Light and Phases of the Moon Module

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Light and Phases of the Moon Module

• Jenifer Perazzo
• Science Specialist
• Pleasanton Unified School District

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Appreciation

• Dr. Carl Pennypacker, Lawrence Berkeley
  Laboratory
• IISME Teacher Program
• Center for Science Engineering Education
• Bellevue School District
• Bill Melinda Gates Foundation
• Pleasanton Unified School District

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Overview

• Research Development
• Curriculum
• Piloting Process New Discoveries
• Global Science Education- HOU
• Future Plans

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Research

• The theories children build, whether they are
  right or wrong, are not capricious. They are
  often logical and rational, and firmly based in
  evidence and experience.
• (Inquiry Thoughts, Views, and Strategies for the
  K-5 Classroom. National Science Foundation. )

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Preconceptions

• Preconceived notions, non-scientific beliefs,
  naive theories, mixed conceptions, intelligent
  wrong answers, or conceptual misunderstandings.
• Children do not want to give up the concepts and
  theories they work so hard to make.
• (Inquiry Thoughts, Views, and Strategies for the
  K-5 Classroom. National Science Foundation.)

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Preconception of Light

• A shadow is something that exists on its own.
  Light pushes the shadow away from the object to
  the wall or the ground and is thought of as a
  "dark " reflection of the object.
• The phases of the moon are caused by shadows cast
  on its surface by other objects in the solar
  system.
• (Operation Physics Elementary/middle school
  physics education outreach project of the
  American Institute of Physics.)
• Where Does the Old Moon Go When We Get a New
  One?
• (Vision (1974 Agathon Press), David Hawkins,
  philosopher of science and director of the
  Elementary Science Study (ESS))

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Development of Unit

• Big Picture
• Pedagogical Sequencing
• Prediction (individual)
• Group (adjustments)
• Class (adjustments)
• Testing
• Compare/Contrast
• Conclusion/Communication
• Claim, Evidence, Reasoning
• Next Step??

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Light and Phases of the Moon

• Overview
• QuickCams and SalsaJ image processing to explain
  the phases of the moon.
• Use of manipulatives to orchestrate the position
  of the Earth, Moon and Sun during a particular
  phase.
• Laser tests conquers the properties of light
• Light interacts with matter that allows us to
  see
• Light Scatters in many different directions
• Function of the eye and relating it to the
  QuickCam

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Investigation 1.1 How does light travel from a
laser pointer to your eye?

• Objective Light comes from a source and travels
  to our eyes.

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Investigation 1.1 Class Prediction
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Investigation 1.1 Sample Conclusion
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Investigation 1.2 How does light travel from a
laser pointer to your eye, after interacting with
matter?

• Objective Light scattering off matter allowing
  us to see.

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Investigation 1.2Class Prediction
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Investigation 2.1 How does a QuickCam capture an
image?

• Objective QuickCam is a devise that captures
  light, like the eye, and
• displays it as pixels.

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Investigation 2.1Sample Prediction
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Investigation 2.2 How does SalsaJ analyze light
from an image?

• Objective SalsaJ extracts the data from image
  pixels and converts it into a graph allowing for
  analysis.

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Investigation 2.2Sample Predictions
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Investigation 2.3 How will the laser light graph
in Salsa J?

• Objective To measure light scattered from the
  laser.

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Investigation 3.1 How does studying light helps
us understand the Phases of the Moon?

• Objective Understanding the properties of light
  allow us to correctly predict the position of the
  Earth, Moon and Sun during a particular phase.

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Investigation 3.1- Moon Phase Results
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Oreo Cookie Moon Phases!!

• Objective Extension lesson
• Yummy!

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Overall Findings

• Children find it extremely difficult to give up
  their previous understandings the universe.
• These beliefs are then molded by what their
  culture tells them about the earth moon and
  stars.
• This process can often times lead to naïve
  models in the science.
• (Taking Science to School, National Research
  Council, 2007.
• Uncomfortable with not having the answers by
  the end of the class.

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Future Plans

• Develop pre/post assessments for unit
• Bellevue Teacher Professional Development
• Advancing my own personal and professional life
  through obtaining a higher degree
• Develop a primitive unit for 3rd grade based on
  Light Energy

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The Big Bang!!