Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Jell-O® Waveguide and Power Loss

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Jell-O® can help model the transmission of light through fiber optic cables. Young scientists use the jiggly dessert to make a waveguide to transmit a laser beam from one point to another. Their models help them learn the function...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Electromagnetic Waves

For Students 9th - 12th
In this electromagnetic waves worksheet, learners review the different types of electromagnetic waves. Students also compare and contrast light and sound waves. This worksheet has 10 fill in the blank, 5 multiple choice, and 6 short...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Physics and the Quantum Mechanical Model

For Students 10th - Higher Ed
In this physics activity, students review vocabulary terms and key equations associated with the quantum mechanical model. Students apply the quantum theory to explain the photoelectric effect. This activity has 5 true or false, 12...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Science is magic that works. Magical color-changing beads and a coffee can that follows voice commands are just two examples of magic tricks that rely on science. After completing a hands-on activity and an experiment investigating the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

HW Unit 10:7-Light

For Students 9th - 12th
In this light worksheet, students answer twenty six questions about sound and light and how they both travel. They also answer questions about different types of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum such as radio waves, visible light,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light 3: All Those Seeing Color, Say Eye!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the nature of light. They use on-line articles and a worksheet to explore the roles of the eye and brain in the perception of color. They draw and label a diagram illustrating the movement of light.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To See or Not to See: The Colors of Light

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe and conduct an experiment that identifies the physical properties of light. They explore sources of visible light and an electromagnetic spectrum. Students explain the conversion of one form of energy to another.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ways to See the Sun

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Pupils examine how the regions of the Sun are studied using spectroscopy. They investigate the electromagnetic spectrum and the types of radiation that are associated with it. They use prisms and CD's to examine the light spectrum. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Online Exploration: Telescopes From the Ground Up

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore a web-based illustrated text and interactive graphics to determine the relationship between the operation of telescopes and light. optics. They work in small groups to become an expert on one of the ten eras of telescope...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Many Stars in the Milky Way?

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students perform an experiment in which they will use a statistical method called `sampling' to count to a billion (and beyond). Students practice sampling by estimating the number of characters on a page from the classified section of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

(S-4) The Many Colors of Sunlight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe and explore the characteristics of light.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sensing the Invisible

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study visible light and explain why we want to use infrared radiation to study Mercury.  In this sunlight lesson plan students construct a device to measure the presence of infrared radiation in sunlight. 
Handout
National Institute of Open Schooling

Atomic Structure

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
Learners explain historical findings such as Rutherford and Bohr's contributions, explain wave particle duality, and formulate Heinsenberg's uncertainty principle. They also draw s, p, and d orbitals, explain more historical findings,...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Light Waves: Grades 9-12

For Students 9th - 12th
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.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Typical Conceptual Questions for Physics I - Light and Quantum

For Students 9th - 12th
This is a stellar overview of everything light and quantum! There are 30 multiple choice questions, none of them requiring any mathematical computation. There are a few diagrams to analyze: light rays striking reflective and refractive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wavelengths of Light

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Explore physical science by participating in a visual spectrum experiments. Budding scientists identify the colors in the color spectrum and view the colors in class by utilizing cellophane, flash lights, and other arts and crafts...
Organizer
Curated OER

Elements

For Students 10th - 12th
In this elements worksheet, students determine the atomic number, mass, number, electrons, protons, and neutrons for elements. Students review the electromagnetic spectrum. This worksheet has 1 graphic organizer and 13 multiple choice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stellar Spectral Fingerprints

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students listen as the teacher introduces Newton's early discovery of the diffraction of light. They use multiple sources of light (fluorescent, incandescent, sunlight, etc) to bend the light. They first use a prism then a diffraction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate And the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars demonstrate the greenhouse effect. They recognize that relatively small changes to our environment can stimulate significant climate changes. They determine that the "scientific method" is a process of testing hypotheses...
Activity
US Environmental Protection Agency

Types of Radiation

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learn about radiation, and what everyday items produce radiation, with a series of activities about heat transfer. Kids go over basic information about electromagnetic waves and ionizing radiation before performing several experiments...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lighter Side of Color

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore light and color, including how colors are mixed to produce new colors, how light is filtered, and how light is reflected off of surfaces. They read materials provided, complete worksheets, and complete hands-on activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light 2: The Lighter Side of Color

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore light and color, including how colors are mixed to produce new colors, how light is filtered, and how light is reflected off of surfaces.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Chloroplasts and Pigments

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this plant pigments worksheet, students compare the function of 3 types of pigments: chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phycobilins. This worksheet has 23 fill in the blank, 3 drawing, and 2 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spectral Surprise

For Teachers K - 8th
Students create spectral colors. In this hands-on science lesson plan, students examine the electromagnetic spectrum as they follow steps to create a model that separates and displays light.