{"id":246,"date":"2023-06-29T15:27:36","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T13:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racetospace.eu\/?page_id=246"},"modified":"2023-10-25T09:16:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T07:16:18","slug":"lesson-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/racetospace.eu\/index.php\/lesson-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are a teacher, and you are visiting this site for the first time, please go to the “About” page. <\/a><\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesson Main Question: How can we use neutron scattering experiments to investigate materials?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lesson Title:<\/strong> The Billionaire (90 min)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student Section<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n
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The Story so Far<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

You are scientists working for the European Space Agency (ESA). You are part of a program to colonize Mars. You have just started working with a promising new technique called neutron scattering.

Even though you are new at neutron scattering, a tech billionaire, named Mr. Leon Tusk, challenges you to prove the effectiveness of the techniques. He provides you with mystery samples and questions about them. Your task is to perform experiments with three neutron scattering technique and discover the nature of these materials.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Neutron Knowledge Check<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

Answer questions to figure out what we know about neutrons. The chief scientist will let you know what to do. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Introduction to the Billionaire’s Assignment<\/h5><\/div>

Learn about Mr. Tusk’s challenge and understand what’s expected.
You can read Mr. Tusk’s letter here: https:\/\/bit.ly\/letterFromMrTusk<\/a>
<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Exploration of Mystery Materials<\/h5><\/div>

Work with your group to experiment with different neutron scattering techniques and figure out the mystery materials.
Your chief scientist may wonder if Mr. Tusk is completely honest. If that is the case, you can make an initial investigation of the three boxes<\/a>.
To start your investigations, you may want to follow this plan for work: https:\/\/bit.ly\/worksheetLesson1 <\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Findings Explanation<\/h5><\/div>

Present your discoveries and give feedback to other groups. The chief scientist will give you instructions on how to do that. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Finding out what you need to know<\/h5><\/div>

When you presented your explanation, you may have discovered that there were things you were not completely certain of. Write down what you need to know more about to do an even better explanation of your findings. What are some of the things you don’t quite understand? Once you have found out what you think you need to know, see if you can find material that can help you. The Resources section below contains materials that you can explore. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Resources<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

Some Information on Neutron Scattering (5 pages)<\/a>
The instrument page (Where you will find links to each instrument as well as to their manuals)<\/a> <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teacher Section<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n
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Description of Lesson<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

In this lesson, students take on the role of European Space Agency (ESA) scientists, given an assignment by tech billionaire Leon Tusk. As ESA prepares for its Mars colonization mission, neutron scattering techniques emerge as a promising avenue for investigation. Mr. Tusk tasks the students with providing a proof of concept. Each group of scientists is provided with mystery samples, and by exploring various neutron scattering techniques, they must choose the appropriate technique and deduce the nature of the materials.

Note: <\/em>We have given suggestions for the duration of each of of the activities below. These suggestions are based on a students completing the lesson in 90 minutes. Depending on your goals and the class, you may want to either expand or on these suggestions for duration. Some classes may benefit from more time to do Activity 3: Explorations of the mystery materials<\/em>. If so, you can split the lesson in two and have students either work on it next time you see them and\/or have them work on it as homework. Both strategies will likely demand more than 90 minutes.
<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Materials List for Lesson<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

– A place for anonymous sharing of student ideas, such as Padlet<\/a>, Google Docs<\/a> or Mentimeter<\/a>. These are sites that enable you to share a document with your students. Anonymity gives students an opportunity to share “stupid” questions or prior understanding of the subject.
– The Billionaire’s Assignment text (to be read by the teacher)<\/a>
– Letter from Mr. Leon Tusk (teacher may read this to the class)<\/a>
– A first look at the boxes (with a calculation task)<\/a>
– Some information about neutron scattering (student may consult this during their explorations and read it as homework after the lesson)<\/a>
– Manuals for each instrument (manuals include links to example analyses in Google Sheets)<\/a>
– Group Worksheets <\/a>
– Rubrics for student presentations<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Activity 1: Neutron Knowledge Check<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

Begin with an anonymous question-and-answer session about neutrons using platforms like Mentimeter, Google Docs, or Padlet. Address various understandings of neutrons and facilitate discussions. Use a question such as: “What do you know about neutrons?” to generate questions.

Suggested duration for this activity: 10 minutes.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Activity 2: Introduction to the Billionaire’s Assignment<\/h5><\/div>

After the Neutron Knowledge Check, continue the lesson by presenting The Billionaire’s Assignment<\/a>.
You can include the Letter from Mr. Tusk<\/a> in your presentation, or let the students read it themselves.
In this lesson, you can take the role of a senior or chief scientist. You can, for example, tell your students that your goal is for them to do good experiments, draw the best possible conclusions, and present your results in a comprehensible manner to mr. Tusk.
Address any questions from students.

Suggested time for this activity: 5 minutes. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Activity 3: Exploration of Mystery Materials<\/h5><\/div>

Divide students into small groups and provide them with mystery materials. Guide them through the neutron scattering instruments. Use questioning to encourage critical thinking and exploration.
Links to the three instruments are found here and in the Student section under the headline “Exploration of Mystery Materials”.

Suggested duration for this activity: 35 minutes. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Activity 4: Findings Explanation<\/h5><\/div>

Have groups present their findings and assess each other using a rubric. You can do this in many ways: Have each group present for the entire class, or have group-on-group presentations. To guide students and increase the likelihood of good feedback, you can make use of the following rubric: https:\/\/bit.ly\/rubricLesson1 (Link to Google Doc)<\/a>. You can download and print it for students, and then let the presenting group get the filled out rubrics.

Suggested duration for this activity: 20 minutes. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Activity 5: Finding out what you need to know<\/h5><\/div>

Guide students in planning their presentations for Mr. Tusk, ensuring clarity and effective communication. Students may use this guide for making scientific presentations<\/a>.

Suggested duration for this activity: 20 minutes. <\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Intended Learning Oucomes<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

1. Understand and communicate concepts of atoms, neutrons, waves, and particles effectively through verbal, written, and visual formats.
2. Explain three different neutron scattering techniques, including the production and setup of neutron experiments, to peers.
3. Collaborate with peers to utilize a simulated neutron scattering experiment for identifying unknown materials.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

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Resources relevant to neutron scattering techniques<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

Some Information on Neutron Scattering (5 pages, basic text)<\/a>
Production and application of neutrons (37 pages, advanced text)<\/a>
The instrument page (Brief descriptions of each instrument, links to them, and manuals for using them)<\/a>

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Expected Products from Lesson<\/strong><\/h5><\/div>

Student explanations of how their instrument works
Student’s written down<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n