The Old White Sheet Trick: Light and Insect Behavior

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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. Learners consider such questions as why attraction to light benefits certain animals, whether adding color to the light sources affects the animals' behavior, and how light could be used for pest control.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 4 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • old, white sheet, large sheet of white paper, or similar material
  • materials for hanging the sheet or paper (string, tape, tacks, rope, etc.)
  • light sources (electric lamp, flashlight, etc.)
  • junk box with pens, smelly substances, colored cellophane, tape, etc.
  • 2 sheets of Action Cards (pp. 5-6 of PDF)
  • copy of Action Cards for each pair of learners (pp. 5-6 of PDF)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Animals
    • Human Senses and Perception
      • Smell
      • Vision
  • Physical Sciences
    • Vibration and Waves
      • Light and Optics
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Asking Questions
      • Conducting Investigations
      • Gathering Data

Informal Categories

  • Animals
  • Nature and Environment
  • Outdoor Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • be mobile

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Regents of the University of California, 1981