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In this activity, learners actually feel the difference in energy required to light two different types of light bulbs: incandescent light and LEDs.

In this optics activity, learners examine how polarized light can reveal stress patterns in clear plastic.

In this trick, hold your hand over a burning candle without getting burned, by reflecting and transmitting the light of two candles. This activity is best suited as a demonstration.

In this optics activity, learners explore diffraction by adding wax blocks to a ripple tank. The wedge-shaped blocks act as obstacles that the wave must bend around.

Look at pictures through different color filters and you'll see them in a new way. People have used color filters in beautiful photography or sending secret messages.

In this sunny day activity, learners compare how a cup of water and a cup of tonic water reflect or refract light in the sun.

In this activity, learners discover that it's difficult to distinguish between two different shades of gray when they aren't separated by a boundary.

This fun and simple hands-on astronomy activity illustrates the path of light as it reflects off of mirrors and how this is used in telescopes.

In this optics activity, learners make a lens and explore how the eye manipulates the light that enters it.

In this activity (page 2 of PDF), learners play with a lens and a piece of paper to focus an image on the paper. Learners look at different things, and see how the lenses affect the image.

In this optics activity, learners explore interference by adding wax blocks to a ripple tank.

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

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

This is an online exhibit about color perception. Learners set a random background color and then try to mix red, blue, and green light to match.

In this activity, learners use simple materials to simulate the effect of X-rays in a safe way. Learners place a piece of window screen over a box and a cardboard pattern on top of the screen.

In this optics activity, learners discover that not all shadows are black. Learners explore human color perception by using colored lights to make additive color mixtures.

With little more than a flashlight, a straw, and a plastic lid, make an observatory so you can see the amazing colors in bubbles.

In this activity, learners will explore how different colors of lights interact with objects around them. Will a blue object stay blue with a red filter?

In this activity, learners use a laser pointer, empty soda bottle, rubber plug and water to demonstrate total internal reflection.