Students may not immediately realize they have solar energy available right in their very own homes. Provided no students live underground or in windowless homes, the sun's energy helps to heat a home every day. Depending on the orientation of windows, the sun's rays can potentially heat a home without any other power source required. In addition, installing a solar panel can convert the sun's energy into electrical power. As an activity on solar energy, have students design solar ovens. Provide each student or group with aluminum foil, shoe boxes, poster board, black construction paper, scissors, tape and a single hot dog. See which design cooks the hot dog best over the course of a sunny afternoon.
If students' homes have any solar panels, these devices ultimately produce electrical and not solar energy. In addition, many elements of a standard modern home rely on electrical power derived from a centralized electrical power plant. Teach students about electricity by helping them to make their own circuits. Instead of a battery, have students use a lemon. To complete the circuit, they need to stick a piece of copper wire and steel paper clip into the lemon. Bending the two metal units close to one another, you can stick out your tongue and touch it to both of them. You should feel a slight tingle, evidence of the .7 volts of electricity.
To teach students about some of the most unusual and innovative alternative energy sources, point them in the direction of Svensk Biogas AB, a Swedish power company responsible for powering some of the country's public buses using alcohol. The alcoholic fuel comes from supplies seized from the Swedish customs officials. The company turned 185,000 gallons of alcohol into usable fuel for over 1000 buses and trucks. Have your students practice their math and measurement skills to determine how many gallons would be necessary to power one bus or truck. Finally, have them determine the same number in terms of cups.
Alert your students to another energy source that's in their home just as often as they are: themselves. As a research project, have your students determine how much kinetic energy a person can produce by jogging on a treadmill. Give them such examples as the Sustainable Dance Club in the Netherlands, which uses dancing patrons to power the lights. After the calculations, have the class dance, run or jump for as long as it takes to power a specific appliance or device.