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Last updated

20 August 2026

pdf, 7.5 MB
pdf, 7.5 MB

A 9-page unplugged STEM rotation pack on solar array design, watt output math, side-elevation blueprints, smart grid flowcharts, and blackout case studies.

Bring renewable energy engineering, power output math, side-elevation technical drawing, smart grid computer logic, and real-world disaster case studies into your classroom with STEM Station Pack 3: Solar Power & Smart Grid Engineering! This 9-page printable resource is completely unplugged (no screens or computers required for students) and designed for a smooth 60- to 75-minute rotation lab using standard, low-cost classroom supplies.

What Is Included in This 9-Page Pack?

Page 1: Teacher Setup & Master Guide: Master materials checklist, classroom station map, setup instructions, and rotation timing tips.

Page 2: Student Answer Sheet (1-Page Master Handout): Single, organized handout for students to clip to a clipboard and carry from Station 1 to Station 5.

Page 3: Station 1 Sign (Solar Collector Build Lab): Students construct a solar panel collector array prototype out of cardboard and foil, test panel tilt angles with a lamp (“Sun”), and calculate surface area.

Page 4: Station 2 Sign (Grid Budget & Power Output): Students calculate component costs from a price list, compute daily watt output based on surface area, and determine their custom Grid Efficiency Score.

Page 5: Station 3 Sign (Solar Array Angle Blueprint): Students draw a precise side-elevation blueprint showing panel plane, ground line, and light ray alignment while explaining seasonal sun path variations.

Page 6: Station 4 Sign (Smart Grid Algorithm): Students trace a conditional logic flowchart (If/Then) to direct excess solar energy into battery reserves or prevent transformer overloads.

Page 7: Station 5 Sign (Real-World Case Study): Students read a short technical passage on The 2003 Northeast Blackout, learning about tree-line interference, alarm software glitches, and cascading power failures.

Page 8: Detailed Teacher Answer Key: Fully worked math examples for cost and watt calculations, blueprint verification, logic responses, and case study guidance.

Page 9: 10-Point Master Grading Rubric: Clean, single-page rubric assessing every station on a 0-to-2 point scale for fast, objective grading.

Learning Objectives & Alignment:

NGSS MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2: Engineering Design & Systems Performance

NGSS MS-ESS3-3: Human Impact & Renewable Energy Technologies

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP1 & MP4: Real-World Math & Watt Output Modeling

Unplugged CS Concepts: Smart Grid Logic, Conditional Routing, and Overload System Controls

Get this resource as part of a bundle and save up to 20%

A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Bundle

Unplugged STEM Station Labs Bundle

A massive 5-unit bundle of unplugged STEM rotation packs covering seismic design, water filtration, solar grids, cyber security, and rocketry engineering. Save 20% off individual pack prices with the complete Unplugged STEM Station Centers Bundle! This massive collection features 5 complete engineering units designed to bring hands-on design, applied math calculations, technical blueprint drafting, unplugged computer logic, and real-world disaster case studies directly to your 4th through 8th-grade classroom. Every single pack in this series is 100% unplugged—requiring zero screens, devices, or expensive equipment kits. Each unit is structured for a seamless 60- to 75-minute rotation lab or multi-day STEM project using standard classroom supplies. Included Units in This Bundle: Pack 1: Earthquake Engineering & Seismic Design: Index card towers on shake tables, structural efficiency math, and the 1989 San Francisco Bay Bridge collapse case study. Pack 2: Water Filtration & Environmental Engineering: Multi-stage filter columns, flow rate calculations, and The Flint Water Crisis case study. Pack 3: Solar Power & Smart Grid Engineering: Solar collector arrays, daily watt output math, smart grid flowcharts, and The 2003 Northeast Blackout case study. Pack 4: Cyber Security, Encryption & Unplugged Coding: Caesar cipher encryption wheels, binary math, password cracking algorithms, and The Y2K Bug case study (Includes printable cipher templates). Pack 5: Aerospace & Rocketry Engineering: Straw rocket prototypes, thrust-to-weight ratio calculations, center of gravity blueprints, and the Apollo 13 case study. The Standardized Layout in Every Pack: Page 1: Teacher Setup & Master Guide: Supply checklists, table setup maps, prep steps, and timing tips. Page 2: Student Answer Sheet: Single, accountable master handout for clipboards. Page 3: Station 1 Sign (The Build Lab): Prototype construction and physical testing. Page 4: Station 2 Sign (Applied Math & Cost): Budgeting, pricing, and efficiency math. Page 5: Station 3 Sign (Technical Blueprint Drafting): 2D orthographic, cross-section, or side-elevation schematics. Page 6: Station 4 Sign (Unplugged Computer Logic): Conditional flowcharts (If/Then algorithms) for automated systems. Page 7: Station 5 Sign (STEM Literacy & Case Study): Technical reading passages examining historical engineering challenges. Page 8: Detailed Teacher Answer Key: Clean, plain-text solutions with fully worked math examples. Page 9: 10-Point Master Grading Rubric: Single-page rubric assessing every station on a 0-to-2 point scale. Curriculum Alignment: NGSS: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4, MS-ESS3-2, MS-ESS3-3, MS-PS2-2 CCSS Math Practices: MP1 & MP4 CSTA Standards: Unplugged Algorithms, Encoding, and System Logic

$18.00

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