Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

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Physical Science

Brittany Bowens | Published: July 8th, 2022 by K20 Center

  • Grade Level Grade Level 9th
  • Subject Subject Science
  • Course Course Physical Science

Summary

In this lesson, students will evaluate and argue the benefits and drawbacks of the use of different types of radiations for technological advances. By the end of this lesson, students will be able to evaluate published works' validity on technology associated with human health. This is a multimodality lesson, which means it includes face-to-face, online, and hybrid versions of the lesson. The attachments also include a downloadable Common Cartridge file, which can be imported into a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Canvas or eKadence. The cartridge includes interactive student activities and teacher's notes.

Essential Question(s)

How dangerous are electromagnetic waves to humans? Should we be concerned with the new technological advances of today?

Snapshot

Engage

Students create a claim and argue opposing viewpoints.

Explore

Students read an article on gamma rays and create a superhero based on the advantages and disadvantages of a particular ray.

Explain

Students read an article about the electromagnetic spectrum and identify key components of electromagnetic radiation (EMR).

Extend

Students explore the job of a Director of Medical Imaging in relation to electromagnetic radiation.

Evaluate

Students assess their level of understanding and determine the validity of published work on electromagnetic radiation in association with human health.

Instructional Formats

The term "Multimodality" refers to the ability of a lesson to be offered in more than one modality (i.e. face-to-face, online, blended). This lesson has been designed to be offered in multiple formats, while still meeting the same standards and learning objectives. Though fundamentally the same lesson, you will notice that the different modalities may require the lesson to be approached differently. Select the modality that you are interested in to be taken to the section of the course designed for that form of instruction.

Face-to-Face

Materials

  • Set-up that allows videos and PowerPoints to be played for everyone to view

  • Lesson Slides (attached)

  • C.E.R. (attached, one per student)

  • Electromagnetic Radiation Superheroes Instructions (attached, one per student)

  • Electromagnetic Radiation Notes (attached, one per student)

Face-to-Face

Engage

30 Minute(s)

Use the attached Lesson Slides to follow along with the lesson. Begin with slide 3. Briefly, read aloud the essential questions: How dangerous are electromagnetic waves to humans? Should we be concerned with the new technological advances of today? Then, move to slide 4 and read the objectives.

Go to slide 5, invite students to participate in the C.E.R.T.I.fy Your Thinking strategy. Make copies of the C.E.R. template. Have them create a claim to the following prompt: Do you believe the radiation emitted by cell phones can cause harm to the human body? After they have made their claim, direct them to research 3 points evidence to support their claim and site where they got their evidence.

Once they have made their claim and collected their evidence, split the room into two sections, and have students move to the side of "does cause harm" or "does not cause harm." Next, have them debate over the topic. Rules for a debate are listed below. After the debate have students return to their seat to come up with their comprehensive reasoning.

Face-to-Face

Explore

40 Minute(s)

Go to slide 6. Students will be creating comic superheroes based on the seven types of electromagnetic waves. Make copies and pass out the Electromagnetic Radiation Superheroes Instructions and Electromagnetic Radiation Notes handout. Place students into groups of seven and have them divide out the seven rays. Each group member should:

  1. Create a superhero associated with the ray that you choose.

  2. Define what is that ray’s superpower and how much energy the superpower produces.

  3. Determine if this superpower can be harmful or helpful to living organisms (animals, plants, fungi, bacteria) and how?

  4. Review all of the group's drawings and record each rays’ definition, advantages, and disadvantages in the Electromagnetic Radiation Notes handout

  5. After completion of their notes, have students organize their group’s superheroes from least (longer wavelength) to most harmful (shorter wavelength).

The seven rays students should illustrate are:

  • Non-ionizing-Radio, microwave, infrared, visible light,

  • Ionizing-UV, X-ray, Gamma

Face-to-Face

Explain

20 Minute(s)

Have students share out their groups' understandings of organization. Use this opportunity to address misconceptions and help students make corrections on their notes if needed. Move to slide 7, direct students to the CK-12 20.3 Electromagnetic Spectrum article to read. Inform students, as they read to complete the questions at the end of their Electromagnetic Radiation Notes handout.

Face-to-Face

Extend

20 Minute(s)

The following activity adds a career exploration element to this lesson.

Move to slide 8. Inform students: "Today, we are going to learn about a profession that involves electromagnetic radiation on a daily basis. We are going to meet Mrs. Ashley Benard, a Director of Medical Imaging and Radiology Teacher." Invite students to watch the ICAP-Electromagnetic Radiation interview through YouTube. Ask students to consider, as they watch, the advantages and disadvantages they may learn about electromagnetic radiation, the type of technology discussed that they use in her line of work and be prepared to answer two questions at the end posed by Mrs. Benard.

Face-to-Face

Evaluate

25 Minute(s)

Go to slide 9. Invite students to complete the Fist to Five strategy to help them self-evaluate their mastery of the objectives. Complete this strategy for slides 10-13.

Next, move to slide 14. Have students recall the claim about cell phones that they made at the beginning of the lesson. Inform learners to keep their claim in mind as they view two opposing viewpoints on the topic. Have learners read the Electro Schematics’s Mobile Cell Phone Radiation article. Move to slide 15 and invite students to watch Veritasium’s "Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors?" video. Finally, go to slide 16 and have learners write 1-2 paragraphs answering the following questions:

  1. Does the radiation emitted by cell phones cause harm to the human body? Why or why not using evidence from the activities completed for this lesson?

  2. Do you believe the resources you found for your C.E.R. at the beginning were reliable sources based on what you have learned? Why or why not?"

Have students share out their thoughts.

Resources