Mississippi Science PHS.6.6
The Standard
- PHS.6
- Students will explore the characteristics of waves.
Research real-world applications to create models or visible representations of the electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light, infrared radiation, and ultraviolet radiation.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Waves
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students research uses of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. They make a labeled spectrum model that shows where the three bands sit and what each is used for.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student places ultraviolet beside violet and infrared beside red, outside the visible colors. They label ultraviolet as having a shorter wavelength than infrared and give a sourced use for each band.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may draw ultraviolet and infrared as colors people can see. They may put infrared beside violet or think a thermal camera detects visible light.
How to Assess It
- Give students a NASA spectrum fact sheet. Ask them to sketch the three bands from shortest to longest wavelength, add the visible colors, and label each band with one use from the sheet.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs colored pencils, index cards, and a NASA spectrum fact sheet; have them build a labeled spectrum strip with one researched use per band.
Ask: Why can a thermal camera show a person in darkness while an ordinary camera cannot? Have students answer using infrared and visible light.
Give teams cards labeled UV disinfection lamp, phone screen, and thermal camera; have them match each to a spectrum band and explain why.
Show a UV index forecast and sunscreen label; ask students to mark UV on their spectrum strip and explain what the sunscreen blocks.
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Printable PHS.6.6 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to PHS.6.6, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- P.4.6B.3
Develop and use models to communicate how light travels and behaves when it strikes an object, including reflection, refraction, and absorption.
- PHY.4.12
Enrichment: Research uses of the electromagnetic spectrum or photoelectric effect.
- PHY.4.9
Research the different bands of electromagnetic radiation, including characteristics, properties, and similarities/differences.
- CHE.2.3
Investigate absorption and emission spectra to interpret explanations of electrons at discrete energy levels using tools such as online simulations, spectromete...
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