By Stacey Kawano
Earlier this year we were able to participate in Punahou School's Sustainability Fair, where students and their families come to learn about sustainable development. With solar education readily available and events held all year, student's are learning more about solar power and other renewable technologies at earlier ages. They are ware of topics such as renewable resources, carbon footprints, and why it is so important to lower our dependency on fossil fuels. Needless to say, we were impressed how many students were familiar with solar power, how it works, and why it is so important.
Finding ways to teach children about solar power, a topic that is often confusing even for adults, can be a complicated task. Here are a few ways one can get kids interested in learning more about solar technology and other renewable energy sources.
Visual data:
Although terminology like kilowatts and kilowatt-hours can be confusing, showing this information in pictures and graphs can visually show concepts that would otherwise be difficult to explain. Things to consider: How much energy does our household use vs. how much energy does our PV system produce? How do the different times of day and weather affect the amount of electricity our solar panels produce?
Interaction:
Using science projects or other technology can increase interest and knowledge about important topics. Look at an existing PV and monitoring system to allow kids to measure and track usage and production of electricity, or use simple math to estimate which appliances use the most electricity.
View real-time solar data here
Demonstration:
There are toys, cars, and solar kits that use solar technology on a much smaller scale; this helps kids to see how sunlight can be turned into energy, movement, or power.
Technology:
Take a look at the online site the US Department of Energy has created to show kids just how awesome learning about energy efficiency and renewables is.
Finding ways to teach children about solar power, a topic that is often confusing even for adults, can be a complicated task. Here are a few ways one can get kids interested in learning more about solar technology and other renewable energy sources.
Visual data:
Although terminology like kilowatts and kilowatt-hours can be confusing, showing this information in pictures and graphs can visually show concepts that would otherwise be difficult to explain. Things to consider: How much energy does our household use vs. how much energy does our PV system produce? How do the different times of day and weather affect the amount of electricity our solar panels produce?
Interaction:
Using science projects or other technology can increase interest and knowledge about important topics. Look at an existing PV and monitoring system to allow kids to measure and track usage and production of electricity, or use simple math to estimate which appliances use the most electricity.
View real-time solar data here
Demonstration:
There are toys, cars, and solar kits that use solar technology on a much smaller scale; this helps kids to see how sunlight can be turned into energy, movement, or power.
Technology:
Take a look at the online site the US Department of Energy has created to show kids just how awesome learning about energy efficiency and renewables is.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about Solar in Hawaii, then visit Island Pacific Energy's site on how to choose the best educational tools for your needs.
