Curated OER
How Telescopes Work
Students experiment with water and mirrors to better understand how telescopes work. In this telescopes lesson plan, students use water and mirrors to see how mirrors reflect light and create a magnified image.
Curated OER
Reflections
Students are given materials with various textures and light sources to investigate specular reflection, diffuse, reflection, angle of incidence, and angle of reflection. Students draw and label an everyday scenario showing specular and...
Curated OER
Microscopes, Telescopes, and Cameras
In this lenses worksheet, learners will explain how microscopes work by completing 4 short answer questions. Students will compare refracting telescopes with reflecting telescopes by writing the terms given under the correct column. Then...
Curated OER
Discovery Matching Worksheet
In this science worksheet, learners match the vocabulary term on the left side with the definition on the right related to the concept of light.
Curated OER
Seed Structure and Seed Dispersal
Third graders plant seeds. In this seed structure activity, 3rd graders identify parts of a seed and plant a lima bean seed. Students discuss and reflect on the process in their journals.
Curated OER
Frozen Film
Students are introduced to the topic of light interference through this hands-on activity. They observe how light reflects off two surfaces and then meets to form an interesting variation of color on a film surface.
Curated OER
Me And My Shadow
Students investigate the concept of a shadow. They design a tool to create shadows for an experiment. They make observations and record the size and shape of shadows. The lesson contains background information for the teacher to deliver...
Curated OER
Microscope Mania Unit Review
In this microscope worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given twenty three hints about the parts of a microscope, the magnification of a microscope and the types of microscopes.
Curated OER
Is Your Blue Really Blue? [Metamerism]
Students learn fundamentals about color perception, and explain the phenomenon called "metamerism". Students learn the three basic components of color perception: light source, illuminated colored object, and the light detector.
Curated OER
As the Sun Burns
Students examine the types of light the sun gives the Earth. They describe the electro-magnetic spectrum and how to protect themselves from different types of light. They identify the layers of the atmosphere as well.
Curated OER
Colored Shadows
Students examine how humans perceive color. In this refracted light lesson, students explore the different ways color is seen by the human eye. Students will use colored lights and colored paper and solid objects to make additive color...
Curated OER
Making a Pinhole Camera #1
Young scholars make a pinhole camera and see the effects of light travelling in straight lines have on images.
Curated OER
Making a Pinhole Camera #2
Students make a pinhole camera and see the effects that light travelling in straight lines have on images.
Curated OER
Phase In, Phase Out, the Magnificent Moon
First graders discuss why the moon appears to change shape. They use flashlights and balls to simulate the sun's light shining on the moon during its different phases. They read books, paint pictures and write sentences about the moon.
Curated OER
Sky Show
Students participate in a discussion of the sky and colors. They watch a demonstration of how colors can change. They examine the issue of if weather should be a part of their coursework.
Curated OER
AP: Chapter 10: Photosynthesis
AP biologists or college-level botanists consider in-depth details of the photosynthetic process. They examine the structures in a leaf and the roles that they play. They label neat and colorful diagrams of photosystems and electron...
Curated OER
Venus
Looking for a good worksheet to help teach about the planet Venus? This worksheet is for you! An excellent photograph of Venus accompanies three paragraphs of text. Learners answer five multiple choice questions based on what they've...
Curated OER
Creating Biodiesel and Mitigating Waste
Biotechnology pros produce their own biofuel using waste oil and fresh vegetable oil. They test the quality of their product using titration techniques and pH analysis. They write their observations and report their findings. Be aware...
Rochester Institute of Technology
Solar Energy
Warm up to the idea of solar energy. A lesson includes three activities that challenge scholars to apply knowledge in new ways. First, they learn to run an alarm clock without a battery by using solar energy. Next, they complete an...
Rochester Institute of Technology
Chemical Reactions and Electricity
After a discussion of chemical reactions and electricity, scholars break into groups and follow a scripted activity to discover if fruit can power a clock. After a concluding discussion, the class a presented with a challenge.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Micro-GEEBITT Climate Activity
A truly hands-on and inquiry based learning activity bridges all the lessons in the series together. Beginning with a discussion on average global temperatures, young meteorologists use real-world data to analyze climate trends in order...
Science 4 Inquiry
Phases of the Moon
The moon takes just over 27 days to orbit around Earth. Young scientists position themselves as the earth as they rotate around the sun and hold the moon. This allows them to observe the patterns and phases of the moon.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Making a Liquid Crystal Thermometer
Introduce your classes to a fourth state of matter! Liquid crystals have a colorful sheen that changes based on different physical factors. Learners use this information to create a liquid crystal thermometer where the color of the...
Exploratorium
Vocal Visualizer
Make sound visible with an activity that provides directions for how to build a vocal visualizer meant to create light patterns. Making noise into the visualizer causes a mirror to vibrate, reflecting a laser beam, and creating...