OpenSciEd 6.1, Lesson 3: Measuring Light Investigation
Task
Use this Tuva Investigation OpenSciEd Unit 6.1, Lesson 3. Tuva has digitized the following student-facing paper resources from Parts 8–10: the Student Procedure and the Handout for Measuring Light Investigation Procedure. This Tuva Investigation is not a standalone lesson. Use it in tandem with the OpenSciEd Teacher Edition to guide overall instruction and collaborative sensemaking. Where This Investigation Fits into the Storyline Before using this investigation, the class should have completed OpenSciEd lesson parts 1–7. During these earlier portions of the lesson, students observed light interacting with three different materials: glass, a mirror, and a one-way mirror. They noticed that all of the materials reflected light, but that glass and one-way mirrors also transmitted some light. Then, they wrote and refined an experimental question that would help them quantify the amount of light reflected and transmitted by each material. When to Use Tuva Day 2 Complete Parts 6–7, Navigation and Refine Our Experimental Question, outside of Tuva. Before beginning Part 8, have them pull Tuva up on their computers. Have students work through the investigation planning questions on Tuva Step 1 as a whole class. (The OpenSciEd Teacher Edition provides guidance for leading this discussion.) Between Tuva Step 1 and Step 2, pause to demonstrate how to use the light sensor and how to set up the lab. (Use pages 22-24 of the teacher edition for facilitation tips.) After making predictions, students will collect data with a light sensor. They will enter that data into a digital data table, create a data visualization of their own data, and note any patterns At the end of the day, students should add their data to the group data chart. Day 3 Start offline with Part 10, Navigation. Then, have students get back onto Tuva for Part 11. They will analyze both the class's tabular data and a graph with sample data. What Happens Next Afterwards, in Part 12, the Consensus Discussion, students can use data visualizations they have created to communicate about patterns they noticed. Updating the progress tracker and navigating to the next lesson will happen externally.
You just finished working together to write an experimental question about how light interacts with a mirror, a one-way mirror, and glass. Now, you will have an opportunity to plan and carry out an experiment to pursue that question. You will measure the amount of light that is transmitted and reflected by each material. Then you will create graphs that will help you analyze your experimental data. [--- Remember: transmit- to pass through reflect- to bounce off of ---] {alert-vocabulary} Click Next to get started.
Topics and standards: Physical Science, MS-LS1-8, MS-PS4-2, Grade 6, OpenSciEd, 3.1.6-8.H, 3.2.6-8.R