Year 6 · Autumn 1.2 · Step 3

Earth & Space

Solar power

How solar panels turn the Sun's light into clean electricity — and what the trade-offs are.

Arrival Starter I do We do Independent Exit ticket
🌱 Seedling · Working towards 🌿 Sapling · Expected 🌳 Oak · Greater depth

⏱ Whole lesson ≈ 44 min · pick a tier in the bar, or leave on "All"

Arrival 4 min

Recap of last lesson: fossil fuels & the environment.

Recap: burning fuels

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Burning fossil fuels releases ____ gases.

🌿 Sapling
Expected
  1. What do greenhouse gases do?
  2. Name one effect of climate change.
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

How could we make electricity without burning anything?

Bridge into todayThere's a way to make electricity with no burning at all — straight from sunlight.
Starter 5 min

Where have pupils seen solar panels? Rooftops, fields, calculators.

Power from the Sun

Solar panels absorb light from the Sun and convert it into electricity. It's solar power — renewable, and it makes no greenhouse gases.

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Solar panels use ____ from the Sun.

🌿 Sapling
Expected

What do solar panels turn sunlight into?

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

What might be a downside of relying only on solar power?

I do · 1 6 min

Teacher models. Watch, then list an advantage and a disadvantage.

How solar panels work

▶ Can't see it? Watch "How does solar energy work? — KS2" on YouTube

Swap the clip: change the ID after /embed/ (now KE4blc-4jqE).

Say thisSolar panels use the Sun's light (not its heat). The light is absorbed and turned into electricity. It's renewable and clean — but it makes less power at night or on very dull days.
☀️
No gasesclean energy
🆓
Free sunlightrenewable
🌙
Less at nightneeds daylight
We do · 1 6 min

Build a pros/cons list for solar together.

Good points and drawbacks

👍 no greenhouse gases · free from the Sun · low running cost  |  👎 less power at night · needs space for panels

Fair view
Solar is clean and renewable, but it isn't perfect — it needs daylight, and a lot of panels for a lot of power.
Real scientists weigh both sides.
I do · 2 4 min

Play the animation. Bust: solar doesn't work in the UK / on cloudy days.

Sunlight becomes electricity

sunlight → solar panel → electricity → power

Light hits the panel and flows as electricity along the wire to power a home.

Model the ideaSolar panels use light, so they still work on cloudy days — just less. The UK gets plenty of daylight, which is why you see panels on so many roofs here.

Watch for: "solar panels don't work in the UK" and "solar makes greenhouse gases".

We do · 2 5 min

Sort statements: advantage or disadvantage of solar?

Advantage or drawback?

Decide together
"Makes no greenhouse gases."   "Makes less power at night."   "The sunlight is free."
Which are advantages of solar, and which are disadvantages?
Independent 10 min

On your own. Sort each card, then write at your tier.

Solar power sorter

👍 Advantage of solar

👎 Disadvantage of solar

🚫 Myth to bust

Tap a card to sort it…

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Sort the cards. Then finish: Solar panels turn ____ into electricity.

🌿 Sapling
Expected

Sort them, then write one advantage and one disadvantage of solar power.

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Explain how solar panels work, and why they still generate power on cloudy days.

Exit ticket 4 min

Answer at your tier, then hand it in.

Show what you know

🌱 Seedling
Working towards
  • What do solar panels use from the Sun?
  • Is solar renewable?
🌿 Sapling
Expected
  • Give one advantage of solar power.
  • Give one disadvantage.
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Do solar panels work in the UK? Explain your answer.

TA Focus · Solar power
Key point: panels use the Sun's light (not heat) and make no greenhouse gases. For the sorter, ask 'is this a plus or a minus for solar?' The big myth to bust is 'solar doesn't work in the UK' — it works even when cloudy, just less.
Cold Call · Question bank
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