Incorporating Solar Energy Learning Into Your Family's Lifestyle

Your school-age children are likely going to learn about solar energy and environmental issues. Use the tips below to support your children's learning even if you don't support current solar energy policy.

Be aware of when your child's class is learning about solar energy and energy conservation and encourage your child to talk about what they're learning.

Supplement the information that your child has learned by sitting with your child at the computer and viewing examples of solar energy through pictures and video.

Use your child's interest in the environment and solar energy as an opportunity to do some hands-on projects together. You can find easy activities or more difficult activities to reinforce your child's interest in science online from school districts, independent websites and government publications.

Consider collecting current events about solar energy developments to supplement your child's learning. While schools provide materials for children, much of that material is not the most up-to-date.

Review the information and materials your child is being provided at school about solar energy. If you find that the material you gather from current events replaces, supplements or contradicts older materials being used by the school, contact the school as well as others to make sure that the information your child is given about solar energy is the most current.

If you live near a university or museum find out whether there are children-oriented displays or exhibits that illustrate solar energy and its use in your town or city. If not, consider expanding field trip possibilities by visiting a planetarium so that your child can learn more about planets and the sun.

Incorporate passive uses of the sun to illustrate for your child how everyone can use solar energy. If you use an above-ground or smaller pool in your yard, have your child see how its temperature gets warmer when it sits in the sun. You can use a thermometer to have your child measure and keep track of your pool's temperature.

To illustrate the power of passive solar energy you can have your child hang clothing with you outside when it's sunny and see how long it takes to dry. You can compare this amount of time with the time it takes to dry clothing on cloudy days and ask your child to draw some conclusions about solar energy from the experience.

Consider purchasing a solar energy kit for your child's birthday or for a holiday that will allow your child to create an item that uses solar energy.

Expand your discussion of solar energy to include information about other ways you can use the sun to sustain the environment. Consider outdoor activities such as gardens as a classroom to help illustrate the power of the sun.

Incorporate environmental lessons in day-to-day activities to help your child see solar energy as part of a larger commitment to preserving our environment. For instance, if you're cleaning out your child's closet and donating clothing ask your child to label your reusing effort.

Your child's classroom learning about solar energy and environmental preservation is a great opportunity for at-home learning. Use the suggestions above to incorporate environmental education into your lifestyle.