Exploratorium
Pupil
Give pupils a magnifier, a mirror, and a flashlight so that they can examine their own pupils. As they shine a light on their eyes, the light is shone on how this structure dilates and contracts to control how much is allowed into the...
Exploratorium
Jacques Cousteau in Seashells
Visionaries create images out of dots to demonstrate the eye-brain connection. Through this activity, they learn that the brain interprets data collected by the eye into recognizable information. Search online for "Jacques Cousteau in...
Exploratorium
Blind Spot
A small card with a dot and an X is held at arm's length and used to show youngsters where their blind spot is. This illuminating little activity is a compact addition to your lesson on the structure of the eye as it explains the part of...
Exploratorium
Afterimage
To illuminate how afterimage occurs, create a star, square, or other geometric-shaped light for learners to look at for 30 seconds. Then, have them explain what they see as they shift their focus to a blank wall. A full explanation of...
Exploratorium
Seeing Your Blind Spot
Viewers use a small, dimmed flashlight to identify the blind spot for both the right and left eye. It is a simple activity to incorporate into your activities during a lesson on vision and the structure and function of the eyeball.
Exploratorium
Seeing Your Retina
Using a dimmed flashlight, life science learners can see the network of blood vessels that line the back of their eye. Darken the room and let them try this activity as part of your unit on the eyeball. Also consider some of the other...
Exploratorium
Cheshire Cat
Divide your field of vision in two and see what happens when your two eyes behold two different scenes! This is a way to demonstrate to body-systems buffs how the two eyes usually blend pictures to create a three-dimensional view. This...
Exploratorium
Bird in the Cage
When your life science class is learning about the eye and how it works, you can add this activity as a demonstration of how the retina holds an afterimage. After staring at a red, green, or blue bird shape, pupils glance at a cage and...
Exploratorium
Peripheral Vision
Life science learners discover the range of peripheral vision. They compare the angles at which they can detect motion, colors, and detailed shapes.Â
Exploratorium
Whirling Watcher
Pupils put together their own stroboscopes so that they can observe how cyclically moving images appear to merge into a singular object. This, and several other activities published by the same source, illuminate the way the brain...
Exploratorium
Far Out Corners
Construct a three-dimensional optical illusion when your class is exploring vision and how the eye and brain work together. Three concave corners are mounted inside of a black box, but as a light is shined upon them, they appear to be...
Exploratorium
Cardboard Tube Syllabus
Construct paper tubes and then try out a few optical illusion tricks:
See a virtual hole in your own hand
Get a grasp of how the eyes combine images
Notice that one eye is dominant over the other
Reveal how your eyes adjust to...
Curated OER
Light, Colors, and Vision
Third graders experience optic illusions by creating flipbooks. In this optics lesson, 3rd graders view a demonstration of the workings of rods and cones using a camera. They are shown an optical illusion and work to create their own...
Curated OER
Science Crossword Puzzles: The Eye
The focus of this crossword puzzle is the anatomy of the eye. Using 9 clues, puzzlers fill in the spaces provided. If your class is working on the eye, this could be used as a quick in-class or homework review on anatomy. Answers are not...
Curated OER
The Eye; Structure and Function
Middle schoolers research the structure and function of the eye. In this anatomy lesson, students write a report about the eye and draw an illustration. They research a particular animal's eye then present their findings to the class...
Curated OER
How Evolution Works
Students work in groups to investigate and present genetic variation, adaptation, and sexual selection as it relates to evolution. In this evolution lesson, students watch a video discuss how the human eye could evolve due to natural...
Curated OER
For Your Eyes Only
Middle schoolers complete several activities in a unit related to the eye. In this eye lesson plan, students work in groups to research information about the human eye and create a multimedia presentation. They research anatomy of the...
Curated OER
The Human Eye
For this reading comprehension worksheet, students learn about the human eye by reading a 2 page passage and studying a diagram of the eye. Students answer 8 questions, and label a diagram of the eye.
Curated OER
An Eye on Science
Students investigate the human eye and its parts. They read and discuss various books about eyes and sight, draw a rough draft of an eye diagram, and create a final draft of their eye diagram including labeled parts using Kid Pix...
Curated OER
Superhumans & Bionics; Electronic Eyes
Young scholars examine the anatomy of the eye and the physiology of vision. Students participate in a modeling activity to demonstrate the difference between a healthy eye and an eye affected by macular degeneration. Young scholars...
Curated OER
20/20 Vision
Learners determine their own eyesight and calculate what a good average eyesight value for the class would be. They examine how technology enhances eyesight and how engineers play an important role in the development of these technologies.
Curated OER
All Those Seeing Color, Say Eye!
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.
Curated OER
In the Eyes of the Beholder
Students identify parts of the eye and their functions through participating in a cow's eye dissection lab. They investigate vision problems and diseases, focusing on their causes, and how abnormal vision can be aided with technology.
Curated OER
Hurricane and Tornadoes Group Creative Writing
Creating science literacy through writing gets scholars thinking about the context of scientific terms! Learners collaborate to write a short story about hurricanes and tornadoes in a group. Students have 25 minutes to write the story,...