Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Properties of Waves

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this direct instruction lesson, learners draw sketches in their science notebooks in order to make sense of wave properties. Resources include a slideshow presentation on the properties of waves and multiple examples of student work.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Make Your Own Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site students can make their own telescope and see how it works with this experiment. Out of a light, a pair of glasses, a magnifying glass and wax paper.
Handout
Healthline Media

Medical News Today: Articles: Eye Health: What Is Astigmatism?

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about astigmatism, a type of refractive error where the eye does not bend light properly, thereby causing blurred vision. Also explained are the causes, treatment, and diagnosis of astigmatism.
Handout
Florida State University

Florida State University: Science, Optics & You: E Tienne Louis Malus

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Etienne-Louis Malus (1775-1812), a famous French mathematician and physicist, best known for his work in double refraction and in polarization.
Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Light

For Teachers 4th - 6th
In this activity, students actually find the angles of reflection and incidence.
Interactive
Walter Fendt

Walter Fendt: Apps Zur Physik

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, in German, offers numerous apps that illustrate common physics principles. Apps are organized into categories: mechanics, oscillations and waves, electrodynamics, optics, thermodynamics, the theory of relativity, physics of...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Do Glasses Help Us See?

For Students 9th - 10th
Today, glasses help millions of people with poor vision be able to see clearly. But how? Andrew Bastawrous and Clare Gilbert help unravel the answer by explaining refraction- the ability of a transparent medium, like glass, water, or the...
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 2

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners will use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. Resources included are videos of the lesson plan in action, a student worksheet, and an...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Helping Students Discover Total Internal Reflection

For Teachers 9th - 10th
After students have learned the basic relationship of Snell's Law, they practice applying it to a situation. Then they are given another situation where it doesn't work, which turns out to be one in which total internal reflection occurs.
Interactive
Educaplus (Jesús Peñas Cano)

Educaplus: La Luz

For Students 9th - 10th
What do you know about light? Learn about it through this interactive site. At the end you can take a test to test your knowledge. A scientific calculator is also provided.
Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: Applied Science and Technology 210: Electrical Engineering

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of video lectures from a course that explores the application of electrical engineering topics. Webpage includes twenty-eight lectures from a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Lectures vary in length and...
Article
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Ray Diagrams for Concave Mirrors Case B

For Students 9th - 10th
Ray diagrams are useful tools for determining the location of an image as produced by a concave mirror. Of all the rays which emanate from the top of the object arrow and are incident to the mirror, there are two rays whose behavior at...
Article
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Ray Diagrams for Concave Mirrors Case D

For Students 9th - 10th
Ray diagrams are useful tools for determining the location of an image as produced by a concave mirror. Of all the rays which emanate from the top of the object arrow and are incident to the mirror, there are two rays whose behavior at...
Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: About Rainbows

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University Corporation of Atmospheric Research provides an illustrated article about the phenomenon of rainbows.
Interactive
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Make a Rainbow

For Students 9th - 10th
Make a rainbow by changing angles and placement of the observer, the sun, and the rain.
Handout
Oklahoma Mesonet

Oklahoma Climatological Survey: Overview of Radiation

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details what radiation is, the physics of radiation, and radiative transfer as it occurs in nature. Content explores the electromagnetic spectrum, electromagnetic waves, properties of radiation, and solar radiation.
Interactive
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Reflection and Mirrors: Optics Bench Interactive

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the physics behind those fun-house mirrors. Students manipulate a virtual optics bench to explore the images formed by mirrors and lenses.
Website
Other

All About vision.com: Eye Conditions and Diseases

For Students 9th - 10th
Many articles with consumer information about lenses, eyewear, eye problems, and unique eye conditions. Vast content and many links to off-site information.
eBook
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science

For Students 4th
This customizable digital textbook covers topics related to fourth-grade science. It is Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Total Internal Reflection

For Students 9th - 10th
An investigation into the total internal reflection of light, using a laser pointer. Accompanied by an explanation of what's happening, a discussion of Snell's Law, and links to additional information.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Water Sphere Lens

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A discussion of how to make a magnifying lens exhibit using a water-filled flask and a light bulb. Consists of assembly instructions and a "To do and notice" section. Great for a teacher demonstration or a student project.
Article
Other

United States Master Swimming: Fiber Aquatics

For Students 9th - 10th
The principle of total internal reflection is discussed in this article. The appearance of objects from inside the water of a swimming pool is compared to the path of light in a fiber optic cable.
Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Fresnel, Augustin

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ScienceWorld provides a short biographical sketch of Augustin Fresnel (1788-1827 CE) and describes his most notable scientific discoveries and contributions. Links are provided throughout for additional information.
Activity
Boston University

Bu: Optics Demonstrations: Polarization

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Several short descriptions of demonstrations pertaining to polarization principles. Suitable as a supplement for a teacher lesson plan or as an idea-generator for a student project.

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