Solar Energy and Mozart Come Together

Project/Lesson Description: In this project students will build photovoltaic cells and study how solar energy is converted to electricity. They will then have a feather race to seewho can blow the feather across a table the fastest using solar energy. this will be filmed with a flip camera and then the movie will be enhanced with the music of Mozart. The second half of the movie will be the students acting out the life of Mozart after writing a script based on their internet research.

Education Level
Pre-K/Kindergarten, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Subject(s) Achievement & RTI, Arts & Music, Math & Science, Reading & Literacy, Specialized Instruction, Technology & Innovation

Learning Objectives:
The students will learn the basic concepts of solar energy and conversion to electricity. They will also learn how to use a flip camera and then learn how to edit a movie in the IMovie program on a Mac computer. They will use their language arts skills by writing a script and each student will have an oral speaking part. They will also work on drama skills and projection. they will also be familiar with the life of a famous classical composer and connect with how music can enhance a movie.

Materials Needed:
We will use photovoltaic cell kits, flip cameras, Internet, miscellaneous props to act out Mozart biography, IMovie software and Mac computers

Other Information:
One of my passions as a teacher is to integrate and connect different areas of studies to enhance general learning. As individuals we differ in how we learn and I base much of my teaching on Howard Gardner\\\'s \\\"Multiple Intelligences\\\". I also feel it is important to continue to work on the areas that challenge us as well as the areas we are more comfortable in as learners. At a time when the arts are being cut in our schools I feel it is critical to promote using arts to further academics.