Investigating Light: Refraction and Lenses (Station approach)
Working at this station, students use both convex and concave lenses to compare images and magnification. They measure the focal length of several lenses and then figure out how to construct a simple camera. The activities in this module (and in the related P104-S01, P104-S02, and P104-S03 modules) were originally part of longer units developed at the University of Kentucky. The station approach allows you to offer a variety of concurrent activities for different student groups.
Details at a Glance
- 4-8 Days | 4-8 ~50 minute class periods
- 4 Activities
- Accommodates unlimited classes, each with 1 group of 4 students
- Meets our criteria for supporting literacy
- All materials are non-consumable
Scientific Concepts
• The ability to design and conduct a scientific investigation
• The ability to use appropriate scientific tools
• The ability to use evidence to develop explanations and models
• The ability to link evidence and explanations
• The ability to use mathematics in scientific inquiry
• The ability to communicate scientifically
• Energy is a property of many substances and is transferred in many ways.
• Light interacts with matter by transmission, absorption, reflection, refraction or scattering
Guides & Student Sheets
Our kits and modules provide you with everything you need so you can open, review, and teach the material confidently the next day.
- Full downloadable Teacher Guide with background information, detailed instruction, example data and answers
- Downloadable Student Sheets with age appropriate background information, full procedure(s), and analysis questions
- All materials necessary to carry out the investigation
- Safety Data Sheets
Kit Components
- 1 Teacher's Guide
- 1 Light station, LAB-AIDS®
- 1 Round bottle
- 1 Oval Bottle
- 1 Rectangular bottle
- 1 2" round positive glass lens, A, large
- 1 1" round positive plastic lens, B, small
- 1 Positive rectangular Fresnel lens, C
- 1 Positive rectangular Fresnel lens, D
- 1 Negative rectangular Fresnel lens, E
- 1 Lens holder, base
- 1 Lens holder, glass, top
- 1 T-Shaped beam blocker
- 1 Translucent screen
- 1 Mirror holder
- 1 Object mask
- 1 Camera box
- 1 Single-slot mask
- 1 Three-slot mask
- 1 Diffusing mask
- 1 1.5 meter tape
- 1 Viewing screen
- 2 Viewing screen stands
- 4 White cards
- 4 Metric rulers