Activity
Exploratorium

Polarized Sunglasses

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Reflected waves of light move within a plane, and because of this, polarizing materials can reduce the glare our eyes see. This resource explains how to set up a demonstration of this effect. Consider it for use in your physical science...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Electricity ~ The Colour Sensitivity of a Photovoltaic Cell

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Teacher's notes, a materials list, detailed procedure, tips, and extension ideas are all included to make teaching this instructional activity on photovoltaic cells a sunny spot in your day! After some brief background reading, physical...
Worksheet
2
2
Curated OER

The Reasons for the Seasons

For Students 7th - 10th
Young scientists use a globe and a light to simulate the rotation of the earth and sun to show the seasons. Additionally, they simulate direct sunlight and indirect sunlight showing intensity of the sun, and answer questions based...
Interactive
Physics Classroom

Color Pigments

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Objects contain pigments that selectively absorb a wavelength of light, and our eyes only observe a very small range of these wavelengths. Scholars apply these two facts to three different activities. They identify the pigment in an...
Interactive
Physics Classroom

Color Filters

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Filters provide amusing changes to images in applications other than just Instagram! High school pupils apply their knowledge of colored filters to three different interactive sets of puzzles. They identify light colors that pass through...
Activity
Exploratorium

Water Sphere Lens

For Teachers 4th - 7th
With a Florence flask or fishbowl, make a double convex lens and use it to examine an image. Because of the refraction, the image will be inverted. A simple explanation is provided here for you to share with your class as they...
PPT
Glynn County School System

Light, History, Gravity, Distance, Relativity, and Space-Time

For Students 6th - 12th
Let the star's color be the guide! The color of a star indicates its temperature and its mass and distance affect the gravitational force. The lesson presentations address these concepts as well as how the theory of special relativity...
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Using a Fancy Spectrograph

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Put the spectrograph to good use. Using a spectrograph individuals built themselves, young scientists examine and record the emission spectra of different light sources. They use the spectra to compare and contrast the compositions of...
Article
NASA

Blinded by the Light!

For Students 9th - 12th
Pupils learn of multiple ways astronomers look for planets outside of the solar system. By completing a hands-on activity, scholars discover that trying to see the planets directly because of the glare from the nearby star is nearly...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Least Time

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
What is the fastest way to get from point A to point B if you are going through two different mediums, such as air then water? Scholars explore the way light travels through air, water, acrylic, glass, and diamond as they answer this...
Activity
NASA

Build a Relay Inspired by Space Communications

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learn how the professionals at NASA send information across space. Engineers use a microdevice, laser pointer, and mirrors as relays to model data transmission in space. Scholars program a microdevice to detect light received and test...
Activity
Exploratorium

A Splash of Color - Is Pure Water Colorless?

For Students 6th - 12th
What makes the ocean blue but a glass of ocean water nearly colorless? Investigators prepare tubes of water to examine the color of water. Scholars discover the relationship between light absorption, color variations, and water depth as...
Lesson Plan
BBC

Light and Dark

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students investigate different sources of light. In this light instructional activity, students determine that light occurs naturally as well as with technology created by mankind. Students work together to identify sources of light....
Worksheet
Curated OER

Do Some Research: Light Spectrum

For Students 5th - 7th
Students explore both the scientifc world of the light spectrum and the research world of the library and/or internet in this activity, which asks a question about the light spectrum to be answered with student research. There is a space...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Experiment: Fountain of Light

For Students 4th - 5th
In this science experiment worksheet, students gather the materials they will need from the list provided. Following the 5 step directions, students perform the experiment. Students answer 3 questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WHAT MAKES A LIGHT BULB LIGHT?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars are able to use inquiry to answer the essential questions. They are able to predict and test configurations of a battery, bulb, and wire that make the complete circuit. Students craft a group and individual theory of a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Solar Neighborhood within 17 Light Years!

For Students 9th - 11th
In this distance between stars worksheet, students plot the distance between the sun and 11 other stars on a 2 dimensional grid using a protractor and a ruler. They determine the distances between various stars and they find the shortest...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Bending Light Waves to Magnify

For Students 8th - 10th
In this magnification worksheet, learners read about how lenses magnify images and how to determine the magnification of an image. Students divide ten by the focal length which is found to be the measurement from the center of the lens...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Star Light...Star Bright

For Students 9th - 12th
For this brightness of stars worksheet, students use a given formula using the temperature in Kelvins of a star to find its brightness. Students solve 4 problems using this equation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light and Shadow

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students compare and draw items with shading based on where a light source is in relation to the object.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light It Up

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students study day-lighting and other types of light bulbs that are used for energy efficiency.  In this engineering instructional activity students study the light bulb parts and the light wavelength.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Role Does Light Play Within the Vision Process?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils are introduced to the relationship between light and vision. In groups, they participate in experiments to discover how different wavelengths are divided in the visible spectrum. They record their answers and discuss their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning Light's Properties

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the properties of light and the behavior of light during interference.  In this electromagnetics lesson students explain behaviors of light.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light Can Heat Too!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore absorption and reflection of light energy. In this solar energy instructional activity, 3rd graders explore how light energy transfers to heat energy through the construction of a solar water heater. Students will...

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