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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Radiation Reassessed

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate the dangers of radiation by exploring recent nuclear tragedies.  In this scientific debate instructional activity, students define the idea of radiation "half life" and determine if low doses of radiation are truly...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) Measurements

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students calculate the amount of solar radiation hitting the ground at their school compared to the solar constant. They also repeat the experiment at a water testing site and utilize a light probe to measure the light being reflected...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun: Earth's External Heat Engine Part 1 of the Astronomy Model

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students become familiar with the variables that control Earth's solar energy supply. They explore the source and nature of solar energy, the genesis of radiation, and the structrue of the Sun, gas spectra are observed and sample...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Radioactive Decay and Half-Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe how the mass of a radioactive isotope changes with time and the factors that affect the rate of radioactive decay. They write nuclear decay equations to represent natural transmutation. This activity is accomplished...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: You're in Hot Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study different ways of using solar energy. They design a solar water heater and determine how much water it can heat in a set amount of time. They examine how the heaters work by solar radiation and convection.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photosynthetically Available Radiation (PAR) Measurements Part 1: Calculating the Solar Constant using a TI-8

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders are introduced to the term Photosynthetically Available Radiation. In groups, they participate in an experiment to determine how ecosystems survive the conditions in the Arctic. They calculate the amount of solar energy...
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Activity
It's About Time

Exploring Energy Resource Concepts

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Please turn off the lights to conserve energy. Or not, after all energy is always conserved. This first lesson in an eight-part series includes three parts. Part A contains one hands-on activity and two inquiry-based experiments on heat...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Suncsreen

For Teachers 4th - 7th
This is a terrific resource for practicing the scientific method or for examining the claims of different sunscreens when learning about electromagnetic radiation. You may have to improvise, however, as it was written to accompany a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Wars Activity

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate radiant energy by completing discrepant events and identify various temperature changes through absorption and how radiant energy can be used for solar panels. They experiment with different color fabrics in order...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Radiation Affect You?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the use and misuse of radiation. They examine human activities that add to the exposure of radiation. They also discover how it can be useful in saving lives.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Radiation is Around You?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine the use, misuse and fear of radiation. They read an article about radiation on food and discuss the positives and negatives of this process. They answer questions to complete the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Biology Through Problem-based Activities

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students plant seeds and observe the life cycle of the organism. They experimentally research the effects of radiation on seed growth. Students determine the effects of environmental pollutants on harvested seed.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Collecting Electromagnetic Radiation

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students using different experiments and activities explore electromagnetic radiation and the effect on the Earth.
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Activity
Colorado State University

How Do Long and Short EM Waves Interact with the Earth's Atmosphere?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Things are about to heat up in your classroom! A kinesthetic lesson asks learners to play the part of the gases in the earth's atmosphere and interact with the sun's radiation. The focus is to learn the impact of the increasing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun: Earth's External Heat Engine - Part 1 of the Astronomy Model

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Designed by School Power...NaturallySM, this lesson familiarizes advanced earth science and physics learners about the variables that affect our supply of solar energy. They examine gas spectra and perform calculations. There is an...
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Lesson Plan
Florida International University

Simulating Microgravity with Buoyancy

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How do astronauts know how to live and work in a weightless environment? It doesn't come naturally! Junior physicists conduct experiments to examine the link between buoyancy and microgravity. Each activity illustrates a different aspect...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fluorescence

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Here are some instructions for leading learners through a hands-on activity for investigating ultraviolet radiation. First, introduce them to light and refraction. Then introduce them to the electromagnetic spectrum. Finally, give...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Photons in the Radiative Zone: Which Way Is Out? An A-Maz-ing Model

For Students 9th - 12th
Can you move like a photon? Young scholars use a maze to reproduce the straight line motion of a photon. The second in a six-part series of lessons on the sun has learners measure angle of incidence and refraction to determine the path...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light and Elements

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Here is a full-fledged investigation of light waves, the electromagnetic spectrum, and element spectra. Physicists research a scientist that contributed to our understanding of the behavior of light. They take notes on your lecture, and...
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Lab Resource
Colorado State University

How Can You Demonstrate the Different Efficiencies of Different Light Bulbs?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Need a bright idea for an engaging lab? Watch your class light up as they explore the difference in efficiency between incandescent and LED bulbs! The resource makes use of simple materials and encourages learners to infer what's...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bing! Bang! Boom!

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate heat energy, conduction, convection, and radiation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Anatomy and Physiology

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore anatomy and physiology using various activities. In this biology lesson, students reasearch about medical radiation and its applications. They study cell cycle, cell division and other processes that sustain life.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Cooking

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students complete a solar radiation activity. In this solar radiation lesson plan, students complete an experiment to learn about solar radiation. Students make solar tea by using the energy of the Sun to brew tea.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Radiation Budget

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore the Earth's radiation budget using Earth radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) data archived at the IRI/LDEO Climate Data Library. They use photometers and light sources to work through several hands-on activities...