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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads

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

How to verify the relationship between the wavelength and frequency of light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collaborate in heterogeneous groups with each student having a different role. They comprehend the relationship between the frequency and wavelength of light. They record their observations in a table that is included on this...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Now You See Me, Now You Don't

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Bioluminescence fascinates most upper elementary scientists. Display images of different glowing deep-sea organisms and discuss their environment. Young biologists then experiment with images and different colors of filtered light. In...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders observe light being separated into a color spectrum.  In this electromagnetic lesson students use a diffraction grating to separate light and compare light sources. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Role Does Light Play Within the Vision Process?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the relationship between light and vision. In groups, they participate in experiments to discover how different wavelengths are divided in the visible spectrum. They record their answers and discuss their...
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Jell-O® Waveguide and Power Loss

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
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 of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Technology (5A) Lab

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore electromagnetic waves and light. In this light lesson, 5th graders draw the parts of a wave of the electromagnetic spectrum. They compare a flashlight to a laser to see how the light looks when shined through...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm So Bright, I Wear My Shades Indoors

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers observe and draw energy using UV beads. They describe how light can be produced, reflected, refracted, and separated into visible light of various colors.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colorful Colorado

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate the components of white light as viewed through a prism. The multiple colors of the spectrum produced are related to wavelengths and experienced through the creation of a color wheel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Frequency, Roy G. Biv?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the concept of frequency and wavelength. They analyze how frequency and wavelength relate to each other by conducting an experiment involving measuring and timing wavelengths by pulling adding machine tape through an...
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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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Lesson

For Teachers 1st
First graders complete sunlight and solar effects activities to learn about light and its power. In this solar activity activity, 1st graders complete a sunscreen test activity, a light test, a black light test, a cloudy test, a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun's Energy

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine how the sun's energy arrives as light with a range of wavelengths. They discuss the characteristics of light, examine the color of light using a spectroscope, and conduct an experiment using water and thermometers....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unraveling the Mysteries of Objects in Space

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study emitted and absorbed light, and label each type of spectrum. They identify elements by their spectral signatures and use a spectroscope.
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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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Solar Beads

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils discover solar energy beads and learn about ultraviolet light. In this solar energy lesson, students learn about solar energy beads, ultraviolet light, and UV radiation dangers. Pupils experiment with the beads to identify.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summer Research Program for Science Teachers

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students analyze the optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Why Is the Sky Blue?"

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate why the sky is blue and the sunset is red. They are asked why do you think that we see the sky as blue? Students write a hypothesis on their "Blue Sky Lab Sheet". They explain why they think that the sky is blue...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Obtain a visible spectra of chlorophyll a

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students become familiar with the concept of spectroscopy or the study of the interaction of matter with electromagnetic radiation. They prepare solutions and measure absorbance at different wavelengths. Pupils comprehend that mater and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atomic Absorption Determination of Zinc and Copper in a Multivitamin

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Advanced lab apprentices prepare zinc and copper solutions to which they will compare the same minerals from a multivitamin. Using absorption spectroscopy, they analyze the contents of the multivitamin for concentration. This lab can be...
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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

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

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

What You See Is What You Get

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore light and colors. They see how white light is made up of various colors. They need to have some background knowledge about prisms, light wave lengths, and behavior of light, primary and secondary colors, and ratios.