Teach Engineering
Concentrating on the Sun with PVs
Concentrate to determine the best reflector design. Pairs use the engineering design process to build a reflector to increase the current output of a photovotaic panel. Teams arrive at a final design and present it to the class along...
CK-12 Foundation
Diamond Cut
How do jewelers tell the difference between diamonds, glass, and cubic zirconia? A sparkling simulation demonstrates how to use a ray of light to determine the substance and ideal shape for a diamond. Scholars control the material,...
Rice University
College Physics for AP® Courses
Take a look at an organized physics course. The 34-section electronic textbook covers material in AP® Physics 1 and 2. Teachers use the text to supplement lectures and have the class work through the labs. Each section contains multiple...
Curated OER
How Light Moves
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,...
Curated OER
Plane Mirrors
Students investigate the law of reflection by using mirrors. In this physics lesson, students operate a robot using IR controllers. They explain the path of light as it reflects through a surface.
Curated OER
Kaleidoscope
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...
Curated OER
The Space Cadet's Laboratory: Using Electromagnetic Energy to Study Astronomy
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.
Teach Engineering
Concentrated Solar Power
The seventh segment in an eight-part unit promotes the idea of concentrating the sun to increase the power of a photovoltaic panel. Pupils learn about devices used such as reflectors or lenses.
Curated OER
Wax On, Wane Off
Students investigate the cycles of the moon through an in class experiment. For this lunar lesson, students utilize a tennis ball and their own head to simulate the moon and Earth and create moon phases by observing the tennis ball from...
Curated OER
Light Is Amazing
Students investigate light and its energy. They discuss the properties of light, research how much light the moon absorbed on their birthday on a website, complete a graphic organizer, and create a kaleidoscope.
Curated OER
Waves Worksheet
In this light waves worksheet, students complete 7 short answer questions where they analyze and record findings about the properties of light waves.
Curated OER
Bonding Theories
In this bonding worksheet, students fill in 8 blanks with the appropriate terms about theories of bonding, they determine if 6 statements are true or false, they match 5 terms with their meanings and they solve 1 problem related to...
Curated OER
Mirror Writing
For this mirror writing worksheet, students follow the directions to decide which alphabet letters are symmetrical. Students use a mirror and a white light as they work in partners to trace simple shapes.
Curated OER
Enlightening Explorations, Part II
Sixth graders review their results from the previous experiments. After viewing a kaleidoscope, they make their own pattern on paper and describe the role of light. To end the instructional activity, they examine light being relfected...
Curated OER
Elementary Exploration: Seeing the Light
Pupils use critical thinking skills to learn about light, sound, and matter. Students follow the procedure steps to complete a light, sound, and matter experiment.
Curated OER
Gasping for Truth
Twelfth graders investigate global responses to fighting the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome, then write a news report for people in their region of study.(April 3, 2003)
Curated OER
The Reason for the Seasons; Science, Geography
Students think about what causes the seasons to change, reflect on what they know about seasons and how their lives affected by seasonal changes.
Curated OER
Three D Constellations
Students are introduced to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder. They convert spherical coordinates to Cartesian coordinates to construct a three dimensional model of a constellation...
Curated OER
Where Will It Go?
Students predict the path of a ball bouncing off an object. In this physics lesson, students conduct the rolling ball experiment to test their prediction. They perform several trials for accuracy.
Michigan Technological University
Giant Mirrors
Did you know some retailers use curved mirrors in their fitting rooms to make customers look thinner? Pupils view themselves in convex and concave mirrors to understand the difference. The resource includes big ideas for multiple age...
US Department of Energy
Solar Cooking
Who needs a barbecue grill to cook hot dogs when you have the amazing power of the sun at your disposal? Engage young scientists in learning about solar energy with this fun activity that turns a used Pringles can into a solar powered...
Curated OER
Light and Optics
In this light and optics worksheet, students match the light and optics vocabulary with their definitions. Students match 21 words to their definitions.
Curated OER
The Legendary Raptors
How are raptors and airplanes alike? Combine science and language arts in this fun and interactive project. Young scientists research the animal in order to design their own aircraft, and compete in a contest for farthest, fastest, and...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Attitude Determines Altitude
A fabulous lesson which combines mathematics with space science. Middle schoolers work in cooperative groups in order to research early astronauts and their accomplishments. They look at a variety of rocket and space shuttle designs, and...