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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.

This is written as a display, but can easily be adapted to a hands-on activity. Learners observe and shake containers of shiny liquids.

In this activity, learners explore how nanosized structures can create brilliant color.

In this activity, learners investigate how some butterfly wings get their color.

Make a kite out of a garbage bag, shower curtain, painting tarp--anything light, thin, flexible and plastic!

In this activity, learners investigate the properties of graphene and graphite.

In this activity, learners will create an optical illusion top. Learners will explore color mixing, physics and design through this activity.

Learners experiment with a commercially available liquid-crystal coaster. They warm the material with their hands for varying lengths of time and observe the changing colors that result.

In this activity, learners create a colorful bookmark using a super thin layer of nail polish on water. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

In this activity, learners use clear nail polish to create a beautiful iridescent pattern on black paper. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

In this activity on page 13 of the PDF, use a special plastic card that has been painted with a chemical that changes color when it is in UV light.

In this activity, learners turn empty 2-liter bottles into a see-through compost container.

This fun activity uses simple materials such as milk cartons and mirrors to introduce the ideas of optics and visual perception.

In this activity, learners discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.

In this activity about the solar system, learners use various light sources to examine ice with different components to understand how NASA studies planets and moons from space.

In this activity (posted on March 27, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a mini zoetrope, a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static pictures.