Valerie+Jerzak


 * [|Unit plan Template.doc][[image:/ec/style/blank.gif width="18" height="11"]] || My unit plan is having my students create parabolic solar cookers. I would like to have the students research what they are and come up with their own design. I have always let students design them but only after I have shown them what they are. They then must cook a marshmallow on the cookers using only the sun. They then must record the temperature of the marshmallow every minute until it reaches 140 degrees. We use lab pros to collect the data. This is a science device which will record temperature versus time.

The students are required to take their data back to the classroom and make sense out of it. They must then do a lab write up on whether the cooker worked or not. I would like to extend this project to having the students do a presentation on their data. They could create a powerpoint and use excel.

I would also like the students to look at the environmental impact of finding alternative energy sources. there are many ways we could use technology to implement this. Any where from blogging to streaming video about the environment to chatting online to and environmentalist.

Students do tend to remember lessons when they find them interesting. I hope in the future I am given more time in my schedule to implement a project like this to its fullest potential.

Jessie's Comment: Hi Valerie! Everything looks great and what a terrific idea! You look like you have all of your ducks in a row! One question, when you ask your students to do a formal lab write-up, do you give them a generic write-up that they fill in or do you have them write it up on their own? The reason I ask is because our department does it both ways and just wanted your opinion on it. Great job! ||