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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

Solar Detectives

Solar Detectives, from the Centre for Science Education, is a set of teaching materials which offer a cross-curricular approach to learning about engineering. Students build and modify a model solar car and research the science and mathematics underlying the use of solar energy. They have the opportunity to communicate their findings in a variety of ways and look at how engineers and scientists need to be creative in their work using a range of skill and ideas.

Teachers' notes and the starter activity are included at the start of the file called Solar detective pack.

The Engineering a Better World 15-minute video shows students exploring this case study.

Starter activity
• Investigating solar energy

Technology
• Building a model solar car
• Modifying a model solar car

Science
• Developing solar energy
• Warning signs

Mathematics
• Comparing solar cars

Cross-curricular activities
• Energy from the Sun
* Solar variables
* Solar kettles

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