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This simple hands-on activity demonstrates why the sky appears blue on a sunny day and red during sunrise and sunset.

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.

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.

In this optics activity, learners explore how light bends and affects what we see.

In this optics activity, learners make a "light fountain" from a clear plastic bottle, flashlight, and other simple materials.

In this optics activity, learners make a lens and explore how the eye manipulates the light that enters it.

In this activity, learners observe what happens when they give a light source like a neon glow lamp a "Bronx Cheer." The lights appear to wiggle back and forth and flicker when learners blow air throu

In this activity, learners explore why the sky is blue. Learners model the scattering of light by the atmosphere, which creates the blue sky and red sunset, using a flashlight and clear glue sticks.

In this activity about light and reflection, learners use a special device called a Mirage Maker™ to create an illusion.

In this activity, learners use a laser pointer, empty soda bottle, rubber plug and water to demonstrate total internal reflection.

In this activity, learners explore why they can see colors in bubbles and why they change.

In this optics activity, learners work in pairs to explore how mirrors work. Learners use tape to mark the angles needed to see each other's reflection in a wall mirror.

In this activity, learners sublimate dry ice and then taste the carbon dioxide gas.

In this activity (17th on the page), learners investigate why you cannot see colors in dim light.

Look at pictures through different color filters and you'll see them in a new way. People have used color filters in beautiful photography or sending secret messages.

Do you have a hard time matching paint swatches with your furniture? When you consider human perception, color is context dependent.

In this activity, learners control the (apparent) size of a hole with their brain.

In this activity, learners explore how and why rainbows form by creating rainbows in a variety of ways using simple materials. Learners create rainbows indoors and outdoors.

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 (page 2 of PDF), learners play with a lens and a piece of paper to focus an image on the paper. Learners look at different things, and see how the lenses affect the image.