Looking at worksheets and activity sheets
There are plenty of Physics worksheets available, for example, in published schemes and on
the TES website. However, you need to look critically at other people’s creations. What works
for one teacher and one class won’t necessarily work for others.
So you need to evaluate a worksheet before using it and modify it accordingly. Alternatively,
you may wish to write your own worksheet from scratch.
The table below gives some criteria you can bring to bear when evaluating worksheets and
writing your own. These are all things to think about; some will be more relevant than others
in any particular circumstance.
terminology
what it’s all about
topic
Physics subject matter: concepts, working scientifically
Some worksheets are likely to focus primarily on
Physics ideas but others will cover aspects of Working
Scientifically.
age and ability
Your class: what do you know about them? Past and
future, range.
This is probably the most important aspect – don’t be
tempted to imagine that it’s enough to get the Physics
right. You have to match your presentation of the
Physics to the abilities of your class.
motivation and engagement
How to interest the class at the start and during the
activity. Why would they want to do this activity?
Some classes will accept any task you give them, but
others need to feel that there is some purpose in the
activity that is relevant to them, other than ‘doing
better in exams’.
context
Increase motivation by showing how the ideas relate to
what students already know and to the real world.
activity
How will students interact with your material? And
with each other and with you?
Looking at a range of worksheets from different
sources will help you to expand your repertoire of
activity types.
scaffolding
Provide support at the start, build up demand by
reducing support so that they have to use what they
have learned.
In practice, you may deliver some of the support when
you introduce the task and when you move around the
class, talking to individuals or groups.
gradient/ramping
Similar to scaffolding, building up demand within the
activity.
open and closed questions
Is this a closed question? Yes.
Can you give an example of an open question?
Open questions are especially important in the
development of ideas and students’ responses will help
you to understand their thinking.
formative and summative
Formative assessment allows you and your students to
check their progress, perhaps change direction or rate
of progress.
Summative is generally easier, at the end.
If an activity involves students interacting with each
other, they will get a lot of valuable feedback from
their fellow students as they go along.
language
You can find ways of reducing the language demand of
an exercise, which may get in the way of progress in
understanding.
But ultimately students need to express their ideas
clearly using abstract ways of writing.
Don’t be tempted to replace correct scientific
terminology by everyday language. For example, don’t
say ‘electricity in the wires’ when you mean ‘current’.
output
What will they produce? Will they ever want to look at
their written work again?
It’s more satisfying to end up with, say, a nicely
illustrated poster than with a list of one-word answers
to a question sheet which they no longer have.
additional resources
Is everything required provided in the worksheet? Will
you provide everything necessary? Or will students
have to find things for themselves?
The pages which follow consist of seven worksheets related to the electromagnetic spectrum,
collected from the TES website. They show a range of teaching approaches; all have some
good points, but they could all benefit from adaptation for use with a particular class.
Is it Safe Starter
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Read the following statements.
For each one say if it is ……… True / Partly True / False
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Infra red radiation can kill you?
Infra red radiation is used to keep food warm?
X-rays can kill you?
X-rays can be detected using photographic plates?
Microwaves are only used to cook food?
Microwaves can be detected using a microwave detector?
Radio waves are the most dangerous wave in the electromagnetic
7. spectrum?
8. Microwaves and radio waves are used for communication?
9. Visible light is detected by the human eye?
10. The human eye can detect Gamma rays?
Is it Safe Starter
Radiation
Read the following statements.
For each one say if it is ……… True / Partly True / False
1. Radiation is all around us?
2. Ancient rocks emit radiation?
Radioactivity is when a substance emits or gives off alpha, beta or
3. gamma radiation?
4. Coal is slightly radioactive?
5. Small doses of gamma radiation can be used to treat cancers?
6. Gamma radiation can be used to kill cells?
7. The symbol in the top right corner is the symbol for radiation?
8. Smoke detectors emit radiation?
9. Carbon dating relies on the use of radioactive materials?
10. Gamma rays arrive from the Sun?
Electromagnetic spectrum
Complete the table below by matching the types of radiation with its
effect on living tissue and its use.
Type of radiation
Effects on living
tissue
Gamma
High doses can kill
living cells.
Lower doses can cause
cancer in cells
Used for…
Treating tumours
Sterilising hospital
equipment.
X-Ray
UV
Fluorescent tubes
Security marking
Visible
Infrared
Microwave
Heating of water in
tissues can cause
burning
Satellite
communication.
Cooking
Radio
High doses can kill
living cells.
Lower doses can cause
cancer
Causes burning of
tissues
Communication
RADAR
Probably
none
High doses can kill
living cells.
Lower doses can
cause cancer.
Remote controls
and thermal
imaging
Creating images
of the inside of
the body
Seeing
Optical fibres and
communications
Activates
sensitive cells in
the retina.
EM Word loop – a series of cards
A. Use lots of sun-block
Q. What kind of rays are used
to show broken bones?
A. Visible light
Q. What transfers energy from
one place to another?
A. X-rays
A. Electromagnetic waves
Q. I am used to cook food
Q. Which rays carry the highest
energy?
A. Microwaves
Q. Which kind of rays can cause
skin cancer?
A. Gamma rays
Q. Electromagnetic waves travel at
the speed of...?
A. Ultra Violet Rays
A. Light
Q. Which kind of rays are used
to work remote controls?
Q. Which material can be used to
protect people from gamma rays?
A. Infra red rays
+ more cards
Q. Which rays enable us to see?
To know names of transverse waves
<Part of a sequence of activities presented using Powerpoint>
Wave uses quick quiz
1. Radio and gamma waves are example of what type of waves?
2. What is meant by the critical angle?
3. What is meant by total internal reflection?
4. Give one place where total internal reflection may occur?
5. What are the two types of seismic wave?
6. Which electromagnetic wave has the most energy?
7. At what speed do all electromagnetic wave travels in a vacuums?
8. What happens to the speed light when it enters water?
9. What properties of radio waves makes then suitable for sending signals in
mountainous regions?
10. What word describes waves which have enough energy to change an atom?
11. Which e-m waves have the highest energy?
12. Which 2 types of e-m wave are used for cooking?
13. What region of the of e-m spectrum can our eyes detect?
14. Which forms of e-m radiation are ionising?
15. What can be an effect of long term exposure to e-m radiation?
16. What are two uses of gamma rays?
Medical History for Mrs R. Jones
Mrs Jones was admitted to hospital
with shortness of breath.
To find out more accurately the
location of the tumour, Dr Adams
carried out a CT scan.
After carrying out various tests, Dr
Adams suspected she may have lung
cancer so an x-ray was carried out.
The picture below shows Mrs Jones’
x-ray, identifying her lung tumour.
It was decided that Mrs Jones would
be a suitable candidate for radiation
therapy. This process uses gamma
rays to destroy cancer cells.
YOUR TASK
Imagine you are a radiographer.
One of your elderly patients, Mrs Jones, has to have a lot of treatment recently
and is worried that the amount of radiation could be dangerous.
Write a letter to your patient to explain:
C - How x-rays work
B - Why x-rays are more suitable for this process than other types of radiation
A - How cancer is treated using radiation
A* - Decide whether your patient is in danger of radiation poisoning from their
treatment and why/why not
You should be able to complete most of these questions using your own
knowledge and the information available on Moodle.
You can also use this animation to find out more about radiotherapy:
http://www.insidestory.iop.org/insidestory_flash1.html