Skip to content

⚡ Weeks 5-7: Renewable Energy Lab

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 5-6
Duration 3 sessions (45 min each)
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus S (Science), T (Tech), E (Engineering), R (Religion)

Weeks 5-7: Renewable Energy Lab

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Compare renewable and nonrenewable energy 2. Understand solar, wind, and hydro power 3. Build working energy devices 4. Analyze energy efficiency data

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Apply Laudato Si' principles 2. See energy stewardship as moral issue 3. Connect creation care to faith

Weeks 5-7: Renewable Energy Lab

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Laudato Si' — Pope Francis' encyclical calls us to care for our "common home." Moving to renewable energy is part of our moral responsibility to protect creation and ensure future generations can thrive.

Scripture Connection

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." — Psalm 24:1

Faith Theme

Stewardship — We are not owners of the Earth but caretakers. How we use energy affects our neighbors (near and far) and future generations. Renewable energy is part of living justly.

📚 Materials Needed

Week 5 (Energy Basics)

  • Energy source images/videos

  • Renewable vs nonrenewable charts

  • Energy audit worksheets

  • Laudato Si' excerpts

Week 6 (Solar & Wind)

  • Small solar panels

  • Solar car kits or materials

  • Wind turbine materials (fans, cardboard, dowels)

  • Voltmeters/multimeters

  • Heat lamps

Week 7 (Design Challenge)

  • Various building materials

  • Motors, LEDs

  • Testing equipment

  • Presentation materials

📝 Week 5 Procedure: Energy Basics & Laudato Si' (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, You filled the Earth with energy — in the sun, wind, and water! Help us learn to use Your gifts wisely. May we be good stewards of Your creation. Amen."

Energy Introduction (10 min)

What is energy?

Definition:

  • Energy = Ability to do work

  • Can't be created or destroyed, only transformed

  • Measured in joules, watts, kilowatt-hours

Energy sources:

Nonrenewable:

  • Coal, oil, natural gas

  • Nuclear (uranium)

  • Took millions of years to form

  • Will run out eventually

  • Often pollute

Renewable:

  • Solar — from the sun

  • Wind — from moving air

  • Hydro — from moving water

  • Geothermal — from Earth's heat

  • Biomass — from plants/organic matter

  • Replenish naturally

  • Generally cleaner

Laudato Si' Deep Dive (15 min)

Pope Francis on Energy:

Read excerpts:

"Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods." (LS 25)

"There is an urgent need to develop policies so that... CO2 emissions can be drastically reduced... substituting renewable energy sources for fossil fuels." (LS 26)

"We must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor." (LS 49)

Discussion:

  • Why does the Pope write about energy?

  • How is energy a MORAL issue?

  • Who suffers most from pollution?

  • How can renewable energy help the poor?

Key concepts:

  • Integral ecology — Everything is connected

  • Common good — Energy decisions affect everyone

  • Intergenerational justice — What about our grandchildren?

  • Preferential option for the poor — Who bears the burden?

Energy Audit (15 min)

Assess your energy use:

Think about your day:

  • Lights you used

  • Devices you charged

  • Transportation

  • Heating/cooling

  • Hot water

Calculate (estimates): | Activity | Energy Source | Renewable? | |----------|---------------|-----------| | Lights | | | | Computer | | | | Car/bus | | | | Heat | | |

Reflection questions:

  • Where does your electricity come from?

  • What percentage is renewable?

  • What could you change?

Closing (3 min)

Challenge: "Research your local energy mix. What percentage comes from renewable sources?"

Closing Prayer: "Lord, forgive us for times we've wasted Your gifts. Help us be better stewards. Give us wisdom to find sustainable solutions. May we care for creation AND for the poor who suffer from pollution. Amen."

📝 Week 6 Procedure: Solar & Wind Power (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"God of sun and wind, You provide energy all around us! Help us learn to capture it wisely. Amen."

Solar Power (12 min)

Harnessing the sun:

How solar panels work:

  • Photovoltaic cells

  • Light hits silicon

  • Electrons move → electricity!

  • No moving parts, quiet, clean

Factors affecting output:

  • Angle to sun

  • Direct vs. indirect light

  • Temperature (cooler is better!)

