Infrared Zoo Lesson 2 Dinner in the Dark

DAY 3: EXTEND AND APPLY UNDERSTANDINGS

The learners can now apply their base knowledge of infrared light from the snake's perspective to a new scenario in order to deepen their understanding and discover something new. The extent to which you take this new exploration will depend on your learner's abilities and your own curriculum goals. Here, we present a simple extension and leave deeper details up to you!

A. Learner Investigations of Infrared Technologies

Time: varies

This activity can be done as a class-time Webquest or a take-home project. There are many useful ways that infrared imaging has helped society. Cool Cosmos maintains some basic information on the following areas at this website:

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/light_lessons/our_world_different_light/

• Astronomy
  
• Oceanography
  
• Meteorology
  
• Geology, Vegetation, Soil
  
• Animal Studies
  
• Archeology
  
• History and Art
  
• Monitoring the Environment
  
• Medicine
  
• Firefighting
  
• Search and Rescue
  
• Military
  
• Law Enforcement
  
• Maintenance of Mechanical Systems
  
• Inspection of Electrical Systems
  
• Detecting Heat Loss in Structures
  
• Navigation
  
• Food Industry

From this starting point, learners can choose an application of infrared technology and then seek more information to complete a written or verbal report. As an instructor, you may find particular applications that serve better for your own curricular goals. The Cool Cosmos resource can help this lesson become multidisciplinary.