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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Luminous Efficacy (Efficiency)

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the basics of luminous efficacy and why it is used.  In this light source lesson students test energy efficiency and the luminous efficiency for babies.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Infrared-Hot

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students describe how the sun heats the Earth, explain the nature of infrared light, explain how thunderstorms are formed and use infrared maps to predict severe weather.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Practical Illustrations of Astronomical Concepts Relating to the Solar System

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders are introduced to concepts related to the Solar System. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they must describe a ray of light and how it travels. They draw a diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Color Recognition

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars envision how space observatories make use of monochromatic filters to collect data on the color of objects in space. They see the actual colors of objects when they are in monochromatic light.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain and Rainbows

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore the weather system by analyzing water properties. In this precipitation activity, students review weather related vocabulary terms and discuss how rainbows are created by light hitting droplets at the right time....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As the Sun Burns

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the types of light the sun gives the Earth. They describe the electro-magnetic spectrum and how to protect themselves from different types of light. They identify the layers of the atmosphere as well.
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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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stellar Fingerprints: the Spectra of Stars

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explain how an element can be identified using emission spectra. They relate the emission spectrum of hydrogen to its absorption spectrum and identify hydrogen absorption lines in the spectrum of stars.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spectral Surprise

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

Electromagnetic Radiation and the Bohr Atom

For Students Higher Ed
In this light worksheet, students calculate the frequency and wavelength. Students practice applying Planck's constant and determining the energy of a photon. This worksheet has 9 problems to solve.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Starlight, Star Heat

For Students 7th - 12th
In this stars learning exercise, students read how astronomers calculate the temperature of a star by measuring its color. Students use a chart showing star temperatures and colors to complete 3 short answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Universe in a Different Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils become aware of some of the objects studied in, and concepts associated with, high-energy astronomy. They do this by participating in card games that teach and review these concepts.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining Spectra

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the spectra with the use of light while constructing their own spectroscope. They make observations about the colors and visible wavelengths of light and then conduct classroom discussions. As an extension students read...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's All In The Surface: The Effects Of Color & Texture On The Ability Of A Surface To Absorb Solar Energy

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine how dark surfaces absorb more light than light surfaces. They perform an experiment that compares various surfaces abilities to absorb heat, then record and analyze the results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Those Seeing Color, Say Eye!

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discuss feelings and explore how to recognize how they are feeling.  In this exploratory lesson students discuss conflict and ways to resolve problems. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Those Seeing Color, Say Eye!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research and discuss the roles of the eye and brain in the perception of color. They watch a slideshow and complete a worksheet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Show

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in a discussion of the sky and colors. They watch a demonstration of how colors can change. They examine the issue of if weather should be a part of their coursework.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore water. In this water lesson, students explore the physical properties and states of water. They observe how water changes states and document what they see.
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Tools to Study Tornadoes and Galaxies

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Take your class on an intergalactic journey as they explore the galaxy and various meteorological events taking place in our atmosphere each day. Learners investigate electromagnetic waves and the Doppler Effect before gathering radar...
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Unit Plan
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NASA

The Atmospheric Filter

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
What is the difference between a comet and a meteoroid? An educational lesson includes five demonstrations of how the atmosphere can inhibit our ability to measure many things in the galaxy. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get the Picture!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Astronomers practice downloading data from a high-energy satellite and translate the data into colored or shaded pixels. As a hands-on activity, they use pennies to simulate high-energy satellite data and they convert their penny...
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Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Why Does it Get Colder on a Clear Night than a Cloudy Night?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Clouds are nature's insulator! A lab investigation asks learners to use an infrared thermometer to measure differences in infrared temperatures. They find that pointing the thermometer at a cloud has a much different result than pointing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 4 Activity 1: Mapping the Third Dimension

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students work in pairs to construct a simple stereoscope.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galaxies

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the structure and content of galaxies. Through discussion, lab, and hands-on activities, they discover the general structure of the three types of galaxies as well as the effect they have on the structure and...