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In this activity about light and refraction, learners make a lens and magnifying glass by filling a bowl with water.

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

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!

Have fun with additive mixing! Observe what happens when the three primary colors of light--red, green and blue--are mixed together, resulting in white light.

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, learners investigate the reflective properties of light and mirrors as they make a kaleidoscope.

In this sunny day activity, learners compare how a cup of water and a cup of tonic water reflect or refract light in the sun.

In this experiment, learners work in teams to investigate how the color of a surface influences its ability to reflect light and therefore heat.

In this activity, learners use a compact disc to make a spectrometer, an instrument used to measure properties of light.

In this activity, learners explore liquid crystals, light and temperature. Using a postcard made of temperature-sensitive liquid crystal material, learners monitor temperature changes.

In this activity, learners explore how polarizing sunglasses can help diminish road glare.

In this two-part activity, learners explore the properties of liquid crystals, which are responsible for why mood rings change color.

In this group activity, learners see and hear the speed of sound. A learner designated the "gonger" hits a gong, once every second, as the rest of the group watches and listens from a distance.

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

In this space science activity, learners explore transits and the conditions when a transit may be seen.

In this activity, learners use simple materials to create giant bubbles.

In this activity, learners create a cylindrical mirror to see themselves as others see them.

In this activity on page 7 of the PDF (Plants—The Green Machines), learners examine the effects that light and air have on green plants.

In this activity, learners build inexpensive kaleidoscopes using transparency paper and foil (instead of mirrors).

In this activity, learners build a simple pinhole viewer. They use this apparatus to project images from a variety of light sources, including a candle, the Sun, and the Moon.