Solar Power and Other Renewable Energy Sources: 3 Ways to Introduce Them to Kids

With 'renewable energy' and 'conservation' being two common buzzwords these days, you'll want to make sure your kids understand the concepts. Teaching kids about renewable energy can be a bit tricky, though. There are terms better left until their older, for instance. Or they might not be able to picture what you're describing. 

Good thing there are ways to show them how these energy sources work, like how a water wheel can provide lifting power. Or how coloured paper can affect heat absorption, rather like off grid solar panels used to heat water. Here are a few examples.

• Wind. Making a pin wheel is the easiest activity. Using a square sheet of paper of any size, a pair of scissors, thin dowel, and a pin, you can show little ones how a wind turbine works. Just be sure to help the littlest ones when cutting the paper, and later attaching the wheel to the dowel.

• Water. Use a 2-litre plastic bottle, a small dowel, string, a small weight, and two corks, plus scissors - so keep a close eye on the kids. Cut the blades of the water wheel – 8 of them – from the upper half of the plastic bottle, and fill the bottom half with water. 

Cut lengthwise slits along one of the corks, and attach the end of the string to the other one, making sure the other end of the string is weighted. Stick each plastic strip in the cork so they all curve in the same direction.

Set your water wheel so one of the blades touches the water, and put it under the tap. Have the kids guess if the wheel can reel in the weight.

• Solar. Use a craft knife to cut a flap out of the top of a box, about 2cm from each side; fold the flap back and hold it open with some string and tape. Line the bottom of the box with black construction paper, and line the inside of the flap with the aluminium foil. Use folded newspapers to line the sides of the box for insulation.

This set up should give your kids a rough idea how solar panels Rockhampton work. Stick, say, a Pop Tart inside, on a clean plate or pie tin, and wait for it to warm. It'll be like you stuck it in the toaster.