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How does light travel?
https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/145908main_Sun.As.A.Star.Guide.pdf#page=15

Gretchen Walker, Patricia McGlashan, Laura Danly, Eric Hamilton, Stephanie Fotiadi, The Education Department at the American Museum of Natural History

This activity includes two experiments that explore shadows and light and how mirrors can demonstrate how light travels.

This experiment takes approximately 60 minutes. Additional materials are required.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

ngssSee how this Short Demonstration/Experiment supports the Next Generation Science Standards»
Middle School: 3 Performance Expectations, 4 Disciplinary Core Ideas, 2 Cross Cutting Concepts, 3 Science and Engineering Practices

Topics

Solar Radiation
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Grade Level

Primary (K-2)
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Intermediate (3-5)
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Middle (6-8)
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Climate Literacy
About Teaching Climate Literacy

About Teaching Principle 1
Other materials addressing 1c
About Teaching Principle 1
Other materials addressing 1a
Sun is primary energy
About Teaching Climate Literacy
Other materials addressing Sun is primary energy

Energy Literacy

Other materials addressing:
1.5 Forms of energy.
Other materials addressing:
4.1 Humans transfer and transform energy.
Other materials addressing:
2.2 Sources of energy on Earth.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • The document is targeted to after school groups that are generally multi-aged. There may be additional preparations for materials that offer extensions for the older groups.
  • This is one activity in a large educator guide about the sun and light.
  • This activity can be related back to the climate and earth's processes, while the other activities are more solar system/universe based.
  • This activity is pages 15-17 and no other reference is neccessary.

About the Science

  • Using flashlights and mirrors, this experiment demonstrates the basics of the physics of light.
  • It establishes the concepts of how light travels and how it interacts with objects, for example by casting shadows or being reflected.
  • This activity can be extended to relate to solar energy.
  • This is very hands-on. You can propose a hypothesis and test it.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • This experiment has a hands-on activity for the students to learn about light.
  • The activities and outlines are rendered in an organized and consistent manner both structurally and graphically.
  • There are also several discussion questions provided and the students are asked to record their observations in a science journal.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • Overview, connections, and activity prep and process is well organized for all activities.
  • Most of the included links are broken. However the content can be found easily with a quick online search.

Learn more about CLEAN and NGSS

Next Generation Science Standards See how this Short Demonstration/Experiment supports:


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