Curated OER
Learning Light's Properties
Students examine the properties of light and the behavior of light during interference. In this electromagnetics lesson students explain behaviors of light.
Curated OER
Luz: Poetry and the Physics of Light
Students explore color, light, refraction and reflection. In this light activity students measure solar position and compare it to time.
Curated OER
Newton's Color Wheels
Students investigate the effects of light while experimenting with several color wheels. They make observations and record them. The information from the observations is used to help fuel the discussion that follows. The lesson includes...
Curated OER
Waves: Sound and Light
A few definitions related to waves open this slide show. Note that the information only covers light waves even though the title mentions sound. Correct the title before using this resource. Another mention is a set of photos of a class...
Curated OER
Bubble-ology
Learners observe the visible spectrum while observing light hitting the surface of bubbles. They blow large bubbles and observe how the colors change.
Curated OER
Color Combinations
Students develop a basic understanding of how color is perceived by the eye. They utilize the technique Seurat used to paint A Sunday on La Grande Jatte to create their own paintings.
Curated OER
Refraction B2—When is Light Reflected Internally?
Physics is phun in this lesson. Young physicists use a lightbox to test how and where light is refracted and reflected as it travels through transparent materials. Angles of incidence and refraction, sine of both angles, and the ratio...
Cornell University
Light Waves: Grades 6-8
Explore the behavior of light with different materials. Collaborative groups determine whether certain materials absorb, reflect, diffract, or transmit light waves. They then measure the angle of incidence and angle of reflection.
Cornell University
Light Waves: Grades 9-12
Explore the behavior of light waves with a lab activity. Scholars build new vocabulary through experimentation and observation. Using different mediums, they model reflection, refraction, transmission, diffusion, and scattering of light.
Curated OER
Fall 2003 Midterm Exam #3
Let there be light! When your physics learners take this midterm exam, light will be their focus. They will show what they know about electromagnetic waves, interference, refraction, reflection, lenses, prisms, and more! The test is...
Curated OER
All Those Seeing Color, Say Eye!
Students research and discuss the roles of the eye and brain in the perception of color. They watch a slideshow and complete a worksheet.
Curated OER
Light and Optics
In this light and optics instructional activity, 11th graders fill in 7 blanks about the nature of light, draw 9 diagrams to illustrate reflection, refraction, lenses and color.
Exploratorium
Give and Take
Heat-sensitive liquid crystal sheets are available in a variety of sizes and temperature ranges. Purchase a class set of hand-held sheets and color half of each with a silver permanent marking pen. Learners of light can hold them under a...
Curated OER
Light
Light is such a fascinating subject. This instructional activity does a great job of illuminating the mysteries of light for your young scientists. A series of demonstrations which are explained in the plan should help your charges to...
Exploratorium
Soap Film Painting
If you are up for constructing a wooden frame, you can do this demonstration of the interference patterns when light reflects off of layers of soapy film. Both constructive and destructive interference can be seen as evidenced by the...
Curated OER
Color
In this color worksheet, students read where light comes from and the different colors created through a prism. Students compare light (additive color) with pigments (subtractive color). Then students complete 1 drawing, 6 matching, 22...
Curated OER
What Color is It?
Students indentify whether an objects reflects or absorbs red, green, and/or blue light. They create a simple spectral signature.
Center Science Education
Looking Into Surface Albedo
How does the color of a surface affect the heating of the earth? Middle school science classes experiment with color and surface albedo to determine the relationship. The website has tabs for an overview, teacher's instructions,...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Albedo, Reflectivity, and Absorption
What is reflectivity, and what does it have to do with the Earth's climate? As reflectivity is measured by albedo, scientists can gather information on Earth's energy balances that relate to global warming or climate change. Budding...
Bully Free Systems
Bully Free Lesson Plans—Third Grade
Two lessons shed light on two types of bullying: verbal and cyberbullying. After defining the two types, scholars take part in whole-group discussions, complete worksheets, and write reflections. A parent or guardian chat encourages an...
Curated OER
Exploration of Light
Fifth graders observe the video, Exploring Light and Color. They access a website to create their own light show. They conduct lab experiments to investigate refraction, reflection,and other light-related topics.
Curated OER
Colored Shadows
Young scholars examine how humans perceive color. In this refracted light activity, students explore the different ways color is seen by the human eye. Young scholars will use colored lights and colored paper and solid objects to make...
Curated OER
All Those Seeing Color, Say Eye!
Students discuss feelings and explore how to recognize how they are feeling. In this exploratory instructional activity students discuss conflict and ways to resolve problems.
Exploratorium
Laser Jello
The concepts of refraction and reflection gel with your physical science class during this colorful exploration. Shining lasers through Petri-dish-shaped gelatin desserts, they will notice how the light travels and bounces off the sides....