Young scholars compare and contrast electromagnetic and physical waves. In this wave instructional activity, students discover that all waves reflect, refract, and diffract energy. Young scholars work in small groups to experiment with...

Learners examine where water is found in the world, how we use it, and the various forms it takes. They observe the refraction of light through a prism, record the day and night sky over a week's time, and create a topographic model of...

Twelfth graders investigate the refractive index of water. In this physics instructional activity, 12th graders explain the operation of laser. They write a lab report about the activity.

High schoolers are able to describe what happens to light when it strikes different materials. They describe the law of reflection. Students are able to explain why a mirror froms a virtual image. They are able to describe diffuse...

Young scholars experiment with mirrors. In this Mirrors and How They reflect lesson, students read how mirrors reflect light. Then young scholars perform over ten experiments and record their conclusions about mirrors and reflection....

Students conduct an experiment to determine how hot air affect the path of laser. In this physics activity, students explain why stars appear to twinkle at night. They discuss how light travels from space to Earth.

Is light related to insulation? An informative hands-on STEM activity demonstrates how light affects temperature. First, the class investigates how light passes through different mediums and how that relates to temperature. Then,...

Students study the movement of light. In this light lesson, students work in groups to participate in a light and shadow walk around their neighborhood. Students brainstorm rules for light movement and watch videos about light travel,...

Learners explore light, and how it travels in straight path, recognize that light-sensitive chemical processes can be used to create images using light as catalyst, discover that light can be refracted by convex lens to focus camera,...

Students build their own spectrophotometer to study light. In this physics lesson, students explain the dual nature of light. They calculate the angle of incidence and refraction using Snell's law equation.

Students study modern astronomy and technology.  In this telescope lesson plan students design and build a refracting telescope then redesign for better performance.

Students study photovoltaic technology. For this photovoltaic technology lesson, students simulate a photovoltaic system. Students discuss how to simulate a cloudy day.

Students read about and discuss photographic principles and, under the direction of the art teacher, construct individual cameras from heavy black cardboard and thin sheet metal with a hole for the lens and black tape for the shutter.

Students investigate the essential concepts of how lenses work to magnify vision, and then build simple telescopes to demonstrate their understanding. They write a description of how their telescope could be improved and how it works.

Young scholars explore the weather system by analyzing water properties. In this precipitation lesson, students review weather related vocabulary terms and discuss how rainbows are created by light hitting droplets at the right time....

Young scholars review and discuss how Solar energy and electricity produce light and heat. They create a photo/picture journal and include pictures taken during solar energy activities to a PowerPoint slide presentation.

Students are assigned to groups, and determine each member's role in the group. They will design an experiment to determine a way to produce the three primary and five secondary colors. Students discuss color and mood. They listen to a...

Students create their own cameras to understand how artists use light to capture an image in a photograph. In this light lesson plan, students use tape, wax paper, rubber bands, and more to create their cameras.

Students explore diffusion or scattering of light. In this physics lesson plan, students explain why the sky is blue and sunsets/sunrises are red.

Learners analyze water quality and turbidity of collected samples. In this physics lesson, students conduct tests to identify the suspended particles in the samples. They explain how human activities affect water quality.

Eleventh graders explore the different steps in the engineering process. In this physics lesson, 11th graders design an experiment based on topic given. They prepare a presentation and share it with the class.

Eleventh graders investigate the nature of light. In this physics lesson plan, 11th graders determine how light intensity varies with the distance of the light source.