Grade: 6th

Standard:

MS-PS4-2. Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

Summary:

In a hands-on way, students explore light's properties of absorption, reflection, transmission and refraction through various experimental stations within the classroom. To understand absorption, reflection and transmission, they shine flashlights on a number of provided objects. To understand refraction, students create indoor rainbows. An understanding of the fundamental properties of light is essential to designing an invisible laser security system, the ongoing objective in this unit.

Focus Questions:

• What objects absorb the light? Reflect? Transmit? Refract?

• What properties dictate whether light is absorbed, reflected, transmitted or refracted? (object's material, frequency of the light/color)

• Does light always travel the same way? What objects can change how light travels? (straight path vs curved)

Posted by: Lauren Pio

Summary:

In this lesson, students will be introduced to light, the ways we can and cannot see things, and materials which light can and cannot shine through. Dr.Jett does a great job explaining material to students in a hands on manner. At the end of the lesson, students can demonstrate their knowledge by making shadow puppets!

Essential Questions:

• What does light help us do?

• When can we see things?

• What kind of materials can light go through? What can it not go through?

Posted by: Abby Jankowski