Fiction and non-fiction titles compiled by our developers
Annotated lists of child-friendly and teacher-friendly websites to deepen content knowledge or conduct further research.
Documents for Science Companion users to print for their classrooms.
Suggestions for organizing and managing materials.
ExploraGear kits contain equipment and consumables for student explorations. Scroll down to view the entire ExploraGear list.
Each module also lists easy-to-find Classroom Supplies used in the lessons. Scroll down or click the link on the right to see the Classroom Supplies list for this module.
| QUANTITY | ITEM | LESSONS |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Flashlights | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| 28 | Batteries | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| 36 | Mirrors | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
| 1 pad | Self-sticking notes | 1, 10 |
| 1 package | Glow-in-the-dark objects | 2 |
| 1 | Night light | 2, 3 |
| 1 | Cardboard box (for "dark box" in Science Center) | 2 |
| 15 | Cups, clear, 16 oz | 3, 7, 9 |
| 70 | Straws, clear | 3, 4, 5 |
| 1 box | Aluminum foil | 4, 7, 11 |
| 14 | Magnifying lenses | 4, 9 |
| 1 package | Paper collection | 4, 7, 8, 9 |
| 5 | Ping pong balls | 4 |
| 1 package | Cord, nylon | 7 |
| 10 | Cups, translucent, 16 oz | 7 |
| 1 | Storage chest with lid |
| QUANTITY | ITEM | LESSONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 per child | Binders or folders | Family Link Notebook |
| Class set | Colored pencils | 1, 5, 10, SBA |
| 1 | Cardboard tube (optional) | 2 |
| Several | Pins and nails (optional) | 2, 3 |
| 1 or more | Bed sheets or table cloths | 2, 5, 6, 7 |
| 1 roll | Butcher paper | 2, 5, 6, 7 |
| 1 or more | Cardboard box | 2, 5, 6, 7 |
| 1 pad | Chart paper | 2, 10 |
| 1 roll | Duct tape | 2 |
| 1 | Lamp with shade | 2 |
| 1 | Marker | 2, 10 |
| Several rolls | Masking tape | 2, 6, 11 |
| Several | Additional objects that emit light | 2 |
| Several | Objects that do not emit light | 2 |
| 1 | Overhead marker | 2 |
| 1 | Overhead projector | 2 |
| 1 | Overhead transparency | 2 |
| 1 | Stepladder (optional) | 2 |
| 1 | 3.8 L (one gallon) container | 3 |
| 1 quart | Skim milk | 3 |
| 15 | Rocks, various shapes and sizes (larger than a ping pong ball) | 4 |
| 1 per pair or children | Highlighter pens, yellow | 5 |
| 1 per child | Quart milk cartons (Juice or other 1-quart cartons may also be used) | 6 |
| 1 per child | Pens | 6 |
| 1 per child | Rulers | 6 |
| 1 per pair of children | Scissors | 6, 7 |
| 4 sheets | Black construction paper | 7 |
| 8 sheets | White construction paper | 7 |
| 4 | Manila folders | 7 |
| 30 | Paperclips | 7 |
| 1 roll | Plastic wrap | 7 |
| 1 roll | Wax paper | 7 |
| 1 small bottle | Cooking oil | 9 |
| 1 box | Plastic bags, small, resealable | 9 |
| Several | Jars, various sizes and shapes (optional) | 9 |
| 2 pieces | Cardboard, 2 ft x 2 ft | 11 |
| 15 sheets | Card stock | 11 |
| 1 | One-hole punch | 11 |
| 1 roll | String | 11 |
| 2 | Dolls | SBA |
| Several pieces | Fabric, variety | SBA |
| 1 piece per child | Modeling clay | SBA |
| 1 package | Pipe cleaners | SBA |
| 2 | Stuffed animal | SBA |
| 1 package | Twist ties | SBA |
| 2 | Toy cars | SBA |
| Several balls | Yarn, various colors | SBA |
The following list of recommended books provides a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or provide the list to your school or local librarian.
By Janell Cannon. (1993, Harcourt)
In this engaging story, a young fruit bat falls into a bird’s nest and is raised like a bird until reunited with her mother. A sweetly told story with one scientific misconception about how little Stellaluna sees. If children understand light and vision, they should be able to spot this inaccuracy.
By Barbara Taylor. (1990, Franklin Watts)
This activity book offers experiments that demonstrate the reflection and refraction of light by mirrors, lenses, and other materials.
By Franklyn M. Branley; illustrated by Stacey Schuett. (1998, HarperTrophy)
This book, from the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out series, explores natural and man-made sources of light and how we see objects from reflected light.
By Salvatore Tocci. (2001, Scholastic Library Publishing)
This source contains activities with good explanations on reflecting light, refracting light, how the eye works, and lenses.
By Ed Catherall. (1989, Steck-Vaughn)
This book, for more advanced readers, contains excellent information about light in conjunction with activities for children to apply their understanding. The book is very well presented and illustrated.
By David Burnie. (1999, DK Publishing Inc.)
From the Eyewitness series, this serves as an excellent resource book for children to use in the Science Center. Although the text may not be age appropriate for some children, the detailed pictures will be engaging to all. Includes a table of contents, glossary, and index.
By Henry Bursill. (1997, Dover Publications, Inc.)
