Third Grade
Standard: Earth and Space Science: Earth's resources can be used for energy
Useful Links:
Words to know:
Children's Literature:
NSTA Resource Collection:
Useful Links:
- http://www.need.org/solar
- This is a great site for teachers. It takes a teacher through a particular topic with the specified grade level and provides information relevant to the topic. There is a specific section dedicated to solar energy and there is a fact sheet that provides information on solar energy. The information gives a very detailed basic explanation of the topic that teachers can use to educate themselves further on the topic before teaching. The elementary solar fact sheet could also be something that the third graders read as it is not very long and it not a terribly high reading level. This could be used in a small setting like reading groups or as a whole group in order to teach them facts and information regarding the topic. There are also pictures which are helpful.
Words to know:
- Solar Panel Model – radiant sun and heat from the sun. Used for solar heating, artificial photosynthesis, solar thermal energy, etc.
- Solar Energy - is light and heat from the sun using a range of different technologies.
- Renewable Energy - energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.
Children's Literature:
- Nonfiction: “Energy: Heat, Light and Fuel” by Darlene R. Stille – This book describes how energy can be found in different forms all around us, that allows us to complete or do certain things. (i.e. the sun)
- Fiction: "The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind" by Heather Forest and Susan Gaber - This book shows the sun and the wind testing their strength to see who can remove the boys jacket first. This can easily show students that earths resources can impact our life here on earth very easily.
- Resource for teachers: "Our Explosive Sun" by Paul Brekke - This is a chapter book that teachers can use to educate themselves further about the Sun. Teachers can use this resource before teaching the topic in order to obtain all the necessary information needed before teaching.
NSTA Resource Collection:
- Keppler, M. (April/May 2012). Solar Energy: Fun in the Sun: Cooking with the Suns Rays, Science and Children, 36-39.
- To get to this article, use the button below:
- This article provides teachers with multiple activities and lessons for a science investigation related to the suns energy. The article takes the reader step by step through activities as well provides the reader with information regarding the topic.