Solar and Electric Cars
For Grades 4 and 5
OVERVIEW
This lesson introduces students to vehicles that use alternative fuels for transportation and contrasts them to conventionally fueled vehicles. Students will familiarize themselves with alternative fuels that can be used in vehicles by engaging in an introductory class discussion, reading and answering questions from the Reading Passage, working in groups to conduct Internet research on assigned topics related to vehicle fuel usage and giving final presentations of assigned topics. Each student should have a science notebook (a spiral notebook is suggested) to write their vocabulary words, information-organizing webs, and other required information.
OBJECTIVES
See Elementary School Teacher Resource Guide for TEKS objectives and additional information regarding this and other elementary school units.
SUGGESTED TIMEFRAME
Teacher will need to determine how many class periods to devote to each activity, based on the suggested timeframe and length of classes.
Day
1
Time
60 minutes 10 minutes 20 minutes 30 minutes 45 minutes
Activity Title
Activity 1 – Teacher Introduction Activity 2 – Assessment of Student Knowledge Activity 3 – Vocabulary Activity – Reading and Cooperative Group Work
Content Area
Science Assessment Vocabulary & Language Arts Reading & Language Arts
Activity Task
Information synthesis Identify and describe learned knowledge Vocabulary development and application Reading for meaning Looking for vocabulary in context Use of graphic organizer Collect and analyze information using computers and the Internet Collect and analyze information using computers and the Internet Analyze and interpret information Construct simple graphs to organize, examine and evaluate information Application of learned knowledge in verbal & graphical format Information synthesis Review of learned material
2
3
70 minutes 60 minutes 10 minutes 60