Teacher's Guide

What's in a Wave?

 Scenario

 You have a job working for the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulating the
wave frequencies used by wireless businesses and radio stations. A new telecommunications
firm wants to purchase the exclusive right to use a specific frequency for wireless telephones. You must determine what wave frequency you would assign the new company.

In previous science courses you have learned that color appears as visible waves of light
in the form of a rainbow (ie., orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet). This is only
one section of the electromagnetic spectrum. Other sections of the spectrum include
gamma rays and microwaves.

For background information about the FCC and the spectrum see the article below.
http://www.fcc.gov/spectrum/

Task and Product

Working in small groups, you will use the Understanding Electromagnetic Spectrum activity
sheet to complete the basic research. You will then use Inspiration or Microsoft Word to
create a graphic organizer containing definitions and examples of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum highlighting the wave section for the new telecommunications company. The final product will be to complete a BCR addressing the essential question below.

Use the pre-reading vocabulary handout to prepare for the research process.
Pre- Reading Vocabulary Handout

Use the following handouts for library research.
Understanding the Electromagnetic Spectrum and Graphic Organizer Directions

Use the following handout for your final product.
Final Product - Brief Constructed Response

You may also consider using VoiceThread or making a Podcast or Wiki webpage as an alterntive to a BCR.

Teacher note: To facilitate the collaborative nature of this project, consider creating a project-based wiki or using another collaborative Web 2.0 tool (VoiceThread, MindMeister, Groupsite.com, etc.) to use as a workspace. For further help/suggestions, see your Library Media Specialist or visit http://bcpslibraryinformationservices.pbworks.com/

Assessments

Question

Essential Question:

How has the revolution of wireless communication impacted
FCC regulations and other commercial industries?


Subsidiary questions:

  • What are some of the economic impacts of the FCC?
  • What types of waves are found in the electromagnetic spectrum?
  • How are these waves used in the real world?
  • Explain the connection between frequency and wavelength.

Gather, Sort and Cite

Gather information from a variety of sources.

Sort your findings using a graphic organizer, note cards, outline, word document, or other form for recording your research.

Cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

 

Organize

Analyze your completed project.

  • Have you completed the prereading vocabulary activity?
  • Have you adequately completed the Electromagnetic Spectrum activity?
  • Have you adequately completed the graphic organizer?

Synthesize your findings.

  • What new insights have emerged?
  • How will you incorporate the most important aspects of your research
    into your extended response?

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.

  • Have you gathered sufficient details about the electromagnetic spectrum
    in order to create your graphic organizer and assign a wavelength?
  • Is your research reflected in the graphic organizer?
  • Is your research evident in the final product?

Conclusion

Each group will turn in its completed graphic organizer, electromagnetic
spectrum acitivity sheet, and the extended response to their teacher. The
teacher may choose to have students present highlights of their project to
the class.

  • Reflection

    Describe how other types of electronic industries would be affected
    by the FCC assignments and regulations.
    What sources were helpful and why?
  • Extension

    As an extension students can examine how spectroscopy is used to study
    stars and planets and determine spectral fingerprints.
    ( see Supernova Chemistry )