Capturing and Distributing Solar Energy in Rural Iowa

Farmers Electric Cooperative in Kalona, Iowa, is using solar panels to help capture solar energy and distribute across the members of the cooperative. 

• How do you know that living things obtain energy from the sun?

• What does sunlight do to the surface of the Earth?
• How can humans use the energy from the sunlight

Students could:

• Discuss how sunlight works and the impact of sunlight on the Earth. 
• Investigate the different impacts sunlight has on the Earth. 
• Compare and contrast the difference between objects placed in sunlight and in the shade.
• Discuss how sunlight is energy and heat is an indication of that energy. 
• Predict how the energy of sunlight could be changed. 
• Design a device that can change energy from one form to another within specific criteria.

• Independent Statistics and Analysis U.S. Energy Information Administration | Energy Explained: This resource from the Independent Statistics and Analysis U.S. Energy Information Administration explains what energy is as well as what the different sources of energy production are in the United States.  
• Ready Iowa | Nuclear Power Plants:  This resources contains information about Iowa’s only nuclear power plant which is set to close in 2020.   
• Ecavo | 11 Different Sources of Alternative Energy:  Learn about the different sources of alternative energy.  
• US Department of Energy | Energy Sources:  This resource from the Department of Energy describes information about the different types of energy that is consumed in the United States. 
• Science Learning Hub | Waves as Energy Transfer:  This resource from the Science Learning Hub explains what a wave is and how it works. 
• BBC Bitesize | Properties of Waves:  This resource includes a series of pages that describe what waves are, the parts of a wave, and how to calculate wave speed.   
• NASA | Power Project Data Sets: This resource contains NASA’s data access viewer which shows the different energy sources used throughout the world.