Cornell University
Beam Focusing Using Lenses
Explore optics using an inquiry-based experimental approach! Young scholars use a set of materials to design and build a unit capable of focusing a beam of light. They experiment with different lenses to determine the best approach to...
Cornell University
Light Waves: Grades 9-12
Explore the behavior of light waves with a lab activity. Scholars build new vocabulary through experimentation and observation. Using different mediums, they model reflection, refraction, transmission, diffusion, and scattering of light.
Exploratorium
Blue Sky
Use a container full of water as a prism and show that as light is bent, the individual colors from different wavelengths become visible. This explains why the sky appears to be blue midday, and why as the sun nears the horizon, it looks...
Exploratorium
Afterimage
To illuminate how afterimage occurs, create a star, square, or other geometric-shaped light for learners to look at for 30 seconds. Then, have them explain what they see as they shift their focus to a blank wall. A full explanation of...
Curated OER
Mixing Colors With Beams
Student learn about color changes through the use of light beams. In this color mixing activity, students discover the difference between mixing colors with light and mixing colors with paint. Students gain understanding of how the eye...
Curated OER
Color Mixing
Students distinguish and recognize the three primary colors used in color printing. In this color mixing lesson, students predict what color will be produced when pigments or color beams are mixed. Students will demonstrate an...
Curated OER
Reflection and Refraction
Life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see. The lesson includes three experiments on light reflection, light refraction, projection, lenses, and optical systems. Each experiment builds off the ones before and encourages...
Curated OER
Anatomy of a Bone - Coloring
Clarify and color code the anatomy of a bone with this resource. This worksheet lists 7 parts of a bone along with a definition for each part. Learners read through this information and color in each part of the bone a listed color. They...
Curated OER
How Do The Colors of Light Mix?
High schoolers investigate the mixing of light. They form a hypotheses to reason why color changes occur and they write conclusions and ask new questions arising from the investigation. Students identify the primary and complementary...
Curated OER
Diffraction of Laser Light, Polarization and Color Filters
Students investigate light behavior by conducting a series of experiments. In this physics lesson plan, students calculate the wavelength of the light source using an equation. They determine what color is produced when light of...
Curated OER
What Role Does Light Play Within the Vision Process?
Students 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...
Curated OER
Light Problems
In this light worksheet, students describe the electromagnetic spectrum based on wavelength and frequency. Students determine the wavelength, frequency, and energy for given point on the spectrum. This worksheet has 10 problems to solve.
DiscoverE
Laser Challenge
Help your class become laser focused on the connection between sound and light. Scholars set up mirrors to bend and direct lasers that are connected to a music source. Music should start playing when the laser hits the photoresistor.
Cornell University
What Happens When We Excite Atoms and Molecules?
Excited atoms lead to exciting lessons! Learners use heat and light to excite both atoms and molecules. They display their learning in the form of Bohr models depicting the excited state of the atoms.
Curated OER
Light Is Amazing
Learners investigate light and its energy. They discuss the properties of light, research how much light the moon absorbed on their birthday on a website, complete a graphic organizer, and create a kaleidoscope.
Curated OER
Physical Principles in Living Systems
Seventh graders experiment with white light, plane mirrors, and curved mirrors in order to demonstrate the physical principles of living systems. In this physical principles lesson plan, 7th graders take 3 days to discover what happens...
Curated OER
Electromagnetic Spectrum Worksheet
These six multiple-choice questions ask pupils to evaluate the energy, wavelength, and frequency of particular electromagnetic wavelengths. Further questions then require them to apply their knowledge and convert certain values or give...
Curated OER
THE MANY COLORS OF SUNLIGHT
Students examine rainbow components, spectral colors, colors perceived by the eye, hot solids, glowing rarefied gas, absorption, that light is a wave, and optics.
Curated OER
Diversity of Colors
Learners investigate color diversity by experimenting with jelly beans. In this color spectrum instructional activity, students observe colored jelly beans through different filters and light sources to change the existing look of the...
Curated OER
Diversity: Using Light to Filter Prejudices
Students 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.
Exploratorium
Laser Jello
The concepts of refraction and reflection gel with your physical science class during this colorful exploration. Shining lasers through Petri-dish-shaped gelatin desserts, they will notice how the light travels and bounces off the sides....
Exploratorium
Pupil
Give pupils a magnifier, a mirror, and a flashlight so that they can examine their own pupils. As they shine a light on their eyes, the light is shone on how this structure dilates and contracts to control how much is allowed into the...
Curated OER
(S-4) The Many Colors of Sunlight
Students observe and explore the characteristics of light.
Curated OER
The Magic School Bus Makes a Rainbow
Young scholars learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students spin separate colors into a new color just as the Magic School Bus kids did.