Infrared Yellowstone Lesson 1
The Invisible Yellowstone National Park

II. GETTING READY

Pre-requisite Skills for Learners:

Your learners should have the following skills in order to participate efficiently and smoothly in this lesson:

Pre-requisite Content Knowledge for Learners:

Prior to this lesson, learners should be familiar with the following concepts:

Common Misconceptions:

Misconception: The spectrum of electromagnetic radiation consists of only visible light.
Reality: The electromagnetic spectrum consists of: radio, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-rays and gamma rays, listed from lowest energy to highest energy (also longest wavelength to shortest wavelength). The visible spectrum is a very tiny slice of the whole electromagnetic spectrum.

Misconception: All radiation is harmful.
Reality: All components of the electromagnetic spectrum are considered radiation but only the most energetic, ionizing radiation is harmful (x-rays and gamma rays). Radiation with wavelength equal to or longer than visible light is considered harmless (radio, infrared, and visible light). Ultraviolet light can cause damage to a person's skin but it is not considered ionizing.

Misconception: Heat and Temperature are the same thing.
Reality: Heat and temperature are related to each other, but are different concepts. Heat is the energy an object has because of the motion of its atoms and molecules. Temperature is a measure of the average heat or thermal energy of the particles in a substance. Temperature is not energy, but a measure of it. Heat is energy.

Preparation Work for the Instructor:

1. Print out and make laminated copies of the infrared and visible images from

Each learning group will need its own complete set of Old Faithful infrared and visible images. Note that the infrared and visible images are given out at different times during the activity, so have them separated. Additionally, make color transparencies of this Old Faithful image set or have available a computer and projector.

2. Print out and make laminated copies of the infrared and visible images from:

Each person in each learning group will need their own complete series of infrared and visible images of the particular geothermal feature their group was assigned. For example: there are 3 features: Mudpots, Hot Springs, and Hot Spring Terraces. You will divide the class into small groups and assign each group a feature. Each person in a group will need their own complete image series (Mudpot series (Image Set 2), Hot Spring Series (Image Set 3), Hot Spring Terraces series (Image Set 4) for their feature. If you have 24 students you can make 6 small groups of 4 students each. You will then have 2 Mudpot groups, 2 Hot Spring groups, and 2 Hot Spring Terraces groups. Therefore, you will need to print out 8 Mudpot series, 8 Hot Spring series, and 8 Hot Spring Terraces series.

3. Print out and make copies of Observation Log A, Observation Log B, and Observation Log C. You will find these worksheets in Section VI. Worksheets:

Each learning group will receive one each of Observation Log A and Observation Log B. Each learner will receive an Observation Log C.

4. Prepare the Exploring Infrared Imaging lesson which can be found on the lesson's Top Page.

5. Download to a computer/projector, or otherwise make available for the classroom, the following movie clip of a geyser from Yellowstone:

If you cannot access or play the movie during class, you can use one of the visible images of Old Faithful from:

6. Make available via color overhead transparency or computer presentation the images from Image Set 2, Image Set 3, and Image Set 4 in the Image Appendix (Section VII.B, Section VII.C, Section VII.D respectively). During the conclusion of Day 2 there are class presentations of observations and it is suggested you have a way to display the image set to the entire class for reference during the presentations/discussions.

7. Review the lesson and brainstorm modifications for your particular set of learners. Have ready some discussion questions and points that you want to cover for the lesson to fit into your existing curriculum and state science standards.

8. Design an evaluation rubric for this lesson based upon your learners, how you have tailored this lesson, and where this lesson falls into your curriculum. We do not provide an "evaluation" activity/rubric in this lesson, but we do provide sample learning goals generic to this lesson "as is" in the General Information section for this lesson.

9. Arrange the classroom for group work. Learners will need to have a desk, table, or floor space to spread pictures out without being cramped or too near other groups.

Background Knowledge and Resources for the Instructor:

Provided below are some internet resources to help you get a better grasp on infrared light and imaging. Please note that we have compiled a Cool Cosmos Teacher's Guide to the Infrared that can be found here:

Other Resources:

Geology Resources:

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