Can Wisconsin Go Solar?

• This lesson leads students through an exploration into Wisconsin's potential for solar power production, including data analysis, ArcGIS maps, and a focus on solutions.
• Students will interpret solar dashboards, maps, and graphs to determine if Wisconsin is an ideal location for solar power.

Positives

• There are a few opportunities for extension listed, as well as other lessons on climate issues that follow a similar format.
• Directions to navigate the solar dashboards are easy to follow and many students could follow these directions without adult guidance.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should already know how to interpret graphs, maps, and charts. With younger students, it may be helpful to go over how to read each map and graph as a class.
• It may be helpful if students know about greenhouse gases, the greenhouse effect, and how current means of energy production are contributing to climate change.
• Some students, including English language learners, may need the terms geospatial, generation, array, and photovoltaic defined prior to starting the lesson.
• Students should have a basic understanding of latitude and longitude. 

Differentiation

• For students who do not speak/read English, the slides can be translated to their primary language using the translate function in Google Slides.
• Strategic pairing can be used if you have a few students who struggle with interpreting data and if many students struggle with this concept, the worksheet can be completed as a class.
• Students can map out where solar panels are located in their area and/or discuss where the placement of solar panels would be in their area.
• Students can extend this exploration by researching what their school would need to do to incorporate solar power if they don't already.