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Learners mix a solution of luminol with hydrogen peroxide to produce a reaction that gives off blue light.

In this activity, learners use Jell-O to explore lenses. Learners cut Jell-O into convex and concave lens shapes and examine how light exits each lens in a darkened room.

In this activity, learners explore what happens when polarized white light passes through a sugar solution.

In this activity, learners use a compact disc to make a spectrometer, an instrument used to measure properties of light.

In this activity, learners explore liquid crystals, light and temperature. Using a postcard made of temperature-sensitive liquid crystal material, learners monitor temperature changes.

In this activity, learners trap a thin layer of air between two pieces of Plexiglas to produce rainbow-colored interference patterns.

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 group activity, learners see and hear the speed of sound. A learner designated the "gonger" hits a gong, once every second, as the rest of the group watches and listens from a distance.

In this activity, learners sublimate dry ice and then taste the carbon dioxide gas.

Have you ever heard of a camera without a lens? In this activity, learners create a pinhole camera out of simple materials. They'll see the world in a whole new way: upside down and backwards!

In this activity (17th on the page), learners investigate why you cannot see colors in dim light.

In this lab (Activity #1 on page), learners explore how we see color.

In this activity, learners experience firsthand how marine animals' adaptive coloration camouflages them from prey.

In this activity, learners set up an experiment to investigate the effects of hot air on the path of a laser beam.

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

How can you make one shade of gray look like two? By putting it against two different color backgrounds! This activity allows learners to perform this sleight of hand very easily.

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

In this activity, learners create a simple “top” from a CD, marble and bottle cap, and use it as a spinning platform for a variety of illusion-generating patterns.

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.

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.