We decided that we were having so much fun learning about optics the first week that we wanted to spend more time at each station.  So I extended the station time to about half an hour each.  That means we only got to explore two stations instead of four.  This week we got to explore the other two optics stations.

Magnification and Reflection:  At this station, students experimented with lenses and mirrors.  There were binoculars, telescopes, periscopes, microscopes, magnifying glasses and spy glasses.  They got to make their own periscope!

“Eye” see you!

Illusions & Distortions:  There were books and cards with hundreds of optical illusions for students to decipher at this station.  There was also a 3-D mirascope, a pair of rainbow diffraction glasses, and a bee-eye teleidoscope.  Students made drawings on special 3-D paper and got a pair of glasses to take with them!

The Ames Room

Animation:  At this station, students experimented with “old time” animation machines.  There were thaumatropes, zoetropes, praxinoscopes, phenakistoscopes, and flipbooks!  Students selected which of these animation toys they would like to make and take.

Light & Color:  And at this station, students experimented with flash lights, LEDs, fiber optics, color films, black lights, and glow paper.  They got to make their own color spinner!

Next week students will pick a station to delve deeper into.  Then we’ll move onto Construction & Destruction!  Look for lots more to come!