Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electromagnetic Energy and Its Spectrum

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Your older elementary students investigate electromagnetic energy and the electromagnetic spectrum. They will observe 7 items represented in the electromagnetic spectrum and make a poster of all the things the items have in common. After...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You See the Light?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars investigate the transmission of light energy. In this light energy lesson, students observe bubbles using different colored filters and record their observations. They also look at a light source through various materials...
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

What's the Difference Between Blue Light and Red Light?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Finally, an electromagnetic spectrum lab that will get glowing reviews from your class! Explore the nature of light using red and blue LED sources and fantastic phosphorescent paper. Young scientists compare the effects of blue light...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunrise/Sunset

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discovver what causes the dramatic colors of a sunset by seeing the changing color of light as it passes through a clear container of water to which milk is gradually added. They measure the liquids and observe what happens...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Electricity ~ The Colour Sensitivity of a Photovoltaic Cell

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Teacher's notes, a materials list, detailed procedure, tips, and extension ideas are all included to make teaching this lesson on photovoltaic cells a sunny spot in your day! After some brief background reading, physical science...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blinded by the Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize that the colors they see are a result of the reflection of light. In this light and color lesson, students predict what color will be produced when lights are mixed. They identify the three primary colors and secondary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Photoelectric Effect in Photocells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Illuminate your physics class with this examination of a photovoltaic cell. Teach the structure and operation of the device using a diagram. Then make a human-powered, larger-than-life sized model of a PV cell. Learners become electrons...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kaleidoscope

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore energy by creating a light project in class. In this kaleidoscope lesson, students discuss the properties of light and how mirrors can reflect the energy in different directions. Students view a diagram of light...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Light and Temperature on the Growth and Development of Plants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the effects of light and temperature on plant growth and development. In this plant growth lesson plan, students use radish plants and cover them with different shades of green and red transparencies and...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shrinky Dinks® Palettes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here is a fun and clever lesson for teaching physics classes how to calculate wavelength if given the energy and frequency data. On a worksheet, they compute wavelengths using a table of information that you provide. On a paper palette,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black and White Bottle Experiment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate solar energy and color. In this solar energy instructional activity, students assess the benefits of solar energy. Students discover that solar energy is attracted to darker colors and conduct an experiment...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flame Tests

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students perform flame tests on 12 elements. In this flame tests lesson plan, students experiment with elements to observe their visible light spectra emitted as electrons jump from one energy level to another. Students record their...
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

Light Week

For Teachers 1st
First graders experiment with prisms to explore sequence of colors of light created.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Help Wanted: A Lighting Engineer For Popular Rock Group

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Light: Lesson 2 - The Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate the Electromagnetic Spectrum and realize there is energy beyond visible light. They identify parts of the EM Spectrum.
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Why Is the Sky Purple?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The color of the sky depends on the time of day. Young scholars experiment with scattering different wavelengths of light to recreate the color of the sky. They observe both the longer blue wavelengths and the shorter red and orange...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them.  In this investigative lesson students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their findings. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine how light waves travel. In this properties of light lesson plan, students observe how light travels in water, how light is reflected and refracted, and how light is pure energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Color of Light

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the components of light as a combination of several colors. The focus of the lesson reveals that objects are viewed in a certain color because that color is reflected off of the object.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bubble-ology

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students observe the visible spectrum while observing light hitting the surface of bubbles. They blow large bubbles and observe how the colors change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring the Wavelengths of Visible Light

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students demonstrate use of an Emission tube power supply, a diffraction grating, and a scientific calculator to determine the different wavelengths of light.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everybody Needs a Little Sunshine

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Three activities introduce upper elementary ecologists to photosynthesis and food webs. In the first, an experiment is set up to determine how plants respond to different types of light. In the second, they connect organism cards with...