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Metaphorical Expression
Lesson Plan
Science
8
60 Minutes
Katlyn Allmon

Instructional Unit Content

Standard(s)/Element(s)
Content Area Standard
S8P4. Students will explore the wave nature of sound and electromagnetic radiation.
a. Identify the characteristics of electromagnetic and mechanical waves.
b. Describe how the behavior of light waves is manipulated causing reflection, refraction
diffraction, and absorption.
c. Explain how the human eye sees objects and colors in terms of wavelengths.
d. Describe how the behavior of waves is affected by medium (such as air, water, solids).
TAG Standard
Creative Thinking & Creative Problem Solving Skills
7. The student uses analogies, metaphors, and/or models to explain complex concepts.

Summary/Overview
The focus of this lesson is for students to explore the Electromagnetic Spectrum and the
characteristics of light waves and relate to the content through metaphorical expressions.

Enduring Understanding(s)
At the end of this lesson the student will understand that
a. Light waves can be transmitted, scattered, absorbed, reflected, diffracted or refracted.
b. The amount of energy and frequency inversely relates to the wavelength.
c. Traveling through different media affects how light is perceived.

Essential Question(s)
How does media impact light wave interactions? How can the understanding of the
arrangement of light waves on Electromagnetic Spectrum impact our everyday lives?

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Concept(s) to Maintain
Light energy travels in a traverse wave.
Light waves can travel through a vacuum.

Evidence of Learning
What students should know:
a. All light, both visible and invisible to the human eye falls into a scale known as the
Electromagnetic Spectrum.
b. Radiation does not need a medium in order to travel in waves and rays.
c. Light can diffract, refract, transmit and reflect depending upon the medium it encounters.

What students should be able to do:

a. uses direct analogies, personal analogies, and compressed conflicts to explain light wave
interactions and the order of the Electromagnetic Spectrum .
Suggested Vocabulary

transverse wave
frequency

amplitude

wavelength

energy

light wave

Electromagnetic Spectrum

transmission

particles

medium

vacuum

Procedure(s)

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Phase 1: Hook
1.

Students will participate in a Carousel Brainstorming Activity. Students will inspect the
question posed at each station, develop/record all ideas, and rotate to expand ideas at another
station. Review the three types of metaphorical expressions experienced by the students: direct
analogies, personal analogies, and compressed conflicts. Explain to the students that today in
science we are going to learn a new concept concerning the Electromagnetic Spectrum using
these three types of metaphors.

Phase 2: Examine the Content

Set the Scene: The instructor will ask what would happen if you bounced a ball in quick sand, jello,
water, asphalt, and space. Pose the Essential Question. How does media impact light wave

interactions? How can the understanding of the arrangement of light waves on

Electromagnetic Spectrum impact our everyday lives?
How is our essential question connected to our discussion of a ball being bounced on
multiple substances? Students will work individually to read a description of the Electromagnetic
Spectrum and complete the content organizer. Each student will pair up with another to compare
their answers and verify their understanding of the composition of the Electromagnetic Spectrum.

Phase 3: Analogies
Direct Analogy: Students will identify the similarities and differences between the
Electromagnetic Spectrum and a workout. In groups of 4 record how they are alike and different
using the visual organizer.
3. Personal Analogy: Students will compare themselves to a light wave. Individually record the
answers to the following questions:
How do you move from place to place?
What happens when you encounter particles in a solid, liquid or gas?
How are you perceived when you move from a gas to a solid?
How do you behave when there is an opaque, translucent, or transparent object?
How are you perceived when a color filter has been place in front of you?
How does energy affect your body?
Students will write a paragraph, poem, or song in the first person about their life as a light wave.
4. Compressed Conflict: Candidates will brainstorm antonyms of light waves in order to create
compressed conflict phrases.
2.

Phase 4: Synthesis Activity

5.

Candidates will generate another direct analogy by completing the following sentence:
Transmission of light is like ________. Give at least 5 reasons why transmission of light is like
the item in your sentence.

Summarizing Activity

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Exit Ticket: How does light wave interact with opaque, transparent and translucent
materials? Why is it important to have an understanding of the Electromagnetic
Spectrum?

