Curated OER
Seeing is Believing - Or Is It?
Here is a great science lesson. It extends the concept of vision into the area of optical illusions, perspective, and tessellation. This well-designed plan has tons of great activities, utilizes interesting video, and should lead to a...
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Light - Reflection - Illusion
Students experience the magic of mirrors. In this reflection and illusion lesson, students witness magic tricks that work because of mirrors, then rotate through five stations to complete hands-on experiments using mirrors, light,...
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Perception is not Always Reality
Seventh graders explore explanations of natural illusions. In this perception instructional activity students solve a problem by applying the process of science.
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"The Face in the Trees" Lesson
In this illusion instructional activity, students look at the picture and read the poem about the face in the trees, answer multiple choice questions about it, and complete a word search. Students complete 3 activities.
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Anamorphosis
Students classify optical illusions according to their distinguishing characteristics. They create anamorphic art and use Mylar flexible mirrors to view and then they describe and analyze the optical illusion.
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Illusions of Depth
Third graders practice drawing a landscape to show an illusion of depth. In the drawing, they can put whatever objects they choose to but have to remember to show depth. They explain how overlapping and size differences show...
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Perception is Not Always Reality
Students view various types of illusions. Using one of the illusions, they try to determine how a scientist might explain them. They discover a t-illusion and use their own words to analyze them. In groups, they research a different...
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The Magic Hooey Stick
Students examine the use of a "magic hooey stick". They discover the concept of illusions and how science can reveal them. They answer discussion questions to end the instructional activity.
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Magnificent Monet
Students research the water lily paintings of Claude Monet and the impressionistic art period. They create their own impressionistic art works and display them in the classroom.
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The Flat Earth
Students are first presented with the idea that the Earth is really flat. They prove that it is not--using a variety of techniques.
Yale University
Yale: The Illusion of the Renaissance
A curriculum unit on perspective, detailing the differences between medieval and Renaissance art. This is designed as a studio art course for 8th grade through high school, and contains some good information and activities. Illustrations...
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Black and White
This site on the book "Black and White" by David Macaulay, includes a review of the book, a listing of things to notice and talk about, activities related to the book, other related books, and links to other resources.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Houdini
Use this site to explore the world of one of the greatest escape artists of all time. Houdini, a legend in his own right. Explore special features, timelines, and a fascinating gallery.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
Guggenheim: Josef Albers
This resource provides a biography of Josef Albers and links to related topics.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Harry Houdini
These fascinating articles provide a brief biography of the famous magician, Harry Houdini. Also contains historic photographs and a timeline of events taking place during his lifetime.
Indiana University
Indiana University: Nature of Science Lessons
This list of nature of science lessons from the Indiana University includes three links to lessons under the heading "Realm and Limits."
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Afterimage
The following picture is an example of an afterimage, a type of optical illusion that continues to appear in one's vision even after you finish looking at the original image.
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Science Kids: Science Images: Bezold Effect
The Bezold effect is named after Wilhelm von Bezold, a German professor of meteorology. It is an optical illusion that makes colors look different depending on their relation to adjacent colors. It works with small sections of color...
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Science Kids: Science Images: Big as a Tree Illusion
This depth perception illusion makes the load the woman is carrying on her head appear as large as the small tree in the background when in fact it is not.
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Science Kids: Science Images: Depth Illusion
This image gives the illusion of depth. As one looks at the picture the black and white squares appear to form walls which lead down a long corridor.
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Science Kids: Science Images: Duck & Rabbit Illusion
This famous illusion appears to be both a duck and a rabbit depending on how you look at it. Can you see both?
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Science Kids: Science Images: Face & Vase Illusion
This face and vase picture is a very common optical illusion. Do you a white vase or two identical black faces looking at each other?
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Science Kids: Science Images: Fraser Spiral Illusion, False Spiral
This optical illusion image is known as a Fraser spiral illusion, or false spiral. The black arcs appear to form a spiral when in fact they are a series of concentric circles.
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Science Kids: Science Images: Scintillating Grid Illusion
This picture is an example of a scintillating grid illusion. Discovered in 1994 by E. Lingelbach, it is similar to the Hermann grid illusion. When looking at the grid, dark dots seem to appear and disappear at random.