LESSON PLAN OUTLINE

JMU Elementary Education Program

Kelsey Mercadante
Mrs. Lowery, Paul Munro Elementary School, 1st Grade
Date: Mon. September 21th, 2015. Time: 1:40-2:05

A. TITLE OF LESSON: Solar Energy the power of energy from the SUN
B. CONTEXT OF LESSON
During this lesson, students will learn how the sun heats the air around us. They will engage
in an activity where they will see how hot air rises using a solar bag.
C. UNWRAPPING THE VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING
1. Grade Level and Content Area:
First Grade: Science
2. Standard and Indicators:
SOL 1.6 The student will investigate and understand the basic relationships
between the sun and Earth. Key concepts include
a) the sun is the source of energy and light that warms the land, air, and
water; and

Blooms Taxonomy
Levels:
Apply
D. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Understand

Know

Do

U1: The sun provides energy,

which warms the land, air, and
water on Earth.

K1: The sun heats the air

around us.
K2: Hot air rises.

D1: Demonstrate that the sun

gives off heat.
D2: Generate possible answers
to questions using data
collected in an experiment.

E. ASSESSING LEARNING
I will assess students by observation. Students will participate in the predictions. I will record
predictions by raise of hands and tallying the predictions on the smart board. Then students will
record temperatures by filling out feel the heat worksheet where they will color in the correct

temperature of the thermometers by coloring in the thermometers. Students will participate in

discussion about comparing the temperatures of water, air, and soil.
F. MATERIALS NEEDED
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Smart board
Solar bag
String to tie bag
A warm sunny day
United Streaming Sun video, if it isnt sunny
Or, read Sun book, if it isnt sunny
Or, have students color solar energy sheet

G. PROCEDURE
Prep:
Collect supplies/materials
Make sure it is warm and sunny outside for science
Engage:
Today we are going to do a science experiment outside!
Lets go outside! Take class outside.
Sit in a circle outside.
Implementation:
Unfold black deflated solar bag in the center of circle
Ask, What should I do to make the balloon fly?
o Try their suggestions.
Choose on student to take the solar bag and run with it. When it is full of air, tie the ends
with string.
Place the solar bag in the middle of the circle for further discussion.
o How has the bag changed?
o What did you add to the bag?
o What do you think is happening inside the bag?
o What is the sun doing to the air inside the bag?
o Have students predict what will happen if the bag sits in the sun.
Within minutes (5 min) the bag will stat to rise. Be sure t tie it down or it will take off!
Discuss that the sun warmed the air inside the bag and war air is lighter than cool air, so it
rises.
Closure:
Review:
o Where did the heat come from to warm the air inside the bag?
o What happened to the bag when the air got warm?
o Explain that air surrounding the Earth is warmed by the sun just like the air
inside the balloon
To clean up untie one end of the balloon and allow the air to escape. Remove the
remaining string and flatten the solar bag.

H. WHAT COULD GO WRONG WITH THIS LESSON AND WHAT WILL YOU DO
ABOUT IT?

Some students may get really excited and scream and shout
o Remind students to lower their voices and tell them there is no need to scream or
shout. Tell them to observe with their eyes and control their voice level.
During the discussion and activity, some students may not be engaged.
o Quickly engage them by asking them a question.
During the discussion, students may answer the questions incorrectly.
o See if other students can help the student out by asking another student, or nicely
guide the student to the correct answer.
It may not be a warm and sunny day when I plan to do this lesson.
o I will have to be flexible.
o I could show students a United streaming video of the sun.
o I could read a book to the students that relates to the sun, and I will have to save this
lesson for the next day that it warm and sunny, in order for the solar blanket to work.
o Or, students can complete the solar energy coloring worksheet.