only be assessing
your solar cooker, you will also be evaluating your group in respect to
each member's work ethic and dedication. Click on the Rubric
link, choose the "Save As" option under the file menu, and save this document.
You will be required to print out this evaluation, complete it as
a group, and turn it in as part of the project's final packet.
*Note:
This is the same Rubric your teacher will be evaluating your group's performance
with.