This is a recording of a recent live teleclass I did with thousands of kids from all over the world. I've included it here so you can participate and learn!

Discover the world of clean, renewable energy that scientists are developing today! Explore how they are harnessing the energy of tides and waves, lean how cars can run on just sunlight and water, tour a hydroelectric power plant, visit the largest wind farms on the planet, and more! You’ll learn how streets are being designed to generate electricity, how teenagers are making jet fuel from pond scum in their garage, and how 70 million tons of salt can provide free, clean energy 24 hours a day forever! During class, you’ll learn how to bake solar cookies, magni-fry marshmallows and do the experiment with light Einstein won a Nobel prize for that is the basis of all photovoltaic energy today.

Materials:

  • One cup each: hot (not boiling), cold, and room temperature water
  • Cardboard box, shoebox size or larger.
  • Aluminum foil
  • Plastic wrap (like Saran wrap or Cling wrap)
  • Hot glue, razor, scissors, tape
  • Wooden skewers (BBQ-style)
  • Black construction paper
  • Cookie dough (your favorite kind!)
  • Chocolate, large marshmallows, & graham crackers if you want to make s’mores! If not, try just the large marshmallow.
  • Large page magnifier (also called a Fresnel lens, found at drug stores or places that also sell reading glasses, or at Amazon.com)

Please login or register to read the rest of this content.


Have a question ?

Tell us what you're thinking...

Comments

14 Responses to “Special Science Teleclass: Renewable & Alternative Energy”

  1. Aurora Lipper says:

    Cookies, s’mores, and hot dogs are common choices.

  2. what kind of food can i make with this?

  3. Aurora Lipper says:

    No problem, just wait until it gets warmer!

  4. tupperlisa83 says:

    It is too cold in Oregon right now, it will not work, tried 3 times

  5. If your box is too big, the heat won’t be as concentrated. so, yes indeed, using a smaller box may help. Feel free to email pictures of your set up to [email protected]. That way I can look over what you’ve built.

  6. myargercello says:

    Hi Aurora! I was doing the marshmallow roasting experiment and the marsh mallow doesn’t seem to be roasting. I don’t have the size box you have, but a bigger one. Do I need to get a smaller box?

  7. The dew point is the temperature the air needs to be cooled to for water droplets begin to condense and dew can form (think of the temperature dropping low enough and then fog begins to form)

  8. denise_wheelock says:

    what is a dew point

  9. ericksonnationmom says:

    how do i cook cookies in the solar oven

  10. It sounds like you’re not logged in. Try logging out, and then back in again.

  11. I can’t see this video or any others. The option for a video – hyperlink or what have you – is not there.

  12. Try reloading the page. I have it playing on my computer over here. Is it just this video or are there others that do not play for you? Please let me know if I can help further.

  13. shanesdeals says:

    The video for this segment isn’t loading. Please advise