Magic Beads

Introduction:

One of the most important things that we do in science is to try to solve problems that we see in the world around us.  In order to be good problem solvers, we must be able to look carefully at a problem and try to observe all the parts and details that make up the problem.

In this activity, your problem is that these strange beads sometimes act like they act like they are beautiful and sometimes like they are boring.  Since you want to sell these beads for large amounts of money, you need to determine where and when your beads are beautiful and where and when they are boring. 

  Your second, and most important job, is to try to figure out and explain what it is that causes the beads to be beautiful or boring.  In science, an explanation of the things that you observe is called a hypothesis.   A good explanation (hypothesis) is very helpful because it helps us to understand and solve problems.  In this case, if you can learn what it is that causes the beads to be beautiful, then you make sure that those conditions exist when you sell your beads.

National Science Standard: Unifying Concept

Nature is predictable and we can use evidence to explain and understand it.

Georgia Performance Standards:

Students will exhibit curiosity, honesty, openness and skepticism. S(K-5)CS1

Students will investigate the nature of light. S1P1, S4P1

Materials: 

Exploration:

Procedure:

1.      Place the beads on the pipe cleaner and form it into a bracelet that you can wear on your hand.

2.    Observe your beads in different places at different times throughout the school day including at least one time when you are outside.  Make sure to write down your observations at least 4 different times.  Make sure to describe where, when, and what you were doing at the time of the observation.

Observation 1:  Beads ________ Place _________ Time ________  

Description ____________________________________________

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Observation 2:  Beads ________Place ___________ Time ________

Description ____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Observation 3: Beads ________  Place ___________ Time ________

Description ____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Observation 4: Beads ________ Place ___________ Time ________

Description ____________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

 Essential Questions:

1. Explain what you think it that causes the beads to be boring and what you think causes them to be beautiful.    Write down your explanation and then draw a picture to help other people to understand your explanation.

2.   Think of a way that you could test your explanation using a simple experiment.  Write down the steps that you use to do your experiment. If time permits, try the experiment and see if the results support your idea.

 3. Develop 3 alternative explanations that could be used to explain the color change in the beads.  

Explanation:

Concept Discussion:  

Although the students are not told anything about it, they will quickly learn that, when taken outside, the beads change quickly from off white to a variety of colors. When taken back indoors, they gradually fade back to their original color. Hopefully, students will come up with a variety of ideas to explain why the color change occurred while they were outside.   While they may suggest things such as temperature differences or differences in air quality, the beads are actually sensitive to the ultraviolet light that is produced by the sun.  As the beads absorb this UV light their color changes dramatically.  Each bead absorbs different types (wavelengths) and as a result they are different colors.  Since indoor light sources rarely produce UV light, the beads fade after leaving their outside energy source. 

For older students, you may also explain that the sun actually produces three different types of light – visible light that we can see, infrared light that contains heat, and ultraviolet light which causes some people to tan or burn.  The beads contain a substance (pigment) that absorbs the ultraviolet light and then radiates (shines) it back to us as visible light.  Each bead contains its own pigment that radiates light of a particular color. The beads actually act like tiny light bulbs.