Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Lenses and Geometrical Optics
Article explaining what lenses are and how they work. At the end of the article, there are links to several hands-on activities for investigating lenses.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: What Causes Rainbows?
An experiment to demonstrate how to make a rainbow and why they form.
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Polarized Light (Pdf)
An investigation into how polarized light behaves, with instructions on how to make a polarizer using glass slides. With a link to an article explaining about polarized light. PDF (requires Adobe Reader).
Optical Society
Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Guiding Light Optical Fiber
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.
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science: The Oldest Known Campfires?
A short article reporting on the discovery at an archaeological dig of an apparent human-controlled fire from 790,000 years ago. This early human would have been hominids.