Resource(s)
Anchor Text(s):
Electromagnetic Spectrum Content- Science Mission Directorate. "Introduction to The
Electromagnetic Spectrum" Mission:Science. 2010. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
18 Apr. 2015 http://missionscience.nasa.gov
/ems/01_intro.html
Workout Intensity Information- Exercise intensity by The Better Health Channel:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Exercise_intensity
Technology:
Workout Intensity Information website:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Exercise_intensity
Electromagnetic Spectrum Content website:
http://missionscience.nasa.gov/ems/01_intro.html
Handouts:
Handout 1: Mental Stretchers
Handout 2: Electromagnetic Spectrum Content
Handout 3: Content Organizer
Handout 4: Workout Intensity Information
Handout 5: Direct Analogy Organizer
Handout 6: Personal Analogy Organizer
Handout 7: Compressed Conflict Organizer
Handout 8: Synthesis Activity
Handout 9: Exit Ticket

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Mental Stretcher
Handout 1

How is a
grudge like
poverty?

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If creativity
were a
machine,
what would it
look like?
Draw your
idea below.
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If you were a
holiday, what
decoration
would best
match your
personality?
Why?
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How would
you feel if you
were a great
song that was
never heard?
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What are
some things
that are both
protected and
abused?

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Generate as
many ideas as
you can for
painful
positivity and
speedy
procrastinatio
n.
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10

Electromagnetic Spectrum Content

Handout 2

ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY
When you tune your radio, watch TV, send a text message, or pop popcorn in a microwave
oven, you are using electromagnetic energy. You depend on this energy every hour of every
day. Without it, the world you know could not exist.
Electromagnetic energy travels in waves and spans a broad spectrum from very long radio
waves to very short gamma rays. The human eye can only detect only a small portion of this
spectrum called visible light. A radio detects a different portion of the spectrum, and an x-ray
machine uses yet another portion. NASA's scientific instruments use the full range of the
electromagnetic spectrum to study the Earth, the solar system, and the universe beyond.

OUR PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE

Our Sun is a source of energy across the full spectrum, and its electromagnetic radiation
bombards our atmosphere constantly. However, the Earth's atmosphere protects us from
exposure to a range of higher energy waves that can be harmful to life. Gamma rays, x-rays,
and some ultraviolet waves are "ionizing," meaning these waves have such a high energy
that they can knock electrons out of atoms. Exposure to these high-energy waves can alter
atoms and molecules and cause damage to cells in organic matter. These changes to cells
can sometimes be helpful, as when radiation is used to kill cancer cells, and other times not,
as when we get sunburned.

ATMOSPHERIC WINDOWS

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Seeing Beyond our Atmosphere

NASA spacecraft, such as RHESSI, provide scientists with a unique vantage point, helping
them "see" at higher-energy wavelengths that are blocked by the Earth's protective
atmosphere.
Electromagnetic radiation is reflected or absorbed mainly by several gases in the Earth's
atmosphere, among the most important being water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone. Some
radiation, such as visible light, largely passes (is transmitted) through the atmosphere. These
regions of the spectrum with wavelengths that can pass through the atmosphere are referred
to as "atmospheric windows." Some microwaves can even pass through clouds, which make
them the best wavelength for transmitting satellite communication signals.
While our atmosphere is essential to protecting life on Earth and keeping the planet
habitable, it is not very helpful when it comes to studying sources of high-energy radiation in
space. Instruments have to be positioned above Earth's energy-absorbing atmosphere to
"see" higher energy and even some lower energy light sources such as quasars.
Light waves across the electromagnetic spectrum behave in similar ways. When a light wave
encounters an object, they are either transmitted, reflected, absorbed, refracted, polarized,
diffracted, or scattered depending on the composition of the object and the wavelength of the
light.
Specialized instruments onboard NASA spacecraft and airplanes collect data on how
electromagnetic waves behave when they interact with matter. These data can reveal the
physical and chemical composition of matter.

Reflection

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Reflection is when incident light (incoming light) hits an object and bounces off. Very smooth
surfaces such as mirrors reflect almost all incident light.
The color of an object is actually the wavelengths of the light reflected while all other
wavelengths are absorbed. Color, in this case, refers to the different wavelengths of light in
the visible light spectrum perceived by our eyes. The physical and chemical composition of
matter determines which wavelength (or color) is reflected.
This reflective behavior of light is used by lasers onboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter to map the surface of the Moon. The instrument measures the time it takes a laser
pulse to hit the surface and return. The longer the response time, the farther away the
surface and lower the elevation. A shorter response time means the surface is closer or
higher in elevation. In this image of the Moon's southern hemisphere, low elevations are
shown as purple and blue, and high elevations are shown in red and brown.

