Making a solar-powered vehicle anchors a renewable energy unit for grades 4 through 7, walking students through the full build and test sequence on one sheet. The overview explains how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity and how that electricity drives a DC motor to produce motion. Students record observations across four test conditions, including direct sunlight, partial shade, indoor room light, and a cloudy day, tracking whether the vehicle moved and how far it traveled.

The sheet works well as a standalone hands-on learning project or as the engineering capstone of a broader energy unit study. Completing it asks your student to explain the energy source, account for variables that slowed the vehicle, propose design improvements, and connect solar transportation to real-world applications. A challenge section invites faster builds using lighter materials or different gear sizes, and a Go Green note reinforces why solar energy matters beyond the experiment itself.