+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THE MANY COLORS OF SUNLIGHT

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine rainbow components, spectral colors, colors perceived by the eye, hot solids, glowing rarefied gas, absorption, that light is a wave, and optics.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity of Colors

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars investigate color diversity by experimenting with jelly beans.  In this color spectrum lesson, students observe colored jelly beans through different filters and light sources to change the existing look of the bean....
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them.  In this investigative lesson students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their findings. 
+
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Spectral Analysis with DVDs and CDs

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Build a spectrometer to analyze properties of light. Scholars examine the spectrum from CDs and DVDs from two different light sources. Using the spectrum, they work to identify different elements.
+
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Why Are Clouds White?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Is it possible to change the color of clouds? A three-part activity explores the scattering of light by the water droplets that make up clouds. After observing a demonstration, curious scholars conduct their own investigations of the...
+
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Would You Get a Sunburn on Mars?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What are the best materials for preventing sunburn? Young scholars consider this question as they test materials for the presence of ultraviolet light. They use a string of beads that changes color with different intensities of UV light.
+
Lesson Plan
NASA

What's the Frequency, Roy G. Biv?

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
While all light travels at the same speed, each color in the visible light spectrum contains a different wavelength and frequency. Scholars determine the relationship between frequency and wavelength as they complete the activity. They...
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Rainbow Science

For Students 4th - 5th
In this reading comprehension worksheet, students read five paragraphs about the science of rainbows. Students then answer several questions about the reading.
+
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

How Are Rainbows Created?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students describe how the sun's rays produce colors. They describe how water causes the sun's rays of light to bend, producing a rainbow.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Over the Rainbow with Isaac Newton

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study rainbows and do an interdisciplinary assignment that includes poetry and a science experiment.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Light and Vision

For Students 9th - 12th
In this light and vision worksheet, students will review the characteristics of light including how the eyes use light to see. This worksheet has 9 fill in the blank, 8 true or false, 9 multiple choice, and 1 short answer question.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rainbow Fish

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read a story. For this diversity lesson, students read The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister, discuss sharing and uniqueness, and decorate their own scale with information about them using pictures or words.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Light: Lesson 2 - The Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the Electromagnetic Spectrum and realize there is energy beyond visible light. They identify parts of the EM Spectrum.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Color and Light Spectrum Demonstrations

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the light spectrum. The teacher uses holographic diffraction grafting film on an overhead to demonstrate the true nature of color. After observing a vivid rainbow, students recognize that white light is composed of all...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bubble-ology

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students observe the visible spectrum while observing light hitting the surface of bubbles. They blow large bubbles and observe how the colors change.
+
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Designing an Open Spectrograph

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Take the class over the rainbow. Pairs or small groups follow directions to create a spectrograph. The pupils measure the angles formed by the different colors of the spectrum along with calculating the lengths formed by the spectrum and...
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Prism and Light

For Students 5th
In this changing light worksheet, 5th graders use crayons to draw what happens to a beam of light when it enters a prism. Students then write the colors of the rainbow for each letter listed.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring the Wavelengths of Visible Light

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students demonstrate use of an Emission tube power supply, a diffraction grating, and a scientific calculator to determine the different wavelengths of light.
+
Activity
Discovery Education

Through the Looking Glass

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
Turning white light into colors only takes a little scientific know how! Young scholars create their own spectroscope in a hands-on activity exploring the properties of light. Using a diffraction grating, they discover how white light...
+
PPT
Curated OER

Fun Physics You Can See

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Fascinating aspects of electromagnetic radiation and its use in obtaining and transferring information are described here. Learners will find the connections to current technology interesting. Although the slides are text-heavy, they do...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity: Using Light to Filter Prejudices

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils use physics to discuss diversity. In this social interaction lesson, students use their knowledge of colors and filters to relate it to stereotyping and prejudices.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Science of Color and Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students listen to a story about colors and then conduct various experiments to determine how people see colors, identify which colors stand out best from a distance, show the results of mixed colored lighting and explain the phenomenon...
+
PPT
Urbana School District

Optics

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Don't worry, optics is a light topic! The presentation covers reflection, refraction, fiber optics, mirages, prisms, rainbows, dispersion, mirrors, lenses, telescopes, diffraction, the human eye, and much, much more. Presentation is the...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Energy of Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss different ways engineers use light. In this engineering lesson, students are introduced to the properties of light and the way light is used. They view a demonstration of light waves using a slinky, and practice using...