Optics

= OPTICS: =

This is an interactive unit in which we will have many opportunities to predict, observe, experiment, and record data. We will also interpret data and compare what actually happened with what they thought would happen. During this unit we will visit the Museum of Science to explore their light and sound exhibits. The unit is split into three parts.

= Light: = The first focuses on light. We will conduct experiments to learn about reflection, refraction, and shadows. During this part of the unit the children will complete lab sheets in class. For homework they will edit and revise them. Parents can help out at home by encouraging their children to read their responses out loud to make sure they are complete and grammatically correct.

[|Refraction demo]

= Eye: =

The second part of our study focuses on lenses and the eye. Children will work with concave and convex lenses, conduct an experiment about the pupil, learn the different parts of the eye and what each part does, and finally...dissect sheep eyes! This activity reinforces the information because the kids can actually touch and see all of the parts.

= Sound: =

Finally, we end our optics unit with a mini unit on light's cousin, sound, learning about sound and how it travels. We will learn about the parts of the ear, participate in sound experiments, and more.

Hey, what's going on with this plane? It's breaking the speed of sound! What do you think is faster, the speed of light or the speed of sound? (Hint: think of lightning and thunder...)