Introduction to Solar – Active and Passive Solar Lab – Student

Summary

Students read a short story comparing passive and active solar cooking methods, answer reflection questions, then conduct two experiments testing passive and active solar heating models using a shoebox, black construction paper, and a thermometer. Data tables guide temperature recording over 20 minutes for each model, and conclusion questions ask students to evaluate their hypothesis against their results. Works well for middle school or high school science courses covering solar energy and energy efficiency.