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Collection of Reviewed Teaching Resources

The science of rainbows

Subject taught
- Math
- Physics

Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pYnC-ONdXQ

Type of Product
- Videos

Language Skills Developed
- Interaction
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing

Transferable/Scientific Skills Developed
To observe and to understand why this physic phenomenon happens and which laws govern it.

Description
• The general aims are to develop the observation skills .
To acquire and interpret information in a critical way.
To communicate and to understand different languages (daily, technical, literary, scientific) and to use them in different contexts.
• The linguistic aims are to teach students a correct scientific language . They will have to read or to watch and to understand a scientific article or video. They will have to use a correct language when they explain a scientific topic.
• The specific aims are to stimulate the curiosity of the students in order to introduce : the two laws of physics: refraction and reflection of the light, the composition of the solar light as a sum of electromagnetic waves with different frequencies, the light as a minimal part of electromagnetic waves: from radio waves to gamma rays.
• The target group age is 16 /18
• Level of competence in English is B1/B2.
• The time required to use the resource with the students is about three hours: ten minutes to watch the video for the first time , about one hour to review it, it can be stopped when necessary : when the students ask questions or when the teacher wants to focus on a particular topic. The rest of the time will be spent to formalise these new specific notions.
• This video is a simple and amusing way to explain the rainbow phenomenon as an application of physical laws.
If the teacher has previously had some lessons about the waves (elastic waves) and he has already explained the characteristics: period, wavelength, frequency, speed, and so on, he can use this video to introduce the light as a particular wave ( sum of electromagnetic waves) and see that this wave acts like the other waves. It is easier to explain the refraction and reflexion laws using the light because students can see and verify these easily. The teacher can explain the two laws and then make a connection with elastic waves .

• Normally students do not have any problem to understand the composition of the light and these laws

Comments
• Strength and Weakness: This video is very attractive and intuitive, the language is simple, but some concepts are omitted or discussed in a very superficial way. But this weakness can be used as a way to elicit the consideration and the questions of the students. The students, assisted by the teacher, will try to complete the topic in all its parts. • Scientific reliability: it isn’t complete, but it is correct. • Pedagogical value: collaborative learning and self–directed learning are used in this lesson. Only a little part is a frontal lesson, but it is necessary to fix the notions and to rearrange the ideas.

Related Video Lessons

Trick of The Light 1: Rainbows