Purdue University
Field Trip Snack Holder
Is light related to insulation? An informative hands-on STEM activity demonstrates how light affects temperature. First, the class investigates how light passes through different mediums and how that relates to temperature. Then,...
Curated OER
Energy and Control
Students investigate the question, "how does understanding the properties and characteristics of light help us to enhance our quality of life?". They apply knowledge gained though the unit in order to create an optical device.
Curated OER
Water Works Wonders
Students examine where water is found in the world, how we use it, and the various forms it takes. They observe the refraction of light through a prism, record the day and night sky over a week's time, and create a topographic model of...
Curated OER
Take-Home Midterm Exam #3, Part A
Let your physics learners take this electromagnetic radiation exam home to show what they know. You could also use it in class or assign it as a review. The content covers concepts pertaining to color, wavelength, frequency,...
Curated OER
Geometrical Optics: Reflection and Refraction of Light
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...
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
Super Gelatin
High schoolers investigate the refraction properties of gelatin to calculate its index of refraction. They discover that as the light travels through the gelatin, its speed and wavelength also change. Students find th indes of refraction...
Urbana School District
Waves
What is a physicist's favorite part of sports? Doing the wave. The presentation covers longitudinal, transverse, surface, and standing waves. It includes in-depth information on frequency, wavelength, period, amplitude, reflection,...
Curated OER
Take-Home Midterm Exam #3
The University of Hawaii has published a vast collection of midterm and final exams for their Physics 152 course. This particular exam offers a variety of assessment methods, and covers the topic of electromagnetic radiation....
Curated OER
An Introduction to Light Unit-Third Grade
Third graders are introduced to light in an eight part unit which includes activities, additional resources, and rubrics for each part. Students address topics such as energy, reflection, absorption, and refraction through hands-on...
Curated OER
Capturing Light: The Science of Photography
Students explore light, and how it travels in straight path, recognize that light-sensitive chemical processes can be used to create images using light as catalyst, discover that light can be refracted by convex lens to focus camera,...
Curated OER
Light and Our World
In this science worksheet, students solve a variety of curriculum related puzzles. They also practice basic mental math skills using four operations. The concept of light and color are explored and how it interacts with different objects.
Curated OER
Physics: Light and Sound
Young scholars explore the concepts of light waves and sound waves. In this physics instructional activity, students complete activities that require them to investigate how light and sound waves travel.
Curated OER
Light and Vision
In this light and vision worksheet, students will review the characteristics of light including how the eyes use light to see. This worksheet has 9 fill in the blank, 8 true or false, 9 multiple choice, and 1 short answer question.
Curated OER
Bending Light
Sixth graders read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, discuss refraction, identify example of it from novel, and perform classroom experiments demonstrating refraction and reflection.
Curated OER
Reflection, Refraction & Lenses
Students are able to describe what happens to light when it strikes different materials. They describe the law of reflection. Students are able to explain why a mirror froms a virtual image. They are able to describe diffuse reflection.
Curated OER
Light, Sound and Energy
The students will be given opportunities to work independently and in teacher-directed situations to study and discover the many facets of light and sound, and the uses of energy in our environment. The grade 4 students will learn the...
Physics Classroom
A Critical Lab
Physics lab groups finagle with laser lights to determine the critical angle of refraction for both water and Lucite. Because there are no detailed steps or an answer key for this enlightening exercise, an inexperienced physics...
Curated OER
Light & Crystals
Pupils observe a demonstration of light refraction. They experiment with disappearing crystals to further study light refraction.
Curated OER
Lemon Light
High schoolers engage in a lesson plan which model different types of light refraction. They perform an experiment which uses lasers, jello and wax paper to illustrate how light refracts.
Curated OER
Light Is Amazing
Learners 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.
Teach Engineering
Bubbles and Biosensors
Bubbles aren't just for children. In the third installment of a seven-part series, teenagers use bubble solution to create bubbles and observe patterns of refraction on the bubble surfaces. Application of this concept to thin films in...
Cornell University
Beam Focusing Using Lenses
Explore optics using an inquiry-based experimental approach! Young scholars use a set of materials to design and build a unit capable of focusing a beam of light. They experiment with different lenses to determine the best approach to...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Physics (5B) Post Lab
Fifth graders analyze optical images. in this optical activity, 5th graders look at how light reflects and refracts. They discuss different types of lenses and how they change the picture that is taken.