Light Waves Workshop for Schools

Provided by VSTEAM Education

Physics light workshop for schools

This light waves workshop contains eight or more practical activities covering all major topics in the national curriculum including reflection, refraction, diffraction, pinhole camera, focusing, light spectrum, colored lights, and the eye. The activities are tailored for each key stage group.

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Format

Primary: 4 sessions x 1 hr 15 mins
(30 participants per session)
Secondary: 5 sessions x 1 hr
(20 participants per session)

Age Groups

Y3 - Y10

Light Ray Boxes

Brief introduction to light waves with our light ray boxes.

Reflection

Observe how light waves reflect off mirrors.

Refraction, Diffraction and Convex Lenses

Conduct further experiments with our optical kits to learn about refraction with glass blocks. Learn how light is focused inside the eye with a convex lens. Additionally, create a rainbow of coloured light waves by splitting a narrow beam of white light.

Newton's Disc and Light Spectrum

Conduct the rotating disc physics experiment to demonstrate how white light is composed of colours of the rainbow.

Day Itinerary*

Primary and Secondary

Intro - Discuss the properties of light waves and how they travel.
Practical - Use mirrors to reflect images and writing to understand how light reflects.
Practical - Reflect a beam of white light off mirrors. Discuss the basic principle of angle of incidence = angle of reflection.
Practical - Conduct an experiment to understand diffraction.
Practical - Learn how refraction occurs in light waves as they travel through prisms with our light ray box and optics kit. We may also look at how refraction occurs as light travels through a beaker filled with water.
Practical - Conduct an experiment with a convex lens to focus a triple light beam into a single spot. Discuss how light waves are focused inside the eye.
Practical - Handout material to create a rotating colour disc. Then spin the disc using a motor and observe how the colours blend to appear white. Discuss optical mixing.

* The activities may vary on the day depending on the length of the sessions and the age and ability of the participants.

Gallery

Students Observing Diffraction with Light Waves

Student Observing Reflection with Light Ray Box

Boys Observing Reflection with Light Rays

Cost

Please contact us to obtain a quote or request our price guide.

Checklist

Enhanced DBS Checked Instructors
Public Liability Insurance
Risk Assessments

Requirements

Once set up in the morning, we prefer to stay in the same classroom/s to run all of the sessions for the workshops. It allows us to run the sessions smoothly without any interruptions.
The classroom/hall/venue must have desks and chairs for all students. Normal classrooms are fine.
Preferable: A computer/laptop with projector/interactive whiteboard or smart screen with sound enabled.

Event Days

British Science Week, Engineers Week

Available Regions

Anywhere in England

Anywhere in Northern Ireland

Anywhere in Scotland

Anywhere in Wales

Contact VSTEAM Education to book this workshop

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