Place this book in your Science Center. Includes over 34 different hand shadows for the children to create.
By Jack Challoner, illustrated by David Le Jars. (2001, Kingfisher)
Half of this resource is focused on the topic of light. Contains three to five activities on each of nine topics about light. A good activity book for the unit.
By Terry Jennings; illustrated by Peter Smith & Catherine Ward. (1996, Steck-Vaughn)
This resource book for independent readers explores light, mirrors, periscopes, lenses, and cameras. Includes activities for the children to try in school or at home. Includes a table of contents, glossary, and index.
By Graham Peacock. (1993, Wayland Publishers)
This resource book for independent readers explores how we see, mirrors, and color.
By Peter D. Riley. (1999, Franklin Watts, Inc.)
This resource book for independent readers delves into many fascinating aspects of light including how light travels, interacts with materials, and makes shadows, as well as how the eyes of humans and other animals work. Includes a table of contents, glossary, and index.
By Kirsteen Rogers, Phillip Clarke, Alastair Smith and Corinne Henderson; illustrated by Verinder Bhachu. (2001, Usborne Publishing, Ltd.)
Although only a third of the book focuses on light, this book is an excellent resource that contains clear explanations and graphics of light phenomena. Includes activities to try at home as well as suggested links to web sites about light. Also includes a table of contents, list of inventors, glossary, and index.
By Keith Kay. (1997, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.)
By Janice VanCleaves. (1993, John Wiley and Sons)
Use this book as an extension when the children study transparent objects that bend light. Contains activities with water lenses, hand magnifiers, and how to use two lenses to make a compound microscope.
By Nancy Luenn, illustrated by Mark Bender. (1998, Simon & Schuster Children’s)
An excellent social studies resource, this book explores the ways in which cultures from around the world celebrate light, including Bon Matsuri in Japan, Luciadagen in Sweden, and Christmas in the United States.
By Margaret Davidson. (1992, Scholastic Paperbacks)
This independent readers book chronicles the life of Thomas Edison, from his first job selling newspapers to his inventions of the phonograph and light bulb. With lots of text and some black-and-white pictures, the book provides an interesting account of his life, his impact on the field of science, and his lasting impact on today’s society.
By Sue Guthridge; illustrated by Wallace Wook. (1986, Aladdin Library)
This independent readers book explores Thomas Edison’s childhood and important things about his adult life including his invention of the light bulb and phonograph.
Below are some general tips and suggestions to assist with the management of materials for the Light Unit:
Our writers recommended these independent websites as background information and content supplements for Light lessons.
http://www.benderphoto.com/pinfokit.htm
This site lists resources for obtaining pinhole camera kits and pinhole camera construction information. This site also contains links to other pinhole photography resources.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/light_walk/camera_todo.html
Provides detailed instructions for how to make a pinhole camera at home with readily accessible materials.
http://www.solarviews.com/cap/moon/moon1.htm
Provides downloadable pictures of the moon to use in the Further Science Exploration for Light Lesson 4 when the children consider how sunlight reflects off the moon.
http://womenshistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/shadow/whos%5Fwho%5Flevel2/herschel.html Provides information on the life of Caroline Herschel, a woman astronomer in the 18th century who developed telescopes and was the first woman to discover a comet.
http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/NASA.Educational.Products/Optics/Optics.Guide.pdf
This site provides an online packet of activities developed by NASA for children in grades K-12. Explores light and color in conjunction with science and mathematics. Many topics go into more depth than needed for 3rd grade, but still a good resource site for the teacher.
http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/miscon/opphys.html
This site is a compilation of misconceptions that children have about a variety of physical science concepts, including light.
http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/light/light_tour.html
This site, developed by the Center for Science Education at the Space Sciences Lab, takes you on a tour to explore wavelengths of light, types of light, how astronomers use different wavelengths, and what they see. A good resource site for the teacher, but too technical for the children.
http://www2.worldbook.com/features/features.asp?feature=wscimed&page=html/astronomers.htm&direct=yes This site details the accomplishments of women astronomers in the past, including Caroline Herschel and Maria Mitchell, whose discoveries advanced the science of light.
http://www.scienceteacherstuff.com/light.html
This site contains a wealth of links to other sites on light and resources for teachers to use about light.
http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/timeline/people/swan.html This site contains details information about scientists who advanced the study of light and optics.
http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/timeline/people/swan.html This site contains a wealth of activities on light and optics, including those on lenses, mirrors, shadows, microscopes, eyeglasses, and animal vision.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/animalvision.html
This site provides information on animal vision, with specific exploration into birds and bats. A good site for enrichment activities for children who are curious about how animals see compared to humans.
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/vision_background.html
This reference site provides the teacher with detailed information on how we see. Specific processes that occur with the eye and brain are detailed in a comprehensible way, and historical information on the understanding of vision is also integrated into the text.
http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/sheddinglight/lighthistory.html
Provides a detailed timeline of the historical development of our understanding of light from 3500 B.C. to 1968.
http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/sheddinglight/lightlinks/
This site, sponsored by the Annenberg/CPB Channel, provides a collection of links related to light. An excellent resource site for teachers.
http://www.gelighting.com/na/home/gela/teachers/index.htm
Created by General Electric, this Unit deals with light from a scientific, mathematical, technological, and historical perspective. Hands-on activities and experiments are included.