WebQuest
Cooking With Solar Energy

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion














Overview:
     This WebQuest is designed for Physics or Physical Science classes in grades 9-12.  It covers the following objectives from the Quality Core Curriculum:


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 the planning and preparation of this annual event.    The students that can rise to the occasion and complete this challenge will reap the rewards.  Good Luck!

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Task:
    The challenge,  proposed by the Pioneers,  is to construct a solar cooker that will demonstrate the use of solar energy to cook food.  As a team you will build one or more solar cookers and prepare a menu for the cookout.  The cooker will be evaluated on how it successfully cooks food, creativity of design, and its overall performance.  As a team, you will be evaluated on the cooperation between group members, thoroughness of research, your solar energy presentation, and your work ethic during the time allotted to complete the task.
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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 reportingthis information back to your group so you can make a collaborative decision on which features you will choose for your cooker.
    C. Menu Planner:  This individual will be finding foods that can be successfully prepared on a solar cooker.  This will include a main course, beverage, and dessert.

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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.  Clickon the appropriate link below that will allow you to complete your individual task.
 
Solar Energy Historian
Solar Cooker Expert
Menu Planner

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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.

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Step 4: Create a Menu for the Cookout.
    Your next step as a group is to create a menu that can be used at the cookout.  The menu should be creative and include artwork appropriate for this cookout.
  Criteria:  Menu should be word processed and in the form of a two-fold brochure.  Your completed menu will be turned in as part of the project's final packet.

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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.

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Step 6: Preparing the meal!
    You will be performing your presentations at this time.  Following the speeches, you will use your cooker to prepare the foods that you have chosen.
 
 

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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.

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Conclusion: (Relax!)
  The most difficult part of the challenge is now behind you.  You have sucessfully completed your mission and have hopefully gained some useful information in the process.  Now is the time to put that new-found knowledge to good use.  As a follow-up activity to this challenge, you will be eating the meal which you and your classmates have prepared.
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Overview | Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion