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Clear Sunscreen: How Light Interacts with Matter
Version 4. Last updated: May 1, 2008.

This unit explores issues related to size and scale, specifically the effect of the size of nanopowders on the interactions of energy and matter (e.g., the absorption of light, addressing the electromagnetic spectrum and associated wavelengths). For example, old sunscreens use "large" zinc oxide particles, which block ultraviolet light but scatter visible light, giving the cream a white color. If nanopowders of zinc oxide are used instead, the cream is transparent, because the diameter of each nanoparticle is smaller than the wavelength of visible light.

Upon completing this unit, students will understand:

  1. How the energies of different wavelengths of light interact differently with different kinds of matter.
  2. Why particle size can affect the optical properties of a material.
  3. That there may be health issues for nanosized particles that are undetermined at this time.
  4. That it is possible to engineer useful materials with an incomplete understanding of their properties.
  5. There are often multiple valid theoretical explanations for experimental data; to find out which one works best, additional experiments are required.
  6. How to apply their scientific knowledge to be an informed consumer of chemical products.

Length: 5 lessons, up to 11 50-minute classroom periods if all lessons are used. Not all lessons are required. Use the lessons most appropriate for your students. A one-day version is also available.

Materials

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License. See Publication Information [PDF] for attribution information.

Download the entire Clear Sunscreen Unit [PDF] (47 MB) or download individual sections or files below.

Download a zip archive of the Microsoft Word and PPT source files (35 MB) if you want to adapt the materials under the Creative Commons license. PowerPoint [PPT] versions of the slides are also available separately, below.

For lesson 4, you will also need to:

Front Matter

Download the preliminary pages, including the cover page, copyright and publication information, and table of contents.

Overview of Unit
Download Teacher materials [PDF]

  • For Anyone Planning to Teach Nanoscience...Read This First!
  • Clear Sunscreen Overview and Learning Goals
  • Unit at a Glance: Suggested Sequencing of Activities
  • Alignment of Unit Activities with Learning Goals
  • Alignment of Unit Activities with Curriculum Topics
  • List of Products that use Nanoparticle Ingredients2
  • Clear Sunscreen Pretest/Posttest: Teacher Answer Sheet

Download Student materials [PDF]

  • Clear Sunscreen: Pretest
  • Clear Sunscreen: Posttest

Lesson 1: Introduction to Sun Protection
Enduring Understandings: 1 and 6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

  • Introduction to Sun Protection: Teacher Lesson Plan
  • Sun Protection: Understanding the Danger: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
  • Clear Sunscreen Initial Ideas: Teacher Instructions
  • Ultra-Violet (UV) Protection Lab Activity: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

  • Summary of Radiation Emitted by the Sun: Student Handout
  • Clear Sunscreen Initial Ideas: Student Worksheet
  • Ultra-Violet (UV) Protection Lab Activity: Student Instructions & Worksheet

Lesson 2: All About Sunscreens
Enduring Understandings: 2-6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

  • All About Sunscreens: Teacher Lesson Plan
  • Sunscreen Ingredients Activity: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key
  • All About Sunscreens: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
  • Light Reflection by Three Sunscreens: Teacher Answer Key
  • Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

  • Overview of Sunscreen Ingredients: Student Handout
  • Light Reflection by Three Sunscreens: Student Worksheet
  • Sunscreen Ingredients Activity: Student Instructions & Worksheet
  • Summary of FDA Approved Sunscreen Ingredients: Student Handout
  • Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Student Worksheet

Lesson 3: How Sunscreens Block: Absorption
Enduring Understandings: 1

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

  • How Sunscreens Block: The Absorption of UV Light: Teacher Lesson Plan
  • How Sunscreens Block: The Absorption of UV Light: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
  • Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

  • Absorption of Light by Matter: Student Reading
  • Absorption Summary: Student Handout
  • Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Student Worksheet

Lesson 4: How Sunscreens Appear: Interactions with Visible Light
Enduring Understandings: 1, 2 and 6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

  • How Sunscreens Appear: Interactions with Visible Light: Teacher Lesson Plan
  • How Sunscreens Appear: Interactions with Visible Light: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes
  • Ad Campaign Project (ChemSense Activity): Teacher Instructions & Grading Rubric
  • Sunscreens & Sunlight Animations: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key
  • Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

  • Scattering of Light by Suspended Clusters: Student Reading
  • Ad Campaign Project (ChemSense Activity): Student Instructions
  • Sunscreens & Sunlight Animations: Student Instructions & Worksheet
  • Reflecting on the Guiding Questions: Student Worksheet

For the Ad Campaign activity, install the ChemSense Animator and review the ChemSense Animator Guide.

For the Sunscreen Animations, see the Clear Sunscreen Animations (requires Flash Player version 7 or higher).

If you would like to have a copy of the animation on your computer for offline viewing, download the following files to the same folder, and then open the sunscreenanimation.html file in your web browser.

Lesson 5: Culminating Activities
Enduring Understandings: 1-4 and 6

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

  • Culminating Activities: Teacher Lesson Plan
  • Consumer Choice Project: Teacher Instructions & Grading Rubric
  • The Science Behind the Sunscreen Quiz: Teacher Answer Key
  • Clear Sunscreen Final Reflections: Teacher Instructions & Answer Key

Download Student materials [PDF]

  • Consumer Choice Project: Student Instructions
  • Consumer Choice Project: Peer Feedback Form
  • The Science Behind the Sunscreen: Student Quiz
  • Clear Sunscreen Final Reflections: Student Worksheet

One-Day Version of Clear Sunscreen
Enduring Understandings: 1, 3, 4

Download Teacher materials [PDF]

  • One-Day Version of Clear Sunscreen: Teacher Lesson Plan
  • NanoSunscreen: The Wave of the Future?: PowerPoint [PPT] Slides & Teacher Notes

Download Student materials [PDF]

  • Summary of Radiation Emitted by the Sun: Student Handout
  • Summary of FDA Approved Sunscreen Ingredients: Student Handout
  • Overview of Sunscreen Ingredients: Student Handout
 
 
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