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Lessons / Renewable energy with energy light meter

Renewable energy with energy light meter

Individual lesson

MakeCode

7-11 yrs

The BBC micro:bit has a light sensor on its LED display which can be used to collect light levels in a variety of locations around the learning environment.

Students can use the micro:bit energy light meter to combine light level data with their understanding of the sun’s energy as a natural resource. This helps them explore how different energy sources and fuels affect the environment.

Sciences:

Energy

Light

Working scientifically

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Overall key learning

Learning objectives are at three different levels:

  • Mild - I can collect light level data in various locations around my learning environment using the micro:bit energy light meter to explore how different energy sources can affect the Earth.
  • Medium - I can modify my own energy light meter program to collect light level data in various locations around my learning environment to explore how different energy sources can affect the Earth.
  • Spicy - I can create my own energy light meter program to collect light level data in various locations around my learning environment to explore how different energy sources can affect the Earth.

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This content is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) licence.

CA NGSS Standards

4-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity

  • 4-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.

CA CS Standards

  • 3-5.DA.8 Organize and present collected data visually to highlight relationships and support a claim. (P7.1)
  • 3-5.DA.9 Use data to highlight and/or propose relationships, predict outcomes, or communicate ideas. (P7.1)
  • 3-5.AP.11 Create programs that use variables to store and modify data. (P5.2)
  • 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals. (P5.2)
  • 3-5.CS.2 Demonstrate how computer hardware and software work together as a system to accomplish tasks. (P4.4)
  • 3-5.CS.3 Determine potential solutions to solve simple hardware and software problems using common troubleshooting strategies. (P6.2)
  • 3-5.AP.14 Create programs by incorporating smaller portions of existing programs, to develop something new or add more advanced features. (P4.2, P5.3)
  • 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task. (P6.2)