Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution |Published on: June 7, 2022
Worksheets Grades 6-8
Synopsis
In this brief experiment, students will learn about infrared energy, the electromagnetic spectrum, and test different materials for their capacity to transmit or block infrared energy.
Students can begin to develop an understanding of material choices in engineering and design projects and connect it to the electromagnetic spectrum, heat energy, and insulation.
This worksheet provides common examples of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and photos to support understanding.
This experiment could easily be expanded to include many other classroom materials.
Additional Prerequisites
Although the worksheet introduces the electromagnetic spectrum, it may help students to introduce this concept beforehand.
Materials needed for the activity include an infrared camera, picture frames, and sheets of black and clear plastic.
Differentiation
This is a great resource to use as part of a physics unit about electromagnetic radiation or a biology lesson about photosynthesis, vision, metabolism, the greenhouse effect, or energy transfers between trophic levels.
Try connecting this activity with a discussion about how this concept is connected to global warming using the following guiding questions: which materials on Earth reflect or absorb infrared energy and what is the resulting impact on our climate?
Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) is a national leader in Earth systems science education. They strive to help make sense of the present and potential future climate change, while also increasing understanding of global change in Earth’s past. Their programs focus on systems thinking, understanding scale and learning in your own backyard.