Activity
My Science Site

My Science Site: The Light for Sight [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource offers a hands-on activity for science teachers to teach about the eye and it's ability to see images. Also discusses refraction and reflection. This resource is in PDF form; requires Adobe Reader.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Behavior of Light as a Wave

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the behavior of light as a wave in the science of physics including reflection, refraction, and diffraction.
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...
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Enlightening Explorations

For Teachers 6th Standards
This lesson engages students in making observations about different features of light. Students will circulate in different light stations, reflect on what they have observed, and then write about what they learned.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Methods of Polarization

For Students 9th - 10th
At this college physics department site, the polarization of light is explained and illustrated as well as the primary methods of polarization (scattering, reflection, and refraction).
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Crossed Polarizers

For Students 9th - 10th
At this univeristy physics department site, the polarization of light is explained and illustrated. Methods for analyzing light to determine the degree of polarization are stated and explained with equations.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Enlightening Explorations, Part Ii

For Teachers 6th
This lesson engages students in learning about light. Studets will describe how light is produced, reflected, refracted, and separated.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: I'm So Bright! I Wear My Shades Indoors!

For Teachers 6th
This lesson engages students in learning about light through multiple sources. Students will learn how light is produced, reflected, refracted, and separated. Students will communicate their findings through an independent project that...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Security System Design

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students apply everything they have learned about light properties and laser technologies to designing, constructing and presenting laser-based security systems that protect the school's mummified troll. In the associated activity,...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Beating the Motion Sensor

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Lighting is responsible for nearly one-third of the electricity use in buildings. One of the best ways to conserve energy is to make sure the lights are turned off when no one is in a room. This process can be automated using motion...
Activity
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: 3 M Young Scientist Lab: Gelatin Optic Fibers

For Students 3rd - 8th
Strips of gelatin dessert and a laser pointer demonstrate total internal reflection.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

For Students 3rd - 5th
A simple experiment that clearly demonstrates angles of reflection when light hits a mirror. Accompanied by a good explanation of what's happening, and a link to an article on reflection.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Refraction and Ray Model of Light: The Critical Angle

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustrated examples and interactive practice problems that introduce students to the concept of the critical angle, the angle of incidence that provides an angle of refraction of 90-degrees.
Activity
Science Museum, London

Science Museum: 360 Periscope

For Students 3rd - 8th
Make a 360 degrees periscope which uses mirrors to reflect light to see around corners.
Website
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: Reflection and Refraction of Light

For Students 3rd - 9th
What happens when a ball is thrown against a wall? This narrative illustrates how light is reflected or refracted in different circumstances.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Make a Light Fountain

For Students 3rd - 5th
A simple experiment that demonstrates the concept of total internal reflection, and shows how light can travel around curves and corners, as it does in fiber-optic cables. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Total Internal Reflection

For Students 9th - 10th
An investigation into the total internal reflection of light, using a laser pointer. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening, a discussion of Snell's Law, and links to additional information.
Activity
Bill Nye

Bill Nye: Bending Light

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Try this at-home science experiment to learn about bending light.
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.
Handout
My Science Site

Mirrors, Lenses and Your Eyes

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource explores the science behind light and how mirrors reflect it. Also contains information on lenses both convex and concave.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Reflection Race: Exploring Reflection of Light

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An interesting and engaging activity where students work in groups with a laser pointer and small mirrors. They must use their knowledge of angles of reflection to bounce the laser beam from mirror to mirror until it hits a target at the...
Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Light

For Teachers 4th - 6th
In this activity, students actually find the angles of reflection and incidence.
Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Reflection and Refraction of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Defines the refraction of light and provides an applet for investigating it.
Handout
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Guiding Light Optical Fiber

For Students 3rd - 8th
This experiment demonstrates the concept of total internal reflection, using basic materials. Accompanied by a detailed explanation of what's happening, and links to articles on reflection and refraction.