Solar Energy
Solar energy is light energy.
Solar energy is renewable.
©2018 The NEED Project Primary Energy Infobook www.NEED.org 55
Solar Energy
TEACHER
We get most of our energy from the sun. We call it solar
energy. It travels from the sun to the Earth in waves or rays.
Some are light rays that we can see. Some rays we cannot ENERGY CHANT
see, like x-rays. The sun is a star. It is a giant ball of gas. It
sends out huge amounts of energy every day. Most of the SOLAR ENERGY—
energy goes off into space. Only a small part reaches the
Earth. sun shine bright,
We use solar energy in many ways. All day, we use sunlight to
SOLAR ENERGY—
see what we’re doing and where we’re going. Sunlight turns give me light!
into heat when it hits things. Without the sun, we couldn’t
live on the Earth—it would be too cold. We use the sun’s Begin with arms over head
energy to heat water and dry clothes. in a big circle, swaying from
side to side during “SOLAR
Plants use the light from the sun to grow. Plants take the ENERGY.” Spread arms out
energy in light and store it in their roots, stems, fruits, and wide during “sun shine
leaves. That energy feeds every living thing on Earth. We can bright.” Repeat motions for
also burn plants to make heat. second part of chant.
The energy from the sun makes rain fall and wind blow. We
can capture that energy with dams and windmills. Coal,
oil, and natural gas were made from prehistoric plants and
animals. The energy in them came from the sun. We use that
energy to cook our food, warm our houses, run our cars, and
make electricity.
Solar energy is free and clean. There is enough for everyone and we will never run out of it. Solar energy
is renewable. The sun will keep making energy for millions of years. Why do we not use the sun for all our
energy needs? We do not know how to yet. The hard part is capturing the sunlight. It shines all over the
Earth and only a little bit reaches any one place. On a cloudy day, most of the light never reaches the ground
at all.
Lots of people put solar collectors on their roofs. Solar collectors capture the sunlight and turn it into heat.
People heat their houses and their water using the sun’s energy. Solar cells (solar panels) can turn light
energy into electricity. Some toys and calculators use solar cells instead of batteries. Big solar cells can make
enough electricity for a house. They are expensive, but good for houses far away from power lines. Today,
solar energy provides less than 1% of the electricity we use, but it is growing each year as solar cells get
used more. In the future, it could be a major source of energy. Scientists are looking for new ways to capture,
store, and use solar energy more efficiently.
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Plants convert the sun's energy to food.
Solar energy makes plants grow.
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Solar energy heats land and water.
When solar energy comes in contact
with an object it turns into heat.
58 ©2018 The NEED Project Primary Energy Infobook www.NEED.org
Some people hang clothes outside to dry.
We can use solar energy
to dry our clothes.
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Solar panels are made of many solar cells. People put solar panels on their homes to turn
solar energy into electricity.
Solar cells turn sunlight
into electricity.
60 ©2018 The NEED Project Primary Energy Infobook www.NEED.org
