Insolation, or the measurement of solar energy at the earth's surface, is the engine that drives our environment. Any study of the Earth as a System eventually recognizes the concept of our energy balance as the controlling influence for all other atmospheric phenomenon. The science teacher at Norfork Elementary School has attempted to incorporate the measurement of insolation using a pyranometer in the school's science curriculum at a variety of levels from ordinary instruction to open ended inquiry. The results of this initiative are presented and the concept of examining other successful student-teacher-scientist collaborations are discussed, Finally, the benefits of GLOBE's adoption of an insolation protocol are presented.

MS Word Version

Last updated 26 July 2007