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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Rainbow Candy

For Students 6th - 8th
Make your own rainbow candy in this fun STEM activity. You will do it without using any food coloring. Instead, you will use a light-bending phenomenon called diffraction.
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Website
Curated OER

Ray Optics, Light Reflection

For Students 9th - 10th
Site provides a diagram as well as a scientific explanation of light reflection. Includes links to ray optics, light and physics.
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eBook
NASA

Nasa: From Stargazers to Starships: Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
Demonstrates how principles of kinetic energy, potential energy and energy conservation can be used to determine the speed of a descending object if given its initial height. Further discussion of other topics such as heat and...
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Activity
Boston University

Bu: Optics Demonstrations: Polarization

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Several short descriptions of demonstrations pertaining to polarization principles. Suitable as a supplement for a teacher lesson plan or as an idea-generator for a student project.
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Handout
Boston University

Bu: Optics: Geometric Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
Several short descriptions of demonstrations which illustrate principles of geometric optics (many of which focus upon refraction).
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Activity
Boston University

Bu: Optics Demonstrations: Interference

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Several short descriptions and graphics of demonstrations which illustrate principles of interference. Suitable as a supplement for a teacher lesson plan or as an idea-generator for a student project.
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Unknown Type
ArtQuizz

Art Quizz: Monet (3)

For Students 9th - 10th
A quiz on the life of Monet. This is a great tool for assessment or review and an even greater way in incorporate technology in the artroom. This site is translated from the original French version. Proof the answers before using for the...
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eBook
English Verse

English Verse: John Milton (1608 1674)

For Students 9th - 10th
Some of Milton's shorter verse is offered here, along with a biographical sketch.
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Activity
Other

Escolar.com: La Luz

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief summary and illustrations of light and how the lights rays are reflected and bent.
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Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: Fundamentals of Chemistry

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of video lectures from course investigating the theory behind modern physics taught at Stanford University. The course introduces the basic concepts of particle physics by teaching about light, quantum field, Diary Equation,...
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Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: Physics in Primary Schools

For Students 3rd - 5th
A collection of video lectures created by University of Sheffield to excite young students about topics in physics in elementary school. The course covers topics like forces, gravity, magnets, sound, light, space travel, and the solar...
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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Earth's Albedo and Global Warming

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive activity adapted from NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, learn about Earth's albedo (the ratio of reflected vs. incident solar radiation), how pollution alters albedo, and how ice-albedo feedback may accelerate...
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Handout
University of Chicago

University of Chicago: Reflector and Refractor

For Students 9th - 10th
From the Yerkes Observatory Virtual Tour web site. Compares and contrasts reflecting and refracting telescopes. A link from the page leads to a second page which explains why most modern research telescopes are reflecting telescopes.
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Activity
NC State University

Pira Demonstration Catalog: Dichroic Polarization

For Students 9th - 10th
Short descriptions of possible physics demonstrations for illustrating dichroic polarization and the role of Polaroid filters in blocking roadway glare. Suitable as an idea-generator for student projects.
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Website
York University

York University: Color and Color Vision

For Students 9th - 10th
York University provides an index page to several other pages on the topic of color and color vision. The pages are part of an online "book." Many graphics and explanations.
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Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Huygens, Christiaan

For Students 9th - 10th
This ScienceWorld site provides a short biographical sketch of Christiaan Huygens and describes his most notable scientific discoveries and contributions. Links are provided throughout for additional information as well.
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Graphic
University of California

Center for Science Education: Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
A gallery of astronomy images which depict galaxies, comets, the moon, planets, nebulae, supernovae as seen in various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each image in the gallery is described. Fascinating!
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Unit Plan
NumberNut

Number Nut: Light and Colors

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Discover the relationship between light and colors in this brief lesson. Links to related color identification activities, Color Memory Challenge and Identifying Colors Quiz. Immediate feedback given to responses that includes...
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Graphic
Hunkins Experiments

Hunkin's Experiments: Potato Maze

For Students 3rd - 9th
Hunkin's Experiments is a group of simple cartoon illustrations of scientific principles. Some would work well in the classroom, but others have little value beyond entertaining students. All of the projects are easy to do. This one is a...
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Website
University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota: How Does Light Travel?

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains a four step procedure to deriving the law of reflection using algebra, Fermat's principle, and calculus (simple derivatives). This is good for an in-class theoretical exercise.
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Activity
Science Museum of Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota: Thinking Fountain: Opaque

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this lesson use objects found around the house or classroom to make sun prints. Link provided for the construction of a light island for classroom use.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Light (K 4)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This site provides two activities that young scholars can do in class. One uses mirrors to reflect light beams whole another is making a kaleidescope.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Mixing Colors With Light Beams

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity students learn how to mix different colors of light to create different colors.
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Handout
Simon Fraser University

Chem1 Virtual Textbook: What Is Light?

For Students 9th - 10th
Acting as part of an overview on quantum theory, this section of the site answers the question, what is light? In answering the question, specific discussion is directed toward light waves and theories of light.