Credit: NASA/Goddard

Absorption

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Absorption occurs when photons from incident light hit atoms and molecules and cause them
to vibrate. The more an object's molecules move and vibrate, the hotter it becomes. This heat
is then emitted from the object as thermal energy.
Some objects, such as darker colored objects, absorb more incident light energy than others.
For example, black pavement absorbs most visible and UV energy and reflects very little,
while a light-colored concrete sidewalk reflects more energy than it absorbs. Thus, the black
pavement is hotter than the sidewalk on a hot summer day. Photons bounce around during
this absorption process and lose bits of energy to numerous molecules along the way. This
thermal energy then radiates in the form of longer wavelength infrared energy.
Thermal radiation from the energy-absorbing asphalt and roofs in a city can raise its surface
temperature by as much as 10 Celsius. The Landsat 7 satellite image below shows the city
of Atlanta as an island of heat compared to the surrounding area. Sometimes this warming of
air above cities can influence weather, which is called the "urban heat island" effect.

Credit: Marit Jentoft-Nilsen, based on Landsat-7 data.

Diffraction

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14

Diffraction is the bending and spreading of waves around an obstacle. It is most pronounced
when a light wave strikes an object with a size comparable to its own wavelength. An
instrument called a spectrometer uses diffraction to separate light into a range of
wavelengthsa spectrum. In the case of visible light, the separation of wavelengths through
diffraction results in a rainbow.
A spectrometer uses diffraction (and the subsequent interference) of light from slits or
gratings to separate wavelengths. Faint peaks of energy at specific wavelengths can then be
detected and recorded. A graph of these data is called a spectral signature. Patterns in a
spectral signature help scientists identify the physical condition and composition of stellar
and interstellar matter.
The graph below from the SPIRE infrared spectrometer onboard the ESA (European Space
Agency) Herschel space telescope reveals strong emission lines from carbon monoxide
(CO), atomic carbon, and ionized nitrogen in Galaxy M82.

Credit: ESA/NASA/JPL-Caltech

Scatter

Scattering occurs when light bounces off an object in a variety of directions. The amount of
scattering that takes place depends on the wavelength of the light and the size and structure
of the object.

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The sky appears blue because of this scattering behavior. Light at shorter wavelengthsblue
and violetis scattered by nitrogen and oxygen as it passes through the atmosphere. Longer
wavelengths of lightred and yellowtransmit through the atmosphere. This scattering of
light at shorter wavelengths illuminates the skies with light from the blue and violet end of the
visible spectrum. Even though violet is scattered more than blue, the sky looks blue to us
because our eyes are more sensitive to blue light.
Aerosols in the atmosphere can also scatter light. NASA's Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared
Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite can observe the scattering of laser
pulses to "see" the distributions of aerosols from sources such as dust storms and forest
fires. The image below shows a volcanic ash cloud drifting over Europe from an eruption of
Iceland's Eyjafjallajkull Volcano in 2010.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL, MISR Team

Refraction
Refraction is when light waves change direction as they pass from one medium to another.
Light travels slower in air than in a vacuum, and even slower in water. As light travels into a
different medium, the change in speed bends the light. Different wavelengths of light are
slowed at different rates, which causes them to bend at different angles. For example, when
the full spectrum of visible light travels through the glass of a prism, the wavelengths are
separated into the colors of the rainbow.

Content Organizer
Handout 3

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16

Workout Intensity Information

Handout 4
Exercise intensity refers to how hard your body is working during physical activity. Your
health and fitness goals, as well as your current level of fitness, will determine your ideal
exercise intensity.

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17

Typically, exercise intensity is described as low, moderate, or vigorous. For maximum

health benefits, the goal is to work hard, but not too hard, described as moderate-intensity
by the 'National Physical Activity Guidelines for Australians'. These guidelines
recommend that for good health, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity on most days. This is the same for women and men.

Measuring exercise intensity

There are varying ways to measure your exercise intensity to make sure your body is
getting the most out of every workout. You may need to experiment to find out which
method of measuring exercise intensity suits you best. Three different measurement
methods include:
Target heart rate
Talk test
Exertion rating scale.

Target heart rate

The human body has an in-built system to measure your exercise intensity your heart.
Your heart rate will increase in proportion to the intensity of your exercise. You can track
and guide your exercise intensity by calculating your Target Heart Rate (THR) range.
For moderate-intensity physical activity, a person's Target Heart Rate should be 50 to
70% of his or her maximum heart rate. This maximum rate is based on a person's age. An
estimate of a person's maximum heart rate can be calculated as 220 beats per minute
(bpm) minus your age. Because it is an estimate, use it with caution.
Keep your heart rate at the lower end of your recommended range if you are just starting
regular exercise. Gradually increase the intensity of your workouts as your fitness
improves. Also, your heart rate should stay in the lower ranges during warm-up and cooldown periods.
A heart rate monitor is an easy way to keep track of your heart rate while youre
exercising, or you can take your pulse (see below).

Medical advice
If you have a medical condition, are overweight, are aged over 40 years or havent
exercised in a long time, see your doctor for a medical check-up before starting any new
exercise program. Your heart rate target range may need to be professionally recalculated
to take your health and general fitness into account.

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Some medications can alter your heart rate response to exercise, so make sure you
discuss the medications you are taking and how they could affect your exercise plans
with your doctor. It may be necessary to use another option for monitoring exercise
intensity if you are taking certain medications.

Target heart rate chart

Age (years)

Target range (50 - 70% of maxHR) Heart beats per minute

20

100 - 140

25

98 - 137

30

95 - 133

35

93 - 130

40

90 - 126

45

88 - 123

50

85 - 119

55

83 - 116

60

80 - 112

65

78 - 109

Exertion rating scale

This method is based on observing your bodys physical signs during physical activity,
including increased heart rate, increased respiration or breathing rate, increased sweating,
and muscle fatigue. To keep within a moderate intensity, aim to experience the exercise
signs 37 in the chart below.
You can keep a diary of your exertion ratings to monitor your fitness progressions. As
you become fitter, the same activity will become easier and your exertion rating will
decrease. Then youll know its time to increase your effort.
Level Exertion

Physical signs

None

None

Minimal

None

Barely there

Sensation of movement

Moderate

Stronger sensation of movement

Somewhat hard Warmth or light sweating

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Hard

Sweating

Harder

Moderate sweating

Very hard

Moderate sweating, but can still

talk

Extremely hard Heavy sweating, can't talk

Maximum effort Very heavy sweating, can't talk

10

Maximum effort Exhaustion

Your bodys response to moderate intensity exercise normally includes:

Faster heart rate
Faster breathing
Feeling warmer
Slight swelling of the hands and feet
Mild to moderate perspiration
Mild muscular aches for a day or two afterwards, if you are not used to the
physical activity.
Becoming aware of the intensity of your exercise will help you to ensure that you
exercise at the right intensity to achieve your health or fitness goals. For maximum health
benefits, you should aim for moderate-intensity activity.

Direct Analogy Organizer

Handout 5

How is
The EM Spectrum

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Like
A Workout Routine

20

How are they not alike?

Personal Analogy
Handout 6
Personal Analogy
Light Wave
Pretend that you are a particle involved in heat transfer and answer the
following questions as if you were that particle.

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How do you move from place to

place?

What happens when you encounter

particles in a solid, liquid or gas?

How are you perceived when you

move from a gas to a solid?

How do you behave when there is an

opaque, translucent, or transparent
object?

How are you perceived when a color

filter has been place in front of you?

How does energy affect your body?

Write a paragraph, poem, or song in first person about your experience as a

light wave.

Compressed Conflict
Handout 7
Compressed Conflict
Light Waves Answers

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List five important words to describe

Light Waves.

List antonyms for each word to the

left.

1. Absorb

Reflect

2. particles

Vacuum

3. transmit

block

4. constructive

destructive

5. ultra(violet)

infra(red)

Review your original list and its antonyms. Do any of the pairs of words seem
to fight each other but still describe light waves? Create three Compressed
Conflicts

Synthesis Activity
Handout 8

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Synthesis
Activity
Transmission of light is
like _______________. Give at
least 5 reasons why
transmission of light is
like the item in the
sentence.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Ticket out of The Door

Handout 9

Ticket out of the Door

Directions: Answer the questions below in full sentences.
1. How does light wave interact with opaque, transparent and
translucent materials?

2. Why is it important to have an understanding of the

Electromagnetic Spectrum?

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