Visible light is the light that humans can see on the electromagnetic spectrum! Each color has a different wavelength. Red has the lowest frequency and violet has the highest frequency!
Light waves are a form of energy from the Sun and light-producing objects. They travel through space and matter.
Visible light is quite fascinating, and your students may think so as well! In this post, I will share some WONDER strategies to help your students become internally motivated to learn more about the visible light spectrum. Second, I will share an interactive lesson that teaches about the properties of visible light waves. Finally, I will share some WIDEN activities that will help your students expand their knowledge on this topic!
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Visible Light WONDER Strategies
WONDER strategies are those activities that you do before a topic that help your students become curious and motivated to learn about the topic. Once you have buy-in, the teaching part is a piece of cake! Here are some fun activities to do before diving into the teaching about visible light in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Why is the Sky Blue?
I have done this before, and my students LOVED it!
Have your students first guess why the sky is blue. You hear this question ALL of the time, but do your students really know the answer?
After you have this discussion with your class, you can watch this video by Mark Rober.
They will learn more about the property of light waves called scattering in an engaging way. Plus, they can go home and tell their parents all about why the sky is blue!
Tell them that there are a lot of other really cool properties of visible light waves, and they’ll learn all about them in the lesson!
DIY Spectroscope
Another thing that you can do is to have students create their own spectroscope and explore!
A spectroscope takes visible light and separates it into its different wavelengths (colors).
You’ll need:
- paper towel roll
- scissors
- pencil
- a CD
- cardstock
- tape
- Your students can decorate their paper towel roll, or not! Then, you can move on to creating the tool.
- One side of the paper towel roll, about 75% of the way down, you are going to make a cut at a 45 degree angle. It will look like a V.
- On the other side, directly behind the V, students will create a small box (cut out).
- Take your cardstock and trace a circle using the paper towel roll and cut out the circle.
- On the circle, create and cut out a small box, about the same size as the one on the paper towel roll.
- Take the circle and tape it to the top of the paper towel roll, on the opposite sides of the V and box.
- Put the CD into the slit, shiny side up.
- Take a look inside!
I got these directions from Summer in a Box, check out their video!
You can also purchase a spectroscope if you don’t have one.
Visible Light Waves Interactive Lesson
I love interactive lessons, obviously! They are essential to bringing the WOW Factor to your classroom because they help reduce student overwhelm.
How? They use the 7 ways help students retain information. They include strategies such as starting simple, highlighting important information, and segmenting content. All of these strategies help students to learn better AND they are engaging.
What is visible light? In this visible light waves lesson, students will learn all about visible light in the electromagnetic spectrum! Students will learn the visible light spectrum range, visible light definition, visible light use, colors of visible light spectrum, space and matter, different properties of visible light waves and SO much more!
Inside are activities to help students process the content they are learning. These include an anticipation guide, drag-and-drop activities, typing the text box, and more!
You can find this in the Bright in the Middle Shop.
You can also find this on TPT.
Visible Light WIDEN Strategies
WIDEN strategies are those activities in your classroom that allow students to expand and extend their knowledge on a topic. Here are some WIDEN strategies that you can use for visible light.
Visible Light Waves Stations
Now is your chance to have students explore the properties of visible light. Stations are a great way to do so! Here are some ideas for stations you can set up in your classroom that uses easy-to-find materials!
- Transmission Station: You will need clear plastic sheets, markers, and a flashlight. Have students draw a design of their choice on the clear plastic sheets with the markers. Have students to shine a flashlight through the sheets. Have them observe how the different colors transmit light differently.
- Reflection Staton: You will need small mirrors, small objects such as coins, buttons, and beads, and flashlights. In the group, tell students to put the mirror on a flat surface. Have them explore the position of the mirror at different angles. They can point the flashlight onto the mirror to see what happens. They should explore directing the reflected light. Can they direct it to a wall? Then have them to try to bounce the light onto the different small objects.
- Absorption and Reflection Station: You’ll need different colored and textured surfaces such as black paper, white paper, fabric, aluminum foil, etc.) Give students the materials and ask them to shine a flashlight on each one. Observe what happens. What do they see? What do they feel? (warm or stay cool?)
- Refraction Station: This is a simple one! You’ll need a clear glass of water and a pencil. Have students put a pencil into the glass of water. Have them to observe. The pencil should look bent.
- Diffraction Station: You’ll need diffraction grating and a flashlight. Shine a flashlight through a diffraction grating on a wall or screen. Observe what happens.
- Scattering Station: You’ll need a clear glass of water, a flashlight, and a white piece of paper. Fill the glass up with water with some space at the topic. Tell students to shine the flashlight through the side of the glass, directing the beam onto the white paper. Have them to describe what they see on the white paper.
Explore the Human Eye
Don’t have time for stations, but want to explore more? Check out how visible light waves work in the human eye!
Bonus: Visible Light
Try out a fun and SWEET lab! In this lab, all you’ll need is some flashlights with colored filters (these work great!), some M&Ms, white paper, and a dark room! Students will investigate how different colors of light interact with objects (M&Ms) and conclude that light can be reflected and absorbed.
This lab is exclusive to the Bright in the Middle Membership!
Help your students master science content!
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