Lesson plan
Investigating UV Protective Materials
Students design and perform a research project to explore the effectiveness of UV-blocking material.
Overview
Students investigate how well materials block ultraviolet light. They begin with a KWL chart, videos on UV radiation and sunscreen, and demonstrations using UV flashlights and materials that react to UV. Groups then choose a variable, such as a sunscreen ingredient, brands with the same SPF, or exposure to water, wind, or sunlight, and design an experiment, measuring UV with beads or sensors. They record and graph results, write a conclusion and abstract on a research poster, and review other groups' posters in a gallery walk using a rubric.
Lesson Objectives
- Students design and perform a research project to explore the effectiveness of UV-blocking material.
Standards
NGSS · 3
- HS-PS4-1Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.
- MS-ETS1-2Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem
- HS-ETS1-2Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.