Could Everyone Have Solar Power?

• This short and engaging video briefly describes the increasing popularity of solar panels as a source of renewable energy, outlines the history of solar technology, gives reasons for choosing solar power, highlights reasons that prevent some people from obtaining solar power for their homes or communities, and cites California, Colorado, and Texas as leaders in solutions for these circumstances.
• The last part of the video introduces shared solar as a potential solution to these barriers, including the option for shared solar gardens or community solar arrays. 

Positives

• This resource explains the potential challenges associated with converting to solar power in an easy-to-understand format.
• This tool is helpful for introducing the topics of climate or environmental justice. 
  

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should already have a basic understanding of renewable energy sources and how they work to reduce carbon emissions. 
  

Differentiation

• Younger students would benefit from some background knowledge about climate change and renewable energy sources before being introduced to this topic. 
• Playing the video more than once may help students to fully take in all of the information that is covered in this resource. 
• Social studies or engineering design classes could use this video to discuss the history of solar and the milestones in the historical development of renewable energy technologies. 
• Other resources to consider on this topic include this video about enacting solutions to climate change, this StC lesson plan about environmental justice, and this StC lesson about renewable energy.