Activity
Discovery Education

Market Research and Design: The Headphone Challenge

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Watch augmented reality bring classrooms to life. Scholars work in groups to design, build, and market a new pair of headphones meant for children under three. They use an augmented reality app to show their headphones in action as they...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Purdue University

Design of Music Instruments for a Rock Band

For Teachers 3rd
Can you create a rock band? Scholars learn about the creation and transmission of sound in a hands-on STEM activity. First, they explore the transmission of sound using a tuning fork. Then, they must solve the problem of missing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Light and Temperature on the Growth and Development of Plants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the effects of light and temperature on plant growth and development. In this plant growth lesson plan, students use radish plants and cover them with different shades of green and red transparencies and observe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson- Colors of Stars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Student describes what happens to the color of a stove burner or a coal as it gets hotter. They use the applet to determine what range of temperatures range give you a red light, what range of temperatures would give you a white light,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spectrophotometry Lab

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use a machine called a spectrophotometer to determine how much light is absorbed by certain substances. Students record the absorbance and the % of light transmitted for different color solutions, graph their results, and then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Light

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners study the basic structure of the atom. For this chemistry lesson, students explain how colors relate to energy that electrons emit. They calculate energy of the emitted photons.
Organizer
Curated OER

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this electromagnetic spectrum worksheet, students will brainstorm a main idea about this spectrum and then write in 3 supporting details. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determining Red-Shift in a Receding Star

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars practice manipulating algebra formulas with more than one variable. They examine the topics of velocity, wavelength and frequency. They determine the amount of red-shift in a receding star.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examining Spectra

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the spectra with the use of light while constructing their own spectroscope. They make observations about the colors and visible wavelengths of light and then conduct classroom discussions. As an extension students read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do You Hear What I Hear?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners study hearing and are able to differentiate between different sound waves.  In this sound wave lesson students develop a cause and effect model that shows the parts of the ear. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meteor Monitor

For Teachers 11th
Student's measure sporadic meteor activity.  In this physics and astronomy lesson, 11th graders construct a dipole antennae, and build, test and wire a full wave diode rectifier between the dipole antenna and the laptop. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Harmonic Motion Equations

For Students 10th - 12th
In this harmonic motion instructional activity, students use the equations for the speed of a wave and speed of sound to complete 9 problems and 9 fill in the blank questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Electron Microscope

For Students 9th - 12th
In this microscope worksheet, students read about how the electron microscope was created and how it works. Based on the reading, students complete 2 short answer questions.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Quantum Mechanics and Atomic Physics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students will discuss the de Brogile Hypothesis and state the circumstances under which the wave nature of matter is observed. They will also calculate the wavelengths of matter waves.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Detection Detective

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe what each detection method uses and rank the wavelengths of each if appropriate. They answer questions about absorption, importance of materials and explain differences. Students make sure they describe diagnostic uses...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students calculate the values of electron binding energies. In this physics lesson plan, students solve for different wavelength characteristics of X-rays. They present their findings to the class.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Geometrical Optics: Reflection and Refraction of Light

For Teachers 11th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sine Function

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners explore the concept of the sine function. In this sine function lesson, students use a plexiglass sine wave generator to visualize the sine function. Learners use a computer program/calculator to adjust aspects of the sine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grating Spectrometer

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars calculate the Balmer series. In this physics instructional activity, students observe hydrogen lamp spectra using spectrometers. They calculate wavelength and compare them with their theoretical calculations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking at the World in a Different Light Quiz

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students participate in a quiz about light, colors and wavelength.  For this investigative lesson students use the Internet to take a quiz on light. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light 1: Making Light of Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introduced to the electromagnetic spectrum, focusing on visible light. They are introduced to the idea that all light travels as waves, and that wavelength defines the various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unraveling the Mysteries of Objects in Space

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study emitted and absorbed light, and label each type of spectrum. They identify elements by their spectral signatures and use a spectroscope.
Lesson Plan
California Institute of Technology

Physics of Light

For Students 9th - 12th
Gummy bears are tasty, but did you know they are also used to determine color and light properties? Use the activity as a way to demonstrate light absorption, light reflection, and refraction with high schooler....
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Sound

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Add a little music to your next physics class. Pupils discuss how frequency determines pitch and take part in several activities designed to teach them more about sound, melody, resonance, and vibrations. They use materials to construct...