UsingScratchHolographyintheMiddleSchoolScienceClassroom.docVIP

Using Scratch Holography in the Middle School Science Classroom Timothy R. Coughlin Department of Physics, SUNY Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Ave. Buffalo, NY 14222 tcoughlin@ Acknowledgment: This manuscript was prepared in partial fulfillment of requirements for PHY690: Masters Project in Physics Education at SUNY- Buffalo State College under the guidance of Dr. Dan MacIsaac. Abstract This paper reports how scratch holography was used by a New York State middle school science teacher in his physical science classroom, as well as how scratch holography affords science teachers a unique opportunity to make overarching connections between light and matter by introducing an inquiry-based physical science activity in their middle school level classroom. Evidence was shown that using scratch holography as an activity aids science teachers in unifying scientific themes and processes in their year-long curricular plan for their students that is consistent with both state and national science standards. William Beaty’s “Draw Holograms by Hand” link (/amateur/holo1.html) on his Science Hobbyist website was used as the primary source for the design of the presented activity, as well as for troubleshooting within the activity. Introduction It was my goal to find a classroom activity that would allow students to make connections between scientific topics presented during the course of a school year. In doing so, students could reflect on prior knowledge while engaging in processes of science and gain operational knowledge of that process. For many years, compelling arguments have been made for holography to be taught in formal education classrooms at many levels for the very traits I was looking for in an activity. Latham discussed how holography “can be used to teach many of the principles of wave interference and light production in one unit” (Latham, 1986, 396). Dr. Tung Jeong argues, “holography is not merely a craft – it combines meticulous laboratory tech