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The Old White Sheet Trick: Light and Insect Behavior
Source Institutions
In this outdoor, nighttime activity, learners gather around a brightly lit, white surface and study the behavior of nocturnal animals attracted to the light, particularly night fliers.
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Make a Green Gumball Black
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners use a shoebox, colored cellophane and sunlight to "change" the colors of gumballs. Learners will be surprised when the green and blue gumballs appear black!
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Mix-N-Match Light
Source Institutions
This is an online exhibit about color perception. Learners set a random background color and then try to mix red, blue, and green light to match.
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Color Vision
Source Institutions
In this online activity, learners make a whole rainbow by mixing red, green, and blue light. They can change the wavelength of a monochromatic beam or they can filter white light.
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Make Money Appear Before Your Eyes
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners use water to make a coin "appear" and "disappear." Use this activity to demonstrate how light refracts and introduce light as waves.
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See the Light
Source Institutions
Learners mix a solution of luminol with hydrogen peroxide to produce a reaction that gives off blue light.
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Polarized Light Mosaic
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners use transparent tape and polarizing material to create and project beautifully colored patterns reminiscent of abstract or geometric stained glass windows--no glass required
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Release the Rainbow
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners create a water prism to break light into the seven colors of the rainbow.
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First Impressions
Source Institutions
Learners experiment with a commercial photo-sensitive paper (Sunprint® or NaturePrint® paper). They place opaque and clear objects on the paper and expose it to bright light, observing the results.
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Kaleidoscope
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners investigate the reflective properties of light and mirrors as they make a kaleidoscope.
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Your Father's Nose
Source Institutions
In this fun optics activity, learners explore principles of light, reflection (mirrors), and perception. Learners work in pairs and sit on opposite sides of a "two-way" mirror.
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Observing Insects at Night
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners set up a night time insect observation station with a light and sheet.
Mix and Match
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners explore color by examining color dots through colored water and the light of a flashlight.
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It's all Done with Mirrors
Source Institutions
This fun and simple hands-on astronomy activity illustrates the path of light as it reflects off of mirrors and how this is used in telescopes.
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Pixel Tube
Source Institutions
In this STEAM activity, learners create a "pixel tube" to explore reflections of light and color mixing.
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Self-Portrait Silhouettes: Activity 2
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners make a photographic image—without a camera!
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Rainbow Refraction
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners will explore how light can refract or break apart into different colors.
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Morphing Butterfly
Source Institutions
In this activity, learners explore how nanosized structures can create brilliant color.
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Colored Shadows
Source Institutions
In this optics activity, learners discover that not all shadows are black. Learners explore human color perception by using colored lights to make additive color mixtures.
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Soap Bubble Shapes
Source Institutions
Learners explore three-dimensional geometric frames including cubes and tetrahedrons, as they create bubble wands with pipe cleaners and drinking straws.