  • Shade

Demonstration:

  • Show solar panel

  • Measure voltage in different conditions

  • Connect to small motor or LED

Data collection: | Condition | Voltage (V) | |-----------|-------------| | Direct sun | | | Shade | | | Angled | |

Wind Power (12 min)

Capturing moving air:

How wind turbines work:

  • Wind pushes blades

  • Blades spin

  • Generator converts motion to electricity

  • Bigger = more power

Factors affecting output:

  • Wind speed

  • Blade size and shape

  • Height of turbine

Build mini wind turbine:

  • Paper/cardboard blades

  • Attach to motor

  • Test with fan

  • Measure output

Data collection: | Blade Design | Output | |--------------|--------| | 3 blades | | | 4 blades | | | Wide blades | | | Narrow blades| |

Hydro Power Introduction (5 min)

Moving water:

Concept:

  • Water flows downhill

  • Turns turbines

  • Clean, reliable

  • But requires rivers/dams

Simple demo:

  • Water wheel concept

  • Show water turning wheel

Comparison Analysis (10 min)

Compare renewable sources:

Chart completion: | Source | Pros | Cons | Best For | |--------|------|------|----------| | Solar | | | | | Wind | | | | | Hydro | | | |

Discussion:

  • "Which is best for our region? Why?"

  • "Why might we need multiple sources?"

  • "What's stopping wider adoption?"

Closing (4 min)

Preview challenge: "Next week you'll design and build a renewable energy device!"

Journal reflection:

  • What surprised you about renewable energy?

  • What challenges exist?

  • How can faith motivate us to pursue clean energy?

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for sun, wind, and water! Help us use Your renewable gifts wisely. Make us good stewards of the energy You provide. Amen."

📝 Week 7 Procedure: Energy Design Challenge (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Creative God, inspire our designs today! Help us build things that honor You and care for creation. Amen."

Challenge Introduction (5 min)

Design Challenge:

Create a working renewable energy device that could solve a real problem.

Options: 1. Solar-powered device (charger, light, fan) 2. Wind turbine for specific purpose 3. Hybrid system combining sources

Requirements:

  • Must use renewable energy source

  • Must solve an actual problem

  • Must include efficiency data

  • Must connect to Laudato Si'

Design Phase (10 min)

Engineering design worksheet:

Problem identification:

  • What problem are you solving?

  • Who faces this problem?

  • How does your device help?

Design specifications:

  • Energy source

  • Materials needed

  • Expected output

  • How you'll test efficiency

Sketch:

  • Labeled diagram

  • Parts list

  • Construction steps

Faith connection:

  • How does this honor creation?

  • Who benefits?

  • What Laudato Si' principle does this address?

Build Phase (20 min)

Construct your device:

Available materials:

  • Solar panels (small)

  • Motors, fans

  • LEDs, wires

  • Cardboard, wood, plastic

  • Tape, glue, connectors

Build process:

  • Follow your design

  • Test as you build

  • Adjust as needed

  • Record data

Teacher support:

  • Help with circuits

  • Troubleshoot connections

  • Encourage iteration

Testing & Data (5 min)

Test your device:

Measure:

  • Does it work?

  • How much power produced?

  • Efficiency compared to prediction?

Record:

  • Test conditions

  • Results

  • Improvements needed

Sharing & Reflection (3 min)

Quick showcase:

  • Show your device

  • Explain the problem it solves

  • Share one thing you learned

Reflection:

  • "How did this experience connect to faith?"

  • "What would you improve?"

  • "How can we promote renewable energy?"

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for the gift of creativity! Thank You for renewable energy that protects Your creation. Help us share what we've learned and make choices that care for our common home. May we be faithful stewards of the Earth You entrusted to us. Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We explored renewable energy and built working devices! Ask your child: 'What renewable energy source did you use?' 'What problem does your device solve?' 'What does Laudato Si' say about energy?' Consider ways your family can reduce energy use or support renewable energy!"

✅ Assessment

  • Compared renewable and nonrenewable sources

  • Connected energy to Laudato Si' principles

  • Built working renewable energy device

  • Collected and analyzed efficiency data

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **