Additional information
by Carla C. Johnson (Author), Janet B. Walton (Author), Erin Peters-Burton (Author)
What if you could challenge your fourth graders to use solar energy to provide the world with clean water? With this volume in the STEM Road Map Curriculum Series, you can! Harnessing Solar Energy outlines a journey that will steer your students toward authentic problem solving while grounding them in integrated STEM disciplines. The series is designed to meet the growing need to infuse real-world learning into K-12 classrooms. This book is an interdisciplinary module that uses project- and problem-based learning to investigate energy and energy sources, with a focus on solar energy and water scarcity. Your students will - Investigate potential and kinetic energy, solar energy, the greenhouse effect, and salinity. Students will examine solar energy's potential and limitations while being introduced to the concept of scarce resources and potable water. - Make a social studies connection by investigating water scarcity around the world. Teams will choose regions facing water scarcity and research the areas' geography, climate, and cultures. - Use their understanding of solar energy, desalination, and the engineering design process (EDP) to design a passive solar desalination device in the Water for All Challenge. Teams will also create public service announcements about the need for their devices in the water-scarce countries they researched. - Take part in a Water Conservation Expo to exhibit their understanding of solar energy, water scarcity, and desalination worldwide. The STEM Road Map Curriculum Series is anchored in the Next Generation Science Standards, the Common Core State Standards, and the Framework for 21st Century Learning. In-depth and flexible, Harnessing Solar Energy can be used as a whole unit or in part to meet the needs of districts, schools, and teachers who are charting a course toward an integrated STEM approach.
Author Biography
Dr. Carla C. Johnson is the associate dean for research, engagement, and global partnerships and a professor of science education at Purdue University's College of Education in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Johnson serves as the director of research and evaluation for the Department of Defense- funded Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), a global portfolio of STEM education programs, competitions, and apprenticeships. She has been a leader in STEM education for the past decade, serving as the director of STEM Centers, editor of the School Science and Mathematics journal, and lead researcher for the evaluation of Tennessee's Race to the Top- funded STEM portfolio. Dr. Johnson has published over 100 articles, books, book chapters, and curriculum books focused on STEM education. She is a former science and social studies teacher and was the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Science Teacher Educator of the Year award from the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE), the 2012 Award for Excellence in Integrating Science and Mathematics from the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA), the 2014 award for best paper on Implications of Research for Educational Practice from ASTE, and the 2006 Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award from SSMA. Her research focuses on STEM education policy implementation, effective science teaching, and integrated STEM approaches.
