3. Looking Beyond: Portable Light Redirection
Learners design portable light redirection systems to gather data from a distance.
Guiding Question
How can we use a system to redirect light to gather data from a distance?
Activity TimingSetup: Prep Time 30 min
- Create a sample light redirection system.
- Create a tactile light redirection system model.
- Set up Materials Table.
*See Materials & Preparation in the Educator Guide linked above for full info.
21st Century Skills
- Critical Thinking
Habits of Mind
- Use systems thinking.
- Investigate properties and uses of materials.
Learners Will Do
- Design portable mirror systems and use the systems to see around obstacles.
Learners Will Know
- Engineers can combine technologies into a system.
Connecting Across Activities
- Activity 2: Investigating Light: Last time, learners investigated how light travels and how mirrors can redirect light to gather data from a distance.
- Activity 3: Redirecting Light: Today, they design portable light redirection systems. These systems are one technology they can use when designing their complete remote sensing technologies.
- Activity 4: Finding Minerals: Next time, they will explore the properties of filters and scrapers to gather more data, specifically about minerals.
Related Videos
Level Up!
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Help learners understand the concept of remote sensing technologies by showing the videos Remote Sensing and How is Light Used in Remote Sensing.
- Have learners explore the inside of their light redirection systems by dropping a small ball in one end and noticing what they see, hear, or feel as it travels through the system and comes out the other end. (5 min.)
- Refer to the Engineering Design Process poster (PDF). Ask: What steps of the Engineering Design Process did you use today? (Identify and Investigate. Learners may also describe how they improved on their first mirror setup to create a connected light redirection system.) (5 min.)
