Students at Escondido Elementary in Stanford, CA learn about what they can do to send clean, safe solar light to kids in Haiti.

One Million Lights Challenge

Use the One Million Lights Challenge as a way to engage students in interactive and engaging lessons that tie into classroom lessons. Here’s an overview packet (pdf) and a teacher/leadership background information packet (pdf) to help with planning.

• One Million Lights Challenge Classroom Engagement. Start by introducing your students to One Million Lights with this multimedia lesson plan.
• 2 Hours of Darkness – Homework Assignment. Assign this challenge as homework. Students and their families try an evening without electricity and then reflect on the experience.

Interdisciplinary Lessons on Solar, Energy, and Electricity

Help your students or classmates better understand solar energy, electricity, and other related lessons by integrating some of these hands-on lessons into your curriculum. You can find more activities like this at the website for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the US Department of Energy: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/.

• Awareness of Energy Quiz
  • Science and Math Quiz and Lesson
  • for Grades 9-12
  • from National Energy Foundation
• Build a Pizza Box Solar Oven
  • Fun Activity
  • for Grades K-12
  • from US Dept of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Comparing Light Bulbs
  • Interdisciplinary Activity and Lessons
  • for Grades K-8
  • from US Environmental Protection Agency

• Energy Detectives
  • Interdisciplinary Lessons and Activities
  • for Grades Prek-8
  • from Project Learning Tree
• Energy Efficiency at Home
  • Interdisciplinary Lessons and Activities
  • for Grades 5-8
  • from U of Northern Iowa Earth Science Dept
• Energy for Keeps: Electricity and Renewable Energy
  • Interdisciplinary Lessons and Activities
  • for Grades 6-12
  • from Energy Educcation Group
• Energy from the Sun Student Guide and Teacher Guide
  • Interdisciplinary Lessons and Activities
  • for Grades K-4
  • from
• Energy in Today’s Global Society
  • Interdisciplinary Lessons and Activities
  • Grades 9-12
  • from ACTS
• Exploring Solar Energy Student Guide and Teacher Guide
  • Interdisciplinary Lessons and Activities
  • for Grades 5-8
  • from The Need Project
• Making a Solar Oven
  • Science Lesson and Activity
  • for Grades 5-8
  • from The Need Project
• Photovoltaics and Solar Energy
  • Science Lessons and Activities
  • for Grades 5-8
  • from NREL
• Rain Machine: Solar Energy Desalinization
  • Science Lesson and Activity
  • for Grades K-4
  • from Florida Solar Energy Center
• Research Projects in Renewable Energy
  • Solar, Biofuels, and Wind Energy Lessons and Ideas
  • for Grades 9-12
  • from NREL

• Survival Still: Solar Energy and Desalinization
  • Science Lesson and Activity
  • for Grades 9-12
  • from Florida Solar Energy Center
• The Sun and its Energy
  • Science Lesson and Activity
  • for Grades K-4
  • from Florida Solar Energy Center
• What Does the Sun Give Us?
  • Science Lessons and Activities
  • for Grades 5-12
  • from NREL