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An ordinary camera has a lens that makes an image on film. In a pinhole camera, a small hole replaces the lens.

In this activity, learners will explore light with reflective surfaces. Learners will make predictions and share their observations as they experiment with directing a beam of light.

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

In this outdoor activity, learners search for the warmest and coolest, windiest and calmest, wettest and driest, and brightest and darkest spots in an area.

In this outdoor activity, learners use only their senses to to find the extremes of several environmental variables or physical factors: wind, temperature, light, slope and moisture.

In this activity, learners use clear nail polish to create a beautiful iridescent pattern on black paper. Learners discover that a thin film creates iridescent, rainbow colors.

In this activity (posted on March 20, 2011), learners follow the steps to construct a stroboscope, a device that exploits the persistence of vision to make moving objects appear slow or stationary.

In this four-part activity, learners explore light and sound through a variety of hands-on investigations.

In this fun optics activity, learners explore principles of light, reflection (mirrors), and perception. Learners work in pairs and sit on opposite sides of a "two-way" mirror.

In this activity related to light and perception, learners use a pinhole in an index card as a magnifying glass to help their eye focus on a nearby object.

In this activity, learners explore light and shadows by creating a lantern they can keep on their nightstand.

In this activity, learners will explore how light can refract or break apart into different colors.

In this activity, learners create a "mini sky" in a glass of water in a dark room.

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

In this activity (page 1 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Forensics), learners will use a home video camera with a “night vision” mode to test how various inks appear outside the spectrum of visibl

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

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!

In this activity, learners make their own pinhole viewer in order to measure the size of the sun.

Did you know that using a lens one can bend light to make pictures of the world? It's true!

This is written as a display, but can easily be adapted to a hands-on activity. Learners observe and shake containers of shiny liquids.