Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Do Glasses Help Us See?

For Students 9th - 10th
Today, glasses help millions of people with poor vision be able to see clearly. But how? Andrew Bastawrous and Clare Gilbert help unravel the answer by explaining refraction- the ability of a transparent medium, like glass, water, or the...
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 2

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners will use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. Resources included are videos of the lesson plan in action, a student worksheet, and an...
Interactive
Educaplus (Jesús Peñas Cano)

Educaplus: La Luz

For Students 9th - 10th
What do you know about light? Learn about it through this interactive site. At the end you can take a test to test your knowledge. A scientific calculator is also provided.
Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: Applied Science and Technology 210: Electrical Engineering

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of video lectures from a course that explores the application of electrical engineering topics. Webpage includes twenty-eight lectures from a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Lectures vary in length and...
Graphic
Curated OER

Reekos Mad Scientist Lab: Light Refraction

For Students 3rd - 8th
Here are simple instructions for creating a prism using a glass of water, a small mirror, and a piece of paper.
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.
Unit Plan
Other

The Disgustoscope

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a resource to teach optics, while building a modified kaleidoscope that will provide 3-dimensional images.
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.
Website
Other

All About vision.com: Eye Conditions and Diseases

For Students 9th - 10th
Many articles with consumer information about lenses, eyewear, eye problems, and unique eye conditions. Vast content and many links to off-site information.
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science

For Students 4th
This customizable digital textbook covers topics related to fourth-grade science. It is Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned.
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).
Website
Curated OER

Weather Dude: Rainbows

For Students 9th - 10th
Informational site allows users to discover what makes a rainbow. Discover how they form and learn some interesting facts about them along the way.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Water Sphere Lens

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A discussion of how to make a magnifying lens exhibit using a water-filled flask and a light bulb. Consists of assembly instructions and a "To do and notice" section. Great for a teacher demonstration or a student project.
Article
Other

United States Master Swimming: Fiber Aquatics

For Students 9th - 10th
The principle of total internal reflection is discussed in this article. The appearance of objects from inside the water of a swimming pool is compared to the path of light in a fiber optic cable.
Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Fresnel, Augustin

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ScienceWorld provides a short biographical sketch of Augustin Fresnel (1788-1827 CE) and describes his most notable scientific discoveries and contributions. Links are provided throughout for additional information.
Activity
Boston University

Bu: Optics Demonstrations: Polarization

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Several short descriptions of demonstrations pertaining to polarization principles. Suitable as a supplement for a teacher lesson plan or as an idea-generator for a student project.
Activity
Other

60 Second Science: Little Drops of Water Experiment

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Explore the properties of water and observe how drops of water can act as a magnifying lens.
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.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Snacks

For Students 5th - 9th
Exploratorium's snacks aren't edible, but they are good! Use your science skills to discover gravity, learn about biology, do fun experiments.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Watch Tv Upside Down

For Students 1st - 5th
An experiment to invert a television image using a magnifying lens. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening.

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