Light Science Design a Light Device Makerspace and STEM Activities | Paper and Digital

Have your students use what they have learned about the properties of light and shadow to design and build a light device. This STEM task encourages students to research, design, and build an optical device to present to the class.

This resource is part of our Light Science Unit.

This hands-on resource includes:

• suggestions on possible light devices that use natural or artificial light. Some basic recipes are included to get you started.
• suggestions to assess student learning including rubrics, checklists, and self-assessment pages.
• student task pages.
• student planning pages for working in a group or individually.
• a list of possible materials that can be used with suggestions for substitutions of everyday items.
• photos of student examples.
• a digital version of all the student pages that use Google Slides. You must download the PDF file and use the access link in the file to get your digital copy.
• Canadian spellings and measurements.
  

Answer keys are not included, as the whole point of this challenge is to work through problems with divergent thinking. We have included advice and suggestions where possible.

Suggested materials: plastic mirror sheet, laser pointers, small make-up mirrors, flashlights, paper plates, plasticine, craft sticks, markers, plastic wrap, tape, wax paper, white tissue paper, tin foil, mirrors, coloured cellophane (just little bits), single hole punch, cameras or devices to record progress, paper towel rolls, small boxes or shoe boxes, wooden skewers, toothpaste boxes, and cardboard and any other materials you can find!

This activity supports:

• Saskatchewan Science Curriculum Grade 4 LI 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
• Manitoba Science Curriculum Grade 4 4-2-01, 4-2-07
• Ontario Science Curriculum Grade 4 C2.1, C2.2, C2.3
• any upper elementary or middle school science unit about the science of light or shadow.
• using the design process.

Do you teach science in Alberta? We have science units for you!

• Learn how we're adjusting resources to align with the new science curriculum in Alberta.
• Grade 3 Full Year of Lessons and Activities
• Grade 4 Full Year of Lessons and Activities
• Grade 5 Full Year of Lessons and Activities
• Grade 6 Full Year of Lessons and Activities

Do you teach science in Canada? These units are for you:

• Waste in Our World Unit
• Light and Shadow Unit
• Plant Growth Unit
• Simple Machines Unit
• Weather Unit
• Wetland Ecosystems Unit
• Electricity and Magnetism Unit
• Chemistry Unit
• Astronomy Unit
• Human Body Systems

Ninja Note: This file is a PDF. To print or access the digital version, download the file.

Have a question? Before contacting us, check our Frequently Asked Questions page.