Solar roadways

Revolutionary roads which stay snow-free, claim developers. A click of a switch they can transform the road into a car park or even sports pitches. In this activity students consider whether solar roadways are worth funding. They critique claims using reasoning and evidence, and apply what they know about generating electricity in solar cells, to make a decision.

Learning objective

• Critique claims, using reasoning, evidence and scientific knowledge of how light waves generate electricity in solar cells.

Blueprint curriculum link

• Unit: Energy transfers
• Concept: Energy model: When there is a change, energy is transferred from one store at the start to another at the end
• Skills: Explanations: Critique a claim for whether there is evidence
• Learning stage: Analyse

Activity contents

• Teachers guide
• PowerPoint file

The activity is delivered as a zip file. After you checkout, you will be sent an email with the link to download it.

Weblinks

Solar Freakin' Roadways

Another website where you can view the fundraising video for the crowd funding web site.

Further information

A longer video suitable for teachers only. It outlines the arguments against the claims.

Solar cycle path

News report about a solar cycle path that has recently opened in the Netherlands.