Lightworks: Art Inspired by Northern Solar Power Stories
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
Materials
Vocabulary
Classroom Instructions
Students learn about solar energy in Northern Canada and create a solar energy art piece using the Solar MindSet.
Introduction
- Provide students with a brief review of renewable and non-renewable energy. Explain that this lesson will focus on solar energy. Brainstorm prior knowledge related to solar energy. Where is it used? Where have students seen it before? Do they have any personal experiences with solar energy? (10 minutes)
- Next, students will explore solar energy projects in Northern Canada. This can be done as a class using a computer with a projector or on personal computers in small groups/individually. The goal of this virtual field trip to Northern Canada is to learn about the variety of solar energy in Northern Canada. While students complete this virtual field trip, encourage them to consider the pros and cons of solar energy in the North. Allow students 15-20 minutes to explore. As a class, discuss what they learned from the virtual field trip.
- Provide students with a printed version of “Photovoltaic potential and solar resource maps of Canada” or create a digital version if desired. Ask students to write on the paper their observations using guiding questions such as, “Which cities or regions get the most/least sunlight?” “What does this map tell us?” “What doesn’t this map tell us?” Continue asking questions to encourage students to make predictions and recognize patterns. “What patterns do you notice about sunlight across Canada?” “Which areas seem to be the best for solar energy? Which might face challenges?” (10-20 minutes)
- As a class, discuss the pros and cons of solar energy in Canada and specifically in Northern Canada. Why might a northern town still invest in solar panels even with low sunlight? (5 – 10 minutes)
- To help gain insight into a personal story, read the class a news article about a community using solar energy or invite a community member into the class who can share about solar energy in the community (Bimal, 2025). This conversation will help students brainstorm ideas for their art piece.
Photovoltaic potential and solar resource maps of Canada
Art Activity
- Complete the art activity “Illuminate an Art Installation” download
- Alternatively, if the solar energy kit cannot be used, provide students with a flashlight to use as the light source for their art installation.
Conclusion
- Provide students with a reflection worksheet on their art installation to help them make the connections between Solar Energy in Northern Canada and their art piece. Alternatively, students can present their installation to the class and verbally share their reflection using the guiding questions.
- Extension: students could write a reflective paper rather than answering questions.
Resources
- Illuminate an Art Installation resource
- Link to Google Earth virtual field trip
- Lightworks: Art Inspired by Northern Solar Power Stories Reflection
- Bimal, N. (2025, June 24). Homes light up with solar power in Gjoa Haven. Nunatsiaq News.
