Activity
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: 3 M Young Scientist Lab: Disappearing Glass

For Students 9th - 10th
Glass objects seem to disappear when placed in cooking oil.
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
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Measuring Sugar Content of a Liquid With a Laser Pointer

For Students 9th - 10th
Here's a project that shows you how to use a laser pointer and some knowledge of physics to figure out the concentration of sugar dissolved in a liquid.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Polarization by Absorption

For Students 9th - 10th
The operation of Polaroid filters on a pair of sunglasses is shown.
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Properties of Waves

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this direct instruction lesson, learners draw sketches in their science notebooks in order to make sense of wave properties. Resources include a slideshow presentation on the properties of waves and multiple examples of student work.
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).
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Blue Sky Red Sunset

For Students 1st - 5th
An experiment where light is shone through a bottle of water, and then milk added, to see how this affects the path the light takes (with links to articles on reflection and refraction that explain what is happening).
Handout
Florida State University

Florida State University: Science, Optics & You: Willebrord Snell

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Willebrord Snell (1580-1626), a Dutch mathematician known best for his work in refractive indices.
Article
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Image Formation for Concave Mirrors Case A

For Students 9th - 10th
This animation depicts the path of light to each person's eye. Different people are sighting in different directions; yet each person is sighting at the same image location. In this animation the image location is the intersection point...
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Lose a Glass in a Glass

For Students 6th - 8th
This is an activity that should only be done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, with adult supervision, as it involves paint thinner. It demonstrates the concept of the index of refraction for different materials, in this case that...
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.
Handout
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Polarization

For Students 9th - 10th
"How Do We Know Light Behaves as a Wave?" An answer is provided in this discussion of the polarization of light and the use of Polaroid filters in sunglasses. The four methods discussed on this page are: polarization by transmission,...
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.
Lesson Plan
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Super Gelatin

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students measure the angles of refraction of laser light traveling through gelatin, then plot their data to calculate the gelatin's index of refraction.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Make Money Appear Before Your Eyes

For Students 3rd - 8th
A simple experiment that clearly demonstrates how light bends when it passes through water. Accompanied by a good explanation of what's happening, and a link to an article on refraction.
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...
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
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 1

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students will use a variety of objects to participate in a partner activity and communicate using light and sound waves. Resources include a video, pictures and videos of the lesson in action, and examples of student work.
Website
University of Maryland

Optics Highlights: Optics, Electromagnetic Waves, Quanta

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of an anecdotal history on optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of the scientific evidence which led scientists to believe in the particle nature of light. Includes a short biographical sketch and discusses...
Website
University of Maryland

Optics Highlights: The Microscope

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of an anecdotal history of optics and the study of light. Extremely thorough treatment of the scientific findings and developments which led to the invention and refinement of the microscope. Includes a short biographical sketch and...
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Convection Currents

For Students 9th - 10th
Get a visual of convention currents with this activity. This activity allows students to observe the currents by bending light due to cold and warm water.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Introduction to Light

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart introduces fifth graders to the science of light. Principles such as transparent, translucent, opaque, reflection, and refraction are covered. Concave and convex mirrors and lenses are...
Article
Other

Lighthouses: Lighting the Lights

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the early lights used in lighthouses and how these lights evolved into what they are today. Explains the contributions of Fresnel to the development of these lights; discusses the Fresnel orders.
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Light and Color

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson will explain why objects have different colors.

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