Careers with Light and Sound

Summary

• Students will work collaboratively to make connections between career profiles and the skills and content they are learning in science class
• Students will synthesize information about different careers from texts, videos, and presentations
• Students will recognize the important of the many different kinds of careers that are involve light and sound
• Students will reflect on how their own skills and attributes might help them succeed in a career

Setting the Stage

Concepts that students learn in science about light and sound are relevant to a wide variety of careers. Learning about real world applications of science content engages students and helps them see the relevance of their classwork. Some of these careers may not be traditionally considered “STEM careers” and can help students gain a broader view of what types of careers involve STEM knowledge. Additionally, thinking about what skills and attributes might help people succeed in different jobs helps students begin considering their career options at an early age. Students are able to reflect on their own skills and attributes to start identifying potential careers of interest. 

In this lesson, students explore career profiles of people working with light and sound. Students work together to learn about these careers and make inferences about what skills and attributes might be required to succeed in them. Finally, students reflect on their own skills, attributes, and career interests. 

This is lesson 3 of 3 in a set that can be used sequentially or as standalone lessons. The suggested sequence for completing these lessons is:

1. Light and Sound Inventions that Changed the World
2. Attributes and Skills of Innovators
3. Careers with Light and Sound

Materials & Preparation

• Computers or tablets with internet access (1 per small group)
• Light and Sound Career Profile Note Catcher Reproducible (1 per student) [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF] - provide as a paper or e-copy
• Careers in Light and Sound Exit Slip Reproducible (1 per student) [Google doc] [Word doc] [PDF] - provide as a paper or e-copy

What To Do

Note: Students should have some prior knowledge about skills and attributes before completing this lesson. This knowledge may come from the second lesson in this sequence, Attributes and Skills of Innovators, or other learning activities. If students haven’t encountered these concepts before, teachers could briefly introduce them and create a list of some attributes and skills. 

• Teachers could begin by telling students that there are lots of different careers that involve the sound and light concepts they are learning in class. In this activity, students will learn about different careers and share them with their classmates.

• Teachers could ask students to brainstorm careers that involve light and sound. Students may list careers such as photographer, eye doctor, ear doctor, or engineer. 
  • If students struggle to come up with ideas, teachers could prompt students to think about some of the light and sound innovations that they’ve learned about. What professions involve some of those devices? 

• Teachers could provide students with the Light and Sound Career Profile Note Catcher reproducible. Teachers could tell students that they will learn about one career as a class. Then, students would each explore a career in a small group. Then, students would mix up the groups and share what they learned with their peers.
• Teachers could model completing this activity by reading Let’s Talk Science’s profile of Maxyme Paiement, who designs the graphics used in videos. Teachers could display a copy of the Light and Sound Career Profile Note Catcher reproducible. Teachers could ask students how light and sound are involved with this job and how this job helps people. Teachers could also model inferring what skills and abilities might be necessary for this job. Teachers could model writing some of the suggested responses in the Light and Sound Career Profile Note Catcher reproducible.
• Once students understand the task, teachers could break students into groups and assign each group one profile. Students could work together to read their profile and take notes on the Light and Sound Career Profile Note Catcher reproducible. Each student should be familiar enough with their profile to share it with others. 
• Teachers could then mix up the groups. Each group should have at least one student who read each profile. Students could share what they learned about their person and profession. Students could record notes from their peers’ presentation in the Light and Sound Career Profile Note Catcher reproducible.
• After students finish the jigsaw activity, Teachers could lead a class discussion using the following discussion questions. 
  • Which career were you most interested in learning about? Why?
  • How do these careers relate to what we are learning in science class?
  • What skills or attributes would help someone succeed in these careers? 
  • How could your skills and attributes help you succeed in one of these careers? 
  • How do careers that involve light or sound help people? 
  • Did you learn anything that surprised you? 
• After the discussion, students could complete the Careers with Light and Sound Exit Slip reproducible.