Curated OER
Wavelengths of Light
Explore physical science by participating in a visual spectrum experiments. Budding scientists identify the colors in the color spectrum and view the colors in class by utilizing cellophane, flash lights, and other arts and crafts...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Blackbody Spectrum
An interactive simulation that teaches about blackbody, sun, light, and quantum mechanics. Students learn my making observations while changing the temperature with a sun, a light bulb, an oven, and the Earth in order to see the changes...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Rainbow Fire
Astronomers can determine the atomic composition of distant stars by measuring the spectrum of light emitted by the star. Sound cool? Well in this project you can do something similar by observing the color of flames when various...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fundamentals of Light
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students investigate the fundamentals of light including its source, how it is defined for measurements, how we perceive color, and the situations that make an...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Sound and Light
The Sound and Light unit provides students with an understanding of sound and light waves through the theme of the "Sunken Treasure," a continuous story line throughout the lessons. In Lessons 1-5, students learn about sound, and in...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Learners learn the basics of the electromagnetic spectrum and how various types of electromagnetic waves are related in terms of wavelength and energy. In addition, they are introduced to the various types of waves that make up the...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Black Magic
A great and easy-to-do activity where students separate the colors in a black marker and develop an understanding that black is a composite of other colors.
NASA
Nasa: Spitzer Science Center: Code of Faraway Worlds
Under the heading, "Cracking the Code of Faraway Worlds" this site explores the uses of spectrum (and spectrograph, spectra) in planetary study. In addition to an image, a description of spectrum and its uses in space science is provided.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Light Waves: Lesson 4
This lesson will introduce light waves and describe how a particle can travel as a photon or a wave. It is 4 of 4 in the series titled "Light Waves."
NASA
Nasa: Imagine the Universe: What's the Frequency, Roy G. Biv
In this very detailed lesson plan from NASA, students investigate wavelength and frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum.
Math Science Nucleus
Math/science Nucleus: Light Magic
This animation discusses light and the properties of light in a storybook format. The animations cover the colors of the rainbow (ROYGBIV) along with prisms, light waves, reflection, and refraction.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: The Electromagnetic and Visible Spectra
A tutorial on the electromagnetic and visible spectra. Discusses dispersion and how perceptions of white and black are related to the visible light spectrum.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: The Science of Light: Light in Color
Site explores colors and how they are formed. Provides three different activities to explore color.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Light Waves, Visible and Invisible
Lucianne Walkowicz shows us the waves just beyond our perception: microwaves, radio waves, x-rays and more. [5:58]
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Electromagnetic Spectrum
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students learn what an electromagnetic wave is, gain a feel for the main parts of the spectrum, and work on problems involving basic properties of electromagnetic...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Understanding Spectra
This is an 8-problem quiz/practice to increase students' understanding of spectra. Color is a property of light. Test your understanding of this concept and how light can be represented in with a spectral power distribution.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Spectroscope
This lesson guides middle schoolers to build a spectroscope, use it as a tool, and interpret their observations by applying concepts of conservation of energy and properties of matter.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 2
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 2 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 3
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 3 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 4
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 4 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Electromagnetic Spectrum: Lesson 1
This lesson will introduce the electromagnetic spectrum and the properties and uses of the waves it contains. It is 1 of 4 in the series titled "Electromagnetic Spectrum."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Light Waves: Lesson 1
This lesson will introduce light waves and describe how a particle can travel as a photon or a wave. It is 1 of 4 in the series titled "Light Waves."
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Light Waves: Lesson 3
This lesson will introduce light waves and describe how a particle can travel as a photon or a wave. It is 3 of 4 in the series titled "Light Waves."