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In this activity, learners use a flexible magnet as a model for a scanning probe microscope (SPM). They learn that SPMs are an example of a special tool that scientists use to work on the nanoscale.

In this activity, learners use a laser pointer and two small rotating mirrors to create a variety of fascinating patterns, which can be easily and dramatically projected on a wall or screen.

In this optics activity, learners experiment with polarizers (small dark rectangles) to examine light intensity.

“Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds” is a hands-on activity in which visitors create a cloud in a bottle and explore it with laser light.

This is a quick activity (on page 2 of the PDF under Stained Glass Activity) about the "Tyndall effect," the scattering of visible light when it hits very small dispersed particles.

This activity (on page 2 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Forensics) is a full inquiry investigation into how hairs from a crime scene are matched to suspects.

In this activity, learners explore chemiluminescence and fluorescence. Learners examine 3 different solutions in regular light, in the dark with added bleach solution, and under a black light.

In this activity, learners use a laser pointer and two small rotating mirrors to create a variety of fascinating patterns, which can be easily and dramatically projected on a wall or screen.

In this activity, learners build their own magnetometer using an empty soda bottle, magnets, laser pointer, and household objects.

Learners shine the light of a laser pointer through sheets of fabric that all have a different number of threads per inch.

In this activity on page 13 of the PDF, learners use a laser pointer (with known wavelength of light) to measure the thickness of a human hair.

In this activity, learners use gelatin as a lens to investigate the properties of laser light.

In this activity, learners make optical fibers out of strips of gelatin.

With a laser pointer and some household items, learners can create their own laser light show. They can explore diffuse reflection, refraction and diffraction.