Electromagnetic Spectrum Lesson Plan – A Complete Science Lesson Using the 5E Method of Instruction

By the end of this comprehensive lesson plan about the electromagnetic spectrum, students will be able to explore how different the electromagnetic spectrum's different wavelengths are used to gain information about distance and properties of objects in the universe. Students will also learn how to properly to interpret the electromagnetic spectrum. Each of our lessons is designed using the 5E method of instruction to ensure maximum comprehension by the students. This well-thought out unit does the heavy lifting, giving teachers easy-to-implement, highly engaging lesson plans.

This blog will walk you through each of the steps and activities in the Electromagnetic Spectrum 5E Lesson Plan.

ENGAGEMENT

At the beginning of the lesson, the class will discuss the objectives and some of the relevant vocabulary using the included objective statements and word wall cards.

Afterwards, the engagement activity will continue with a Think-Pair-Share brainstorm activity. Students will look at a PDF with a number of quotes from astronomers. Students will then partner up to read and then summarize each quote. Finally, students will then answer questions on a sheet of paper. Once the teacher has done all this, they'll help to clear any up misconceptions their students may still have. A common but major misconception, for is example, is that there's more than one star within our solar system, or that isn't possible to determine the composition of far away stars.

Estimated Class Time for the Engagement: 20-30 minutes

EXPLORATION

With nine stations in total, you can introduce the electromagnetic spectrum to your middle school students in a variety of ways! Four of these stations are considered input stations where students will learn new information about the electromagnetic spectrum, and four of the stations are output stations where students will be demonstrating their mastery of the lesson's material. A bonus station offers challenges for your early finishers and independent learners. You can read more about how I set up the station labs here.

Watch It!

At this station, students will be watching a five-minute video about the electromagnetic spectrum. The video will explain to students how the spectrum works and the many different waves that we experience every single day. Students will then answer three questions related to the video and record their answers on their lab station sheet.

Read It!

This station will provide students with a one-page reading about the electromagnetic spectrum. Afterwards, students will be asked four questions about the reading about topics including vocabulary, alternate titles, fill in the blanks, and what kinds of waves eyes detect.

Explore It!

Students will be working in pairs to identify the full spectrum of two unknown stars. Students will identify the elements that make up each star and record their findings on their lab sheet.

Research It!

The research station will allow students to go online and watch an interactive presentation about the electromagnetic spectrum. Students will then be asked to answer two questions based on what they learned.

Organize It!

The Organize It station allows your students to use a manipulative to ensure their understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum. Students will use cards to match descriptions of wavelengths to correctly identify the wavelength.

Illustrate It!

Your visual students will love this station. Students will be sketching an electromagnetic spectrum and labeling the waves in the correct spots.

Write It!

Students who can answer open-ended questions about the lab truly understand the concepts that are being taught.  At this station the students will be answering three questions, like describing low and high-frequency wavelengths, defining vocabulary in their own words, describing how scientists use the electromagnetic spectrum to find properties of distant stars.

Assess It!

The Assess It station is where students will go to prove mastery over the concepts they learned in the lab.  The questions are set up in a standardized format with multiple choice answers.  Some questions will ask students to compare wavelengths, frequencies, and why scientists use them.

Challenge It! - Bonus Station

Early finishers and advanced students will love the extension activities in this station. Four activity choices offer them ways to expand their learning through mini-games and mini-projects.

Estimated Class Time for the Exploration: One or two 45-minute class periods

EXPLANATION

The explanation activities will become much more engaging for your class once they’ve completed the exploration station lab. During the explanation piece of the lesson, the teacher will be clearing up any misconceptions their students may have about the electromagnetic spectrum with a variety of materials. These materials include on-level and modified versions of the interactive presentation (may be used individually or projected), anchor charts, and paper or digital interactive notebook activities. If you have students that need modified notes, the 5E lessons come equipped to help give every student access to the lesson.

Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: Two or three 45-minute class periods (can also be used as an at-home project)

EVALUATION

The final piece of the 5E model is to evaluate your students' comprehension. Included in every 5E lesson is a homework assignment, assessment, and modified assessment. Research has shown that homework needs to be meaningful and applicable to real-world activities in order to be effective. When possible, I like to give open-ended assessments to truly gauge the student’s comprehension.

Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: One 45-minute class period

DOWNLOAD THE FULL LESSON NOW