The Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington is conducting research on next-generation solar energy and battery materials and devices, as well as their integration with systems and the grid. The Institute creates the ideas and educates the people needed to generate those innovations, while facilitating the pathways to bring them to market. We have an active outreach and education program to support the teaching of energy topics in K-12 schools. Our goals are 1) integrate clean energy science into the curriculum, 2) get kids fired up about careers in clean energy including research, and 3) reinforce Next Gen science skills that will help students succeed in STEM. This quarterly newsletter will keep teachers informed about new services we can provide your classroom including free lesson plans, Clean Energy Ambassador visits, and giveaway kits.
Ready to Go Resources: Energy Storage
This newsletter issue focuses on
Energy Storage. Solar and wind generation are rapidly replacing fossil fuels. However, these sources are not necessarily predictable or timed well with demand. CEI researchers are working on new electrical storage materials for portable electronics, transportation, and even grid scale storage. These lessons and readings will give your students a glimpse into the science of energy storage and the engineering behind it.
Science Reading:
Lithium Ion Batteries
This article explains how lithium ion batteries work and areas for current research.
Lithium Ion Battery reading
Aluminum Air Battery
Students can engineer a battery from just aluminum foil, salt water and copper wire. This activity introduces some simple electrochemistry.
Aluminum Air Battery lesson
Student Reading:
Really Big Energy Storage
What kind of battery do you need to store the energy from a solar farm? A really big one!
Energy Storage reading
Supporting Energy Education in Washington State
Clean Energy Ambassadors
Outreach to the university, K-12 students, and public is an important part of the CEI mission to increase public understanding of the promise of alternative energy, smart grids and storage systems. We want to get students interested in STEM careers by connecting them with our fellows who share their enthusiasm for science and engineering.
Sign up
Clean Energy Lesson Plans
CEI has developed 27 lesson plans that highlight clean energy science and STEM skills needed for research. These NGSS-aligned lessons for elementary, middle school and high school can be freely downloaded.
lesson plans
Interested in demonstrating solar energy in your classroom? Elementary teachers in Washington State can sign up to receive a SunDawg bag. The kit contains 2 solar cars, reflectors, filters and lesson plans.
Sundawg bag signup
