BC Ministry of Education IRP:
Science and Technology 11 Curriculum
The Tour section of this site may be used as a case study in determining the effects of noise and light pollution on an urban population, as well as problem-solving in the areas of energy consumption and urban planning. Have the class develop a debate on this subject.
Save the Neon!
Historically, neon signs have been associated with both urban affluence and urban decay. Is there a portion of your city with historic neon? Developing a heritage neon registry, including photographs, description, owner, and condition, is not only an important step towards conservation, but also has the effect of documenting a portion of the city's history. Develop an in-class registry, assigning 2-person teams to the documentation of a neon sign. Then as a class, discuss the steps that would be taken to have these signs placed on a heritage registry.
Physics 11 Curriculum
The Neon Science section of this site can be used as an example of real-world commercial applications of the discoveries of different kinds of light. Different elements are used in the creation of neon signs to produce different colours of light. One classroom suggestion would be to bring a neon sign into the class (or do your own walking tour of an urban center), and duplicate in class a neon light. Alternatively, find an old black-and-white television set (made before 1970) that contains cathode ray tubes, and discuss the differences and similarities in the technology.
