Activity
Utah Education Network

Uen: I'll Build You a Rainbow

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In these three activities, students explore the colors of the spectrum in white light.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Quantization of Energy

For Students 10th - 12th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students will understand how to use Planck's constant to calculate the relationship between a photon's energy and the frequency of emitted light. Includes a...
Handout
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Light, Matter, Energy: Light the Way

For Students 3rd - 8th
What is electromagnetic radiation and how does it work? Review a captioned graphic that explains electromagnetic radiation and the visible and invisible types of radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Visible Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, the electromagnetic spectrum is explained and students learn that visible light makes up only a portion of this wide spectrum. Students also learn that engineers use electromagnetic waves for many different applications.
Handout
Johns Hopkins University

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Students 9th - 10th
NASA related site shows the entire Electromagnetic Spectrum. Provides a brief description of the expansive colored spectrum as well as a related link that provides more details.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Emission Spectrum

For Teachers 9th - 10th
We will reintroduce the students to the electromagnetic spectrum and visible light. We will talk about the states of electrons(ground and excited). The teacher will show a video link (Electrons in Atoms). We will then perform the science...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Ultraviolet Radiation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An interactive PowerPoint will be used to introduce the electromagnetic spectrum. Learners use UV beads to observe changes caused by the sun's rays and evaluate sunscreen effectiveness. Harmful effects of UV exposure will be described...
Unit Plan
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Temperature and Absolute Zero

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough, multipage discussion of color and color television sets that explains how an image is formed on the television using red, green, and blue light. Understandable discussion, excellent graphics, and many interactive Java applets.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Space Place: The Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Students 5th - 8th
Find out how energy, frequency, and wavelength are related in terms of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Unit Plan
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Physics 2000: Einstein's Legacy: Microwave Ovens

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of pages that explain how microwave radiation is utilized by ovens to cook food. Includes several Java applets.
eBook
Simon Fraser University

Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Light and Electromagnetic Radiation

For Students 9th - 10th
In discussing the findings of James Clerk Maxwell and Michael Faraday, this site reveals information and formulas related to electromagnetic radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum.
Interactive
Physics Aviary

Physics Aviary: Em Spectrum Lab

For Students 9th - 10th
This lab is designed to allow students to look at the factors affecting the location of different colors formed by diffraction grating.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Visual Spectrum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students make simple spectroscopes (prisms) to look at different light sources. The spectroscopes allow students to see differing spectral distributions of different light sources.
Handout
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Blue Skies and Red Sunsets

For Students 9th - 10th
This high school resource shows how the blue of the skies and the red of the sunsets can be explained by the interaction of sunlight with atmospheric particles which causes scattering of light.
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.
Unknown Type
Physics4kids

Physics 4 Kids: Light Overview Quiz

For Students 9th - 10th
Take this ten question multiple choice quiz on the main concepts of light.
Handout
NASA

Electromagnetic Spectrum: Ultraviolet Waves

For Students 9th - 10th
Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths than visible light. Though these waves are invisible to the human eye, some insects can see them. The specific wavelength values are given. Uses and applications of these waves are explained.
Activity
Optical Society

Optical Society of America: Optics for Kids: Release the Rainbow

For Students 3rd - 5th
A simple activity to demonstrate how light separates into colors when it passes through water acting as a prism.
Handout
Trinity College Dublin

The History of Mathematics: Young

For Students 9th - 10th
A short sketch of the life and work of Thomas Young (1773-1829 CE). Traces early upbringing and education and his scientific discoveries and contributions.
Handout
NASA

Nasa's the Space Place: A Trip to the Land of the Magic Windows

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the electromagnetic spectrum and learn about each type of energy on the spectrum.
Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Color

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Georgia State University discusses the location of visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum. Includes the wavelength values for various colors of light within the visible light spectrum.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Black Magic

For Students K - 1st
A great and easy-to-do activity where students separate the colors in a black marker and develop an understanding that black is a composite of other colors.
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.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Burn Baby Burn!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The learners will review the concepts of electromagnetic spectrum, properties of light, and the transition from ground to excited state of electrons in atoms. In laboratory groups, the students will identify the characteristic light...