Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Cylindrical Mirror ActivityCylindrical Mirror Activity
Publisher
Exploratorium
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
7th - 9th
Subjects
Science
2 more...
Resource Type
Activities & Projects
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
15 mins
Instructional Strategies
Demonstration
1 more...
Technology
Scientific Equipment
Activity

Cylindrical Mirror

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Using flexible mirror-like paper, physical scientists experiment with images produced by curving it and looking into its reflective surface. They find that concave mirrors cause reflected light waves to cross and actually flip the image at certain distances. Include this activity with several more on how light travels.

11 Views 9 Downloads

Concepts

concave mirrors, mirrors

Additional Tags

concave mirror, reflection, science

Pros

  • A simple and classic activity for examining reflection with concave mirrors
  • Provides a thorough explanation of what path light takes in certain situations

Cons

  • Aluminized Mylar™ is not easy to obtain; instead, use mirror poster board, which combines both the aluminized Mylar™ and construction paper in the materials

See similar resources:

Activity

Reflected Light

It's About Time
The lesson allows young scientists to use lasers and mirrors to study reflected light. A reading passage and homework question assess learning, while additional material introduces extension activities. 
7th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Mirrors and How They Reflect

Curated OER
Young scholars experiment with mirrors. In this Mirrors and How They reflect lesson plan, students read how mirrors reflect light. Then young scholars perform over ten experiments and record their conclusions about mirrors and...
5th - 10th Science
Activity

Reflection and Refraction

Curated OER
Life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see. The lesson includes three experiments on light reflection, light refraction, projection, lenses, and optical systems. Each experiment builds off the ones before and...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
PPT

Spherical Mirrors

Curated OER
Some formatting issues will need repair (a few overlapping text boxes and pictures), but overall this is a comprehensive presentation on how light reflects off of spherical mirrors. Both convex and concave mirrors are explained,...
9th - 12th Science
Activity

Parabolas

Exploratorium
A parabolic mirror toy demonstrates how concave mirrors objects reflect light and produce a realistic image at their focal point. This resource probably doesn't explain any more than the printed insert that accompanies such an apparatus...
9th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Turn About's Fair Play! Mirrors and How They Reflect

Smithsonian Institution
Teachers can download this teaching package that looks at light and symmetry through the use of mirrors. Students will enjoy the nine mirror challenges, along with the hands-on activities described in the lessons. Teachers will...
3rd - 8th Science
Lesson Plan

Reflection of Light and Mirrors

Curated OER
Students address common misconceptions concerning reflection, light and mirrors. They investigate light reflection in mirrors and determine how light is transferred to the eye. In addition, they make predictions and then test them...
9th - 11th Science
Lesson Plan

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Reflections of Light

Alabama Learning Exchange
Why can we see our reflection in a window but not a brick wall? Young physicists learn the Law of Reflection and various light properties that help them answer this and other questions about reflection. Use the PowerPoint to introduce...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Designed
Handout

Mirrors, Lenses and Your Eyes

My Science Site
This resource explores the science behind light and how mirrors reflect it. Also contains information on lenses both convex and concave.
9th - 10th Science
Activity

Antigravity Mirror

Exploratorium
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's super student! Physical science stars can fly during a unit on light as they see the reflection of one leg in a mirror, behind which the other holds them up. 
5th - 9th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use