Looking at worksheets and activity sheetsThere are plenty of Physics worksheets available, for example, in published schemes and on the TES website. However, you need to look critically at other people’s creations. What works for one teacher and one class won’t necessarily work for others.

So you need to evaluate a worksheet before using it and modify it accordingly. Alternatively, you may wish to write your own worksheet from scratch.

The table below gives some criteria you can bring to bear when evaluating worksheets and writing your own. These are all things to think about; some will be more relevant than others in any particular circumstance.

terminology what it’s all about

topic Physics subject matter: concepts, working scientifically

Some worksheets are likely to focus primarily on Physics ideas but others will cover aspects of Working Scientifically.

age and ability Your class: what do you know about them? Past and future, range.

This is probably the most important aspect – don’t be tempted to imagine that it’s enough to get the Physics right. You have to match your presentation of the Physics to the abilities of your class.

motivation and engagement How to interest the class at the start and during the activity. Why would they want to do this activity?

Some classes will accept any task you give them, but others need to feel that there is some purpose in the activity that is relevant to them, other than ‘doing better in exams’.

context Increase motivation by showing how the ideas relate to what students already know and to the real world.

activity How will students interact with your material? And with each other and with you?

Looking at a range of worksheets from different sources will help you to expand your repertoire of activity types.

scaffolding Provide support at the start, build up demand by reducing support so that they have to use what they have learned.

In practice, you may deliver some of the support when you introduce the task and when you move around the class, talking to individuals or groups.

gradient/ramping Similar to scaffolding, building up demand within the activity.

open and closed questions Is this a closed question? Yes.

Can you give an example of an open question?

Open questions are especially important in the development of ideas and students’ responses will help you to understand their thinking.

formative and summative Formative assessment allows you and your students to check their progress, perhaps change direction or rate of progress.

Summative is generally easier, at the end.

If an activity involves students interacting with each other, they will get a lot of valuable feedback from their fellow students as they go along.

language You can find ways of reducing the language demand of an exercise, which may get in the way of progress in understanding.

But ultimately students need to express their ideas clearly using abstract ways of writing.

Don’t be tempted to replace correct scientific terminology by everyday language. For example, don’t say ‘electricity in the wires’ when you mean ‘current’.

output What will they produce? Will they ever want to look at their written work again?

It’s more satisfying to end up with, say, a nicely illustrated poster than with a list of one-word answers to a question sheet which they no longer have.

additional resources Is everything required provided in the worksheet? Will you provide everything necessary? Or will students have to find things for themselves?

The pages which follow consist of seven worksheets related to the electromagnetic spectrum, collected from the TES website. They show a range of teaching approaches; all have some good points, but they could all benefit from adaptation for use with a particular class.

Is it Safe Starter Electromagnetic Spectrum

Read the following statements. For each one say if it is ……… True / Partly True / False

1. Infra red radiation can kill you?

2. Infra red radiation is used to keep food warm?

3. X-rays can kill you?

4. X-rays can be detected using photographic plates?

5. Microwaves are only used to cook food?

6. Microwaves can be detected using a microwave detector?

7. Radio waves are the most dangerous wave in the electromagnetic spectrum?

8. Microwaves and radio waves are used for communication?

9. Visible light is detected by the human eye?

10. The human eye can detect Gamma rays?

Is it Safe Starter Radiation

Read the following statements. For each one say if it is ……… True / Partly True / False

1. Radiation is all around us?

2. Ancient rocks emit radiation?

3. Radioactivity is when a substance emits or gives off alpha, beta or gamma radiation?

4. Coal is slightly radioactive?

5. Small doses of gamma radiation can be used to treat cancers?

6. Gamma radiation can be used to kill cells?

7. The symbol in the top right corner is the symbol for radiation?

8. Smoke detectors emit radiation?

9. Carbon dating relies on the use of radioactive materials?

10. Gamma rays arrive from the Sun?

Electromagnetic spectrum

Complete the table below by matching the types of radiation with its effect on living tissue and its use.

Type of radiation Effects on living tissue

Used for…

Gamma High doses can kill living cells.Lower doses can cause cancer in cells

Treating tumoursSterilising hospital equipment.

X-Ray

UV Fluorescent tubesSecurity marking

Visible

Infrared

Microwave Heating of water in tissues can cause burning

Satellite communication.Cooking

Radio

Creating images of the inside of the body

High doses can kill living cells. Lower doses can cause cancer

CommunicationRADAR Probably

none

Causes burning of tissues

High doses can kill living cells.Lower doses can cause cancer.

SeeingOptical fibres and communications

Activates sensitive cells in the retina.

Remote controls and thermal imaging

EM Word loop – a series of cards

A. Use lots of sun-blockQ. What kind of rays are used

to show broken bones?

A. X-rays

Q. I am used to cook food

A. Microwaves

Q. Which kind of rays can cause skin cancer?

A. Ultra Violet Rays

Q. Which kind of rays are usedto work remote controls?

A. Infra red rays

Q. Which rays enable us to see?

A. Visible light

Q. What transfers energy from one place to another?

A. Electromagnetic waves

Q. Which rays carry the highest energy?

A. Gamma rays

Q. Electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of...?

A. Light

Q. Which material can be used to protect people from gamma rays?

+ more cards

To know names of transverse waves

<Part of a sequence of activities presented using Powerpoint>

Wave uses quick quiz

1. Radio and gamma waves are example of what type of waves?

2. What is meant by the critical angle?

3. What is meant by total internal reflection?

4. Give one place where total internal reflection may occur?

5. What are the two types of seismic wave?

6. Which electromagnetic wave has the most energy?

7. At what speed do all electromagnetic wave travels in a vacuums?

8. What happens to the speed light when it enters water?

9. What properties of radio waves makes then suitable for sending signals in

mountainous regions?

10. What word describes waves which have enough energy to change an atom?

11. Which e-m waves have the highest energy?

12. Which 2 types of e-m wave are used for cooking?

13. What region of the of e-m spectrum can our eyes detect?

14. Which forms of e-m radiation are ionising?

15. What can be an effect of long term exposure to e-m radiation?

16. What are two uses of gamma rays?

Medical History for Mrs R. Jones

Mrs Jones was admitted to hospital with shortness of breath.

After carrying out various tests, Dr Adams suspected she may have lung cancer so an x-ray was carried out.

The picture below shows Mrs Jones’ x-ray, identifying her lung tumour.

To find out more accurately the location of the tumour, Dr Adams carried out a CT scan.

It was decided that Mrs Jones would be a suitable candidate for radiation therapy. This process uses gamma rays to destroy cancer cells.

YOUR TASK

Imagine you are a radiographer.One of your elderly patients, Mrs Jones, has to have a lot of treatment recently and is worried that the amount of radiation could be dangerous.

Write a letter to your patient to explain:C - How x-rays workB - Why x-rays are more suitable for this process than other types of radiationA - How cancer is treated using radiationA* - Decide whether your patient is in danger of radiation poisoning from their treatment and why/why not

You should be able to complete most of these questions using your own knowledge and the information available on Moodle.

You can also use this animation to find out more about radiotherapy:http:// www.insidestory.iop.org/insidestory_flash1.html