Students define and discus the concepts of wave fronts and rays. In groups, they distinguish between specular and diffuse reflections and use Snell's Law to predict the path of light rays. They calculate the speed of light through...

Ninth graders study optics and the law of reflection.  In this optical images lesson students use a laser and conceptualize the law of reflection.

Young scholars examine light waves and see how they travel. They explain that light moves in waves, which can bounce off of or go through materials. They use a flashlight to shine on a variety of objects.

Students investigate lenses and mirrors showing how they bend and reflect light waves.

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...

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.

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...

Sometimes different parts of the brain disagree. See what this disagreement looks like using a remote learning resource to experience how brains often take shortcuts. Pupils complete the activity, observe their results, and then read...

Can you beat the odds of cancer? In the first installment of a seven-part series, future biomedical engineers consider how to detect and diagnose cancer. An article on biosensors provides useful information toward this goal.

Students explore water. For this water lesson, students explore the physical properties and states of water. They observe how water changes states and document what they see.

Third graders study light and shadow, participate in mirror activities, and build a periscope.

Students explore vision by experimenting with lenses in equipment. In this optics lesson, students define the different technology that enhances vision such as microscopes, telescopes and cameras. Students experiment with these devices...

In this space worksheet, students will review different aspects of light, sound, and radio waves in space and the use of different types of telescopes. This worksheet has 17 fill in the blank statements.

Students experiment with reflections of two plane mirrors placed at a 90 degree angle to see what will be reflected.

Students explore scientific observations by examining the parts of a microscope. In this optics instructional activity, students discuss the importance of a focal point and focal distance when utilizing an optical device such as a...

Seventh graders create a kaleidoscopes after researching Sir David Brewster and his ideas on light. They recognize the properties of optics from making and using the kaleidoscopes.

In this astronomy optics worksheet, students calculate the angular resolution and maximum resolution for given telescope specifics. This worksheet has 3 problems to solve.

In this retrograde motion worksheet, students draw a diagram of the night sky by connecting dots to show retrograde motion. They compare retrograde motion to an optical illusion and answer questions about both.

In this senses worksheet, students use the terms listed on the eye to label the figure and describe how light entering the eye becomes an image seen. Then they name the three main sections of the ear and explain what the cochlea does.

Seventh graders experiment with white light, plane mirrors, and curved mirrors in order to demonstrate the physical principles of living systems. In this physical principles lesson plan, 7th graders take 3 days to discover what happens...

Students study the eye. In this biology lesson plan, students observe and experiment with visual images as they learn about the basic parts of the eye. Students also demonstrate how an image is projected upon the retinal network.

Fourth graders compare electricity and magnetism. In this science lesson, 4th graders discuss the concepts of electricity and magnetism and brainstorm examples of electrical and magnetic forces.

Students assess how algebra, telescopes, space exploration and optics are so important in astronomy. They encounter studies on the Hubble Space Telescope, Hubble Deep Field and how algebra helps to determine the effects of contamination...

Students define reflection and refraction. In this Physics lesson, students compare a variety of items to find properties of reflection or refraction. Students record their findings.