Lights and Larvae

Journal Article | August 2014

Using optogenetics to teach recombinant DNA and neurobiology.

Dissecting Light

Journal Article | March 2000

White light is composed of the entire visible light spectrum, but how do you teach this to students in a hands-on way? The answer is simple: by using a spectroscope. This easy-to-make tool allows students to dissect…

Seeing the Light

Journal Article | November 2009

Conceptually, students are typically introduced to light as a type of wave. However, children struggle to understand this model because it is highly abstract. Light can be represented more concretely using the photon…

As Light Meets Matter

Journal Article | August 2002

In this dilemma case, the central character, a museum curator, must decide whether or not to show a painting as a hitherto “undiscovered” Cézanne. The stylistic analysis suggests it is real, but data obtained using…

The Early Years: Light Foundations

Journal Article | December 2006

The day-and-night cycle forms the basis for understanding many other natural cycles in plants, animals, and Earth processes, as well as later learning about the solar system, and it is part of the National Science…

Bringing Light onto Shadows

Journal Article | June 2007

“What starts out long but gets shorter then longer each day?” Shadows! This students clever riddles was an opportunity to investigate how the Sun’s daily position in the sky influences shadow length. Thus began a…