STEM Challenge - Project: Electric - Design a System to Harness Wave Energy

Looking for a flexible, multi-day activity that gets your students “doing science?” Every STEM Challenge offers a hands-on, inquiry-based, student-led project designed to allow them to step into the roles of researchers and engineers.

STEM Challenge projects are ideal for use at any time throughout the school year, between units, before breaks, or during afternoons when testing weeks occur.

For teachers, there are presentations and step-by-step guides to facilitate pacing and lesson plans that align with standards. Students utilize the included notebooks to guide them through activities (both individually and in small groups), challenge them to learn new information, and reflect on and apply the information they have learned.

The Challenge:

Many countries are now looking at the possibility of using the energy from waves in the ocean to create electricity. You live on the California coast and work for the state’s energy department. You have been tasked to research the advantages and disadvantages of harnessing wave energy. You will also need to build and present a model which can demonstrate how the state of California could use wave energy as an alternative energy source. In your presentation, you need to explain the finding of your research, as well as explain exactly how the process of converting wave energy to electrical energy will work. The other coastal states in the country are watching. Lead by example and do a great job!

What’s in a STEM Challenge?

• a video explaining the engineering challenge and setting the context for the project
• a BIG Question to guide the inquiry
• teacher presentation in PPT (Google-compatible) and Keynote
• a teacher's guide on what the teacher and students should be doing along the way
• student notebook offers
  • questions to provide the students with a framework for their inquiry throughout the entire project
  • opportunities to absorb new information and reflect on ways to use it to complete the challenge
• Using the LAUNCH process, students brainstorm with their peers and reflect on failures and opportunities, with the prospect of sharing their ideas with the world. This holds students accountable, and they will put forth the best effort, knowing that other students could critique the project.
• Each STEM Challenge contains a list of suggested supplies for its project. We were very cautious about choosing inexpensive items, and the supply list is dynamic, allowing for adjustments to individual situations. Suggested supplies include:
  • cardboard
  • string
  • toilet paper tubes
  • toothpicks
  • paper
  • tape
  • scissors
  • plastic bags
  • straws
  • paper cups
  • styrofoam
  • play-doh

NGSS Standards

Aside from the engineering components of this project, students will be learning about energy transformations and renewable energy sources.

NGSS: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4, 4-ESS3-1, HS-PS3-3, adaptable to MS-PS3-5