A presentation on light and color and the use of technology for classroom educational needs.

1. Intended for Grades 4-5
By Kaitlyn Vitello
Light and Color

2. Technology Integration
Rationale
Visible light is the reason behind how we see everything in the
world around us. Objects absorb the sun’s rays in order to reflect
the color that our eyes see. Since this topic includes vocabulary
and concepts that are new to students, the use of technology will
aid in making this topic
easier to understand.
Technology can help students understand
how we see color through the use of
blogs, podcasts, interactive videos,
stories and more.

3. Website Reliability
The materials used in this presentation are reputable
government and university sources, to aid in teaching a unit
on visible light.
Sources were checked to make sure the information was
current and relevant to the unit. The following slides contain a
selection of materials available to teachers everywhere.

4. Blog
The International Year of Light is an international organization
to show just how important light is to our everyday lives. This
website also explains why light matters, and has hands on
involvement resources such as experiments and videos
designed to be used in the classroom.
This link has a tab designated just for Blog posts where
students are able to see posts from different classrooms in
different parts of our world.
Click on the Image to be directed to
the website!

5. Podcast
This particular podcast, A Moment of Science, can help
students relate to why their clothes might look different when
they are wet in relation to light and why the color looks
changed. This podcast still explains the process of reflection
and absorption but in a relatable way.
‘Why Are Rainbows Curved’ can also be shown as to why we
see rainbows!

6. Instructional Videos
Magic School Bus Makes a Rainbow
Ms. Frizzle is everyone’s favorite scientist! Discover with Ms.
Frizzle and the gang how color and rainbows are created!
Scholastic Study Jams
A source that can be used independently by students to view
videos and take practice tests on the information they learned.
Khan Academy - Why Is the Sky Blue?
Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Students will be able
to find out through this video with Khan Academy!

7. Internet Resources
The internet provides information from government and other
reputable organizations about light and color. The following
slides will list the website along with a brief outline of what
that particular link shows. Each one is helpful in its own way,
and put together will make great resources for teachers to
use with their students.

8. Internet Resources
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA introduces light, color, and its uses as well as provide
multiple links to lessons including discovering filters, prisms,
and mirrors.
The Optical Society
This resource provides a definition of optics while also
exploring other resources, activities, and great fun facts!

9. Internet Resources
Teachers' Lab - The Science of Light
This resource is great to have children connect with how
different colors are made. They will have an opportunity to
interact with each other, as well as with the computer trying to
mix colors together to create a match. They will understand
the reasoning behind this and connect it to their everyday
lives.

10. Inspiration
A diagram created
from Inspiration can
help students visually
see what happens
when sunlight is
absorbed onto an
object, and why we
see the particular color
it is.
The sun is a form
of nat ural light, or
white light, which
contains all
wavelengt hs of
colors
All colors
are
absorbed
into t he
apple
Red is t he only
color refl ected
out, and t hat is
t he color t hat
we see

11. Teaching Materials
“The Day-Glo Brothers” by Chris Barton could be used as a great
read aloud. This is a story about two very different brothers who
become locked in the basement and start
experimenting with colors. Students will have
time during the day to relax and listen to the
story while also relating it to their science
unit.
Click on the image to be directed to the link!

12. Teaching Materials
Why color matters can be used to introduce a lesson on if white
and black are actually colors, or not. Generating students thoughts
while teaching them about these two colors can be easily accessed
through this link.
Click on the image to access the link!

13. Meet Science – It’s An App!
Meet Science is a great app rated highly by students to learn
more about light and sound. If teachers wish, there are also
different units for purchase as well such as force and motion!
Click on the picture to purchase!

14. Teaching Materials
Making a Rainbow
Experiment with creating a rainbow, and sunlight shining rays
onto different color papers.
Science Light Unit Worksheets
An abundance of worksheets, reading comprehension
activities, as well as puzzles and diagrams can be found and
created on this site. Registration is required.

15. Subject Specