In this activity, students will look at how some of these different EM waves were discovered. They will create a narrative storyboard of how the discovery was made. This activity will get your students hooked on learning about some of the great stories about scientific discovery. Allowing them to select which part of the EM spectrum they want to research will allow them to take ownership over their work.
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Student Instructions
Retell the story of how one part of the EM spectrum was discovered using a narrative storyboard.
Encourage students to critically analyze scientific breakthroughs by organizing a classroom debate about which electromagnetic spectrum discovery had the biggest impact. This approach fosters engagement, deepens understanding, and builds communication skills.
Group your class so each pair or team researches one EM spectrum discovery, ensuring a variety of perspectives. Collaboration helps students learn from one another and strengthens research skills.
Ask each group to find evidence explaining why their assigned discovery was important. Encourage use of facts, historical context, and real-world applications in their arguments.
Explain the debate format, including time limits, speaking order, and respectful language. Assign roles such as speakers, note takers, and timekeepers to keep the debate organized and fair.
Lead the discussion, ensuring every group presents and responds. Afterward, invite students to reflect on what they learned and how their opinions may have changed about the most impactful EM discovery.
A narrative storyboard is a visual sequence of images and captions that retells the story of how a specific part of the electromagnetic spectrum was discovered. It helps students visualize and understand the scientific process and the people behind key discoveries.
Students can research EM spectrum discoveries by selecting a type of EM wave, identifying its discoverer (such as Herschel for infrared), and reading credible sources. Encouraging ownership and using engaging resources like videos or biographies makes research more effective.
Key discoveries include William Herschel and infrared, Johann Ritter and ultraviolet, Wilhelm Röntgen and X-rays, Paul Villard and gamma rays, and Isaac Newton’s work with colored light. Each represents a major advancement in our understanding of light and energy.
Allowing students to choose which EM wave to research increases engagement and personal investment. It fosters curiosity, encourages deeper learning, and helps students take ownership of their educational experience.
Teachers should: 1) Ask students to pick an EM wave, 2) Guide research on its discovery, 3) Support storyboard creation with clear instructions, and 4) Encourage adding descriptive captions to explain each illustration in the storyboard.