By using the light meter, we were able to figure out a lot of key ideas:
1. If we saw things, they reflected light--some more than others (including Mrs. Brinza's face and a mirror...LOL)!
2. Light sources gave off a LOT of light (duh).
3. When there was no light, there was a reading of 0 lux.
4. When light transmitted through something, we still saw a number on the light meter.
All the data were helping understand what is going on with various materials. We worked together to develop models for both our regular mirror and for our clear plastic lid.
1. If we saw things, they reflected light--some more than others (including Mrs. Brinza's face and a mirror...LOL)!
2. Light sources gave off a LOT of light (duh).
3. When there was no light, there was a reading of 0 lux.
4. When light transmitted through something, we still saw a number on the light meter.
All the data were helping understand what is going on with various materials. We worked together to develop models for both our regular mirror and for our clear plastic lid.
If a regular mirror reflected all the light that was presented at it, and a clear lid reflected and transmitted light, then how could we apply these ideas to the one-way mirror which we've been so curious about, knowing that it reflects light (when Mr. Bean/Elmo sees himself) and it transmits light (when the men/figurines see Mr. Bean/Elmo on the other side)? Check out these ideas:
Our discussion was rich and really eye opening...some of the models were showing nothing different than the regular mirror or the clear plastic lid, and we know that the one-way mirror is different. Other models were showing how light can transmit through a reflective material, which can't be the case, right??? We slowly built consensus that worked towards a model that was seemingly different than the others at the start.
Working remotely has certainly presented some challenges! Students were asked to be reflective on how their ideas in what they thought the one-way mirror should be structured had changed after we built consensus, and Mrs. Brinza was certainly impressed at how thoughtful these 6th graders have been!