Summary
In this fourth lesson of the "What Is a Wave?" unit, students will learn how electromagnetic radiation is related to common items, understand how electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy, and create electromagnetic spectrum charts.
Essential Question(s)
What are waves? How do waves behave differently from particles?
Snapshot
Engage
Students construct images and summarize how those images relate to waves.
Explore
Students infer how common items are related to electromagnetic radiation.
Explain
Students compile Cornell Notes related to the electromagnetic spectrum.
Extend
Students create electromagnetic spectrum charts.
Evaluate
Students’ electromagnetic spectrum charts serve as the evaluation.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
Puzzled Photos (attached, one set)
Painting a Picture Images (attached, one set)
Painting a Picture Chart (attached, one per student)
Cornell Notes handout (attached, one per student)
EM Spectrum Chart Rubric (attached, one per student)
Copy paper
Markers or colored pencils
Engage
20 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide the lesson. You can review the essential questions and lesson objectives with students on slides 3 and 4 before beginning the lesson.
Begin by showing slide 5 and introducing students to the Puzzled strategy. Give each student a random piece from the Puzzled Photos. Tell students to move around the room to locate the other pieces of their image, assemble the pieces to complete the image, and stay together as a group. When students believe they have correctly assembled the pieces to form an image, check to make sure it is correct.
Ask students to discuss with their groups how their image relates to the Waves unit content that they have been learning about. After the discussion, show the complete puzzled images on slides 6-10 and ask each group to share what their image represents and how it relates to waves.
Explore
20 Minute(s)
Pass out copies of the Painting a Picture Chart. Show slide 11 and introduce students to the Painting a Picture strategy. As students view each image posted in the classroom, they should record their observations about each image in the first column of the chart and how each image relates to electromagnetic radiation in the second column of the chart.
After giving students time to view and record their observations for each image, show slides 12-16 and provide frequency and wavelength range information to students. Have students add this information to the third column of their charts. Use this time to allow students to share their observations and inferences and correct any misconceptions they may have.
Show slide 17 and play the "Electromagnetic Spectrum" video.
Explain
30 Minute(s)
Instruct your students to think about how heat-sensing snakes relate to the electromagnetic spectrum as they watch the "Heat Sensing Pit Vipers" video on slide 18.
Ask for volunteers to share their thoughts after the video.
Pass out copies of the Cornell Notes handout or have your students set up a page in their science notebook, share the instructional strategy Cornell Notes System, and use slides 19-24 to explain the electromagnetic spectrum. Show slide 25 and ask students to write a summary at the bottom of their note sheet.
Move to slide 26 and ask students to compare their summaries with a student nearby. Then, ask for volunteers to share their summaries.
Extend
30 Minute(s)
Show slide 27 and provide each student with a piece of copy paper and markers or colored pencils. Tell students to create an electromagnetic spectrum chart that includes the information listed. Pass out copies of the EM Spectrum Chart Rubric and tell students that you will use the rubric to assess their understanding of the lesson.
Evaluate
The Electromagnetic Spectrum chart serves as the evaluation activity for this lesson.
Resources
BBC Studios. (2008, November 24). Heat sensing pit vipers - deadly vipers - BBC animals [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lySW2-eYilg
Best0fScience. (2010, August 1). The electromagnetic spectrum [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfXzwh3KadE
Kamenícek, J. (2014, March 31). London Millennium Bridge from Saint Paul's [Image]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:London_Millennium_Bridge_from_Saint_Paul%27s.jpg
K20 Center. (n.d.). Cornell notes system. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/56
K20 Center. (n.d.). Puzzled. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/63
K20 Center. (n.d.). Painting a picture. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/1331
