Remote sensing and the electromagnetic spectrum
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/education/reef_remote_sensing.html
A lesson plan for grade 6 Science
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Students have seen rainbows in the sky, on a soap bubble, or even from the spray of a garden hose. They should already possess an understanding that white light is the combination of all colors of the spectrum. In addition, students should already know that the climate is warmest around the equator and coolest around the poles.
In this first lesson in the Remote Sensing and Coral Reefs curriculum from NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch Program, which is written by Margaret “Peggy” Koenig, students will learn that energy from the Sun can be measured with a thermometer, and that there is measurable energy beyond the visible spectrum, specifically, the ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. From these realizations, students will have the foundation of knowledge to help understand how satellites measure sea surface temperature from space.
The lessons in this unit are designed to be taught in sequence, however, many of the activities are suited to teaching in isolation. This science unit is appropriate for grades four through six. Some concepts tend to be abstract, so depending on students’ ability and background knowledge, this unit might be more suitable in a gifted and talented setting. The curriculum includes the following lesson plans:
- Remote Sensing and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Altimetry
- Phytoplankton and Ocean Color
- Introduction to Coral Reefs
- Symbiosis and Coral Anatomy
- Sea Surface Temperature and Coral Bleaching
- Conservation
The lesson plans and PowerPoint presentations are available for download. Users may choose a zipfile of the entire curriculum, or individual lesson plans. All files are PDF, unless otherwise indicated.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 6
- Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
- Explain observations.
- Make inferences and predictions.
- Develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
- Goal 6: The learner will conduct investigations and examine models and devices to build an understanding of the characteristics of energy transfer and/or transformation.
- Objective 6.05: Analyze the physical interactions of light and matter:
- Absorption.
- Scattering.
- Color perception.
- Form and function of the human eye.
- Objective 6.05: Analyze the physical interactions of light and matter:
