Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Energy of Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this introduction to light energy, students learn about reflection and refraction as they learn that light travels in wave form. Through hands-on activities, they see how prisms, magnifying glasses and polarized lenses work. They...
Lesson Plan
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Determining Shallow Earth Structure

For Students 9th - 10th
Extend learners' learning of fundamental physics concepts (reflection, refraction and transmission of energy) through a real-world application.
Activity
Other

Siemens Science Day: Physical Science: Through the Looking Glass

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will make their own spectroscope, learn how light is bent by a diffraction grating, and explore how various forms of light differ.
Handout
University of Maryland

Optics Highlights: The Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of the invention of the telescope. Includes a short biographical sketch and discusses the work of Isaac Newton which focuses on his contribution...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Least Time

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Explore how Snell's Law arises out of the principle of least time; understand how light rays change direction at interfaces between materials using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a...
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Scale Model of Human Eye

For Students 9th - 10th
A scale model of the human eye is shown. Information about the parts of the eye and the common defects that result from its malfunctioning.
Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: About Rainbows

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University Corporation of Atmospheric Research provides an illustrated article about the phenomenon of rainbows.
Activity
Center of Science and Industry

Cosi Columbus: Two Lenses in One

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Investigate the behavior of a water filled vial, and discover why it acts like a magnifier. Includes full list of materials, procedures, and scientific explanation of what causes light rays to change direction.
Lesson Plan
My Science Site

Optics: Energy and Control [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A very comprehensive unit including topics such as light and its source, visible sources of light, transparency of objects and much more. Also offers a resource list, blackline masters, and expectation list, expectation summary and a...
Interactive
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Make a Rainbow

For Students 9th - 10th
Make a rainbow by changing angles and placement of the observer, the sun, and the rain.
Handout
Oklahoma Mesonet

Oklahoma Climatological Survey: Overview of Radiation

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details what radiation is, the physics of radiation, and radiative transfer as it occurs in nature. Content explores the electromagnetic spectrum, electromagnetic waves, properties of radiation, and solar radiation.
Interactive
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Mirrors: Optics Bench Interactive

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the physics behind those fun-house mirrors. Students manipulate a virtual optics bench to explore the images formed by mirrors and lenses.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Make a Telescope

For Students 3rd - 8th
An activity for making a telescope using a cardboard tube and two lenses. Accompanied by an explanation of how the telescope works, and a link to an article about lenses.
Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Snell, Willebrord

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ScienceWorld provides a very short biographical sketch of Willebrord Snell (1591-1626 CE) and describes his most notable scientific discovery, the law of refraction. Links are provided for additional information as well.
Handout
University of Chicago

University of Chicago: Reflector and Refractor

For Students 9th - 10th
From the Yerkes Observatory Virtual Tour web site. Compares and contrasts reflecting and refracting telescopes. A link from the page leads to a second page which explains why most modern research telescopes are reflecting telescopes.
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix: Color: Light in a Prism

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Explore how light is refracted when visible light enters, passes through, and exits the prism by moving the red dot to adjust the angle of white light shining on the prism.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Telescopes

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about telescopes in the science of physics including lenses, mirrors, refracting, reflecting, the history, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Graphic
Curated OER

Refraction of Light

For Students 9th - 10th
The meaning and cause of refraction--as well as Snell's law of refraction--are discussed. Includes an interactive problem-solving form in which visitors relate angles of refraction to the incident angle and the indices of refraction.
Graphic
Curated OER

Web Gallery of Art: Newton's Discovery of the Refraction of Light

For Students 11th - 12th
An image of "Newton's Discovery of the Refraction of Light", created by Filippo Pelagio Palagi in 1827 (Oil on canvas, 167 x 216 cm).
Graphic
Curated OER

Astro Lab: Refracting Telescopes

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the facts and historical background information on refracting telescopes, an important astronomical tool. This page has great accompanying photographs, as well as diagrams.
Activity
Other

Walter Fendt: Refraccion De La Luz

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about refraction of light with this simulation. This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer.
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: Light

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the science of light. Energy made of waves and particles called photons traveling at the top speed in the universe. What is refraction? The difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Wave Behavior

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the behavior of waves in the science of physics including reflection, refraction, diffraction, polarization, absorption, and interference.

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