Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Mirrors and Images

For Students 3rd - 5th
An experiment to investigate how many images appear as the angle between two hinged mirrors is increased. Accompanied by an explanation of what is happening, questions for students to consider, and a link to an article about reflection.
Activity
York University

The Joy of Visual Perception: Physics of Visual Stimulus

For Students 9th - 10th
From an online "book," this particular page describes physics principles related to vision and sight. Keywords are linked to other pages with further information. The role of sunglasses in blocking glare is discussed and explained. A...
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: How Rainbows Work

For Students K - 1st
Learn how rainbows work by reading this illustrated explanation.
Handout
Boston University

Bu: Optics: Geometric Optics

For Students 9th - 10th
Several short descriptions of demonstrations which illustrate principles of geometric optics (many of which focus upon refraction).
Handout
Synopsys

Synopsys: A Gentle Intro to Optical Design: Why Is the Sky Blue?

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses Rayleigh scattering in plain language and attributes the blueness of the skies to this phenomenon. Discussion of scattering is just one topic of many on this lengthy page of optical topics.
Handout
University of St. Andrews (UK)

University of St. Andrews: Augustin Fresnel

For Students 9th - 10th
A short biographical sketch on the life and work of Augustin Fresnel (1788-1827). Comments on a few of his scientific accomplishments.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Through nine lessons, students are introduced to a range of energy types--electrical, light, sound and thermal-as well as the renewable energy sources of wind, hydro (water) and solar power. Subjects range from understanding that the...
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Bouncing Sunlight

For Teachers 3rd
The light we see from the moon at night is light that the moon reflects from the sun.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Detroit News Newsreels

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Using Laser Pointer to Measure Data Track Spacing on C Ds, Dv Ds

For Students 9th - 10th
You've probably noticed the colorful patterns "reflecting" from the shiny surface of a CD disk. What you are seeing is actually diffraction of white light, and the rainbows of color are diffraction patterns. In this project you'll learn...
Lesson Plan
Albright-Knox Art Gallery

Albright Knox Art Gallery: Having Fun With Landscape Photography

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will learn about horizon lines in traditional landscapes and portraits, shadows and reflected light, and John Pfahl's Altered Landscapes. They will also create their own altered landscape photographs and portraits and write...
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Bill Nye: Baseball Moon

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Bill Nye explains the phases of the moon with an experiment using a baseball, a lamp on a table, a dark room, and a stool or chair that swivels. As the person moves around, the changes in reflected light show the phases of the moon. The...
PPT
British Library

British Library: Teaching Resources: The Tempest: Slideshow Who Is Savage & Who Is Civilised?

For Students 9th - 10th
These activities encourage students to explore the 'brave new world' of The Tempest in light of thought-provoking texts on early modern colonization. A link to a slideshow featuring images of Native Americans and Europeans which...
Activity
NASA

Nasa: Genesis Kids: Roping Rainbows

For Students 3rd - 6th
Provides fun activities to do involving sunlight.
Website
Florida State University

Florida State University: Molecular Expressions: Basic Concepts in Optical Microscopy

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explores the microscope in great detail. Content includes a focus on the microscope's basic functions (including a general diagram), the history of the microscope, each feature of the microscope, differing objectives,...
Unit Plan
BBC

Bbc Skillswise: Listening for Specific Information

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This tutorial presents a video, factsheets, and worksheets for learning how to listen for and understand information. It looks at how to handle different situations, e.g., arranging a delivery, asking questions about a product before...
Lesson Plan
National Gallery of Art

National Gallery of Art: The Elements of Art: Color

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students will be introduced to color, one of the basic elements of art, through analysis of works of art by Monet, Matisse, and Kandinsky. Class discussion focused on these paintings will help students understand how artists use color to...
Website
Other

Denison University: Physics of Dance

For Students 9th - 10th
The researchers in this study set up a mobile lab including six 3D cameras, three laptops, and 70 luminescent markers. Volunteer dancers were prepped with the markers before turning in front of the cameras, which flash infrared light to...
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Spherical Reflections

For Students 9th - 10th
Investigate the behavior of light that is reflected off a spherical mirrored surface.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Touch the Spring

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the behavior of light as it reflects off a concave mirror in this optical illusion.
Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Young, Thomas

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ScienceWorld provides a very short but factual biographical sketch of Thomas Young (1773-1829 CE) and describes his most notable scientific discoveries and contributions. Links are also provided throughout for additional...
Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Apps Zur Physik

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, in German, offers numerous apps that illustrate common physics principles. Apps are organized into categories: mechanics, oscillations and waves, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, physics of...
Handout
Other

University of Edinburgh: Glossary of Introductory Computer Graphics Terms

For Students 9th - 10th
This website, from the University of Edinburgh, provides a lengthy glossary of computer graphics terms written by Olin Lathrop, author of "The Way Computer Graphics Work". This site provides simple definitions of basic terms; no graphics...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Refracting Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia provides detailed information on refracting telescopes, including an image, technical difficulties, and a hyperlinked list to info on notable refracting telescopes.

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