A Case Study for Understanding UV Light Using UV Detecting Beads

Abstract

In this paper we report a case study conducted at an elementary school in Nagano Prefecture, in which we carried out a proposed unit program of three class hours to help fourth grade students to understand UV light. As teaching materials in the program, we used UV light detecting beads, the colors of which (orange, blue, yellow, purple), when exposed to UV light, become deeper in a UV light-dependent manner. Our program was evaluated by the observation of the activities of students in the class and also by statistical analysis of the results obtained from questionnaires for students before and after the practical study in our program. Opinions concerning UV light from their parents were also surveyed by a questionnaire. It was found that the two experiments by a teacher and the students' investigation with the beads were helpful for students to understand UV light. Furthermore, it was found that at first students had a one-sided, negative idea of UV light, which was found to be strongly influenced by the opinions of their parents, but that, after studying the program, they had both positive and negative ideas about UV light.