Lesson Plan

Physics of Light

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Gummy bears are tasty, but did you know they are also used to determine color and light properties? Use the activity as a way to demonstrate light absorption, light reflection, and refraction with high schooler. Pupils conduct small experiments using a laser pointer and gummy bears to demonstrate various light properties and correlate their findings in a group-led discussion and assessment.

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Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Have the class research commercially-used solar cells; discuss the important aspects of these and how effective they are in providing energy
  • Challenge students to perform the experiment on materials of various densities and discuss what differences they observe and why 
Classroom Considerations
  • Help ELLs with open-ended assessment questions 
Pros
  • Specifically designed for NGSS standards without requiring adaptations
  • With the exception of gummies, the necessary materials are easily found and simple to store for continued use
Cons
  • None