Exploring a System in Science

I gave the students a solar panel, 2 wires with clips, a metal conductor, and a fan.  I told them to use the parts to complete the system, and make the fan spin.  It was so fun to sit back and watch these Scientific Engineers work.  After each group made their fan spin, we discussed why it worked and how we can apply what we learned to help us find a solution to the blackouts in Ergstown (our fictional town with a problem we are investigating and trying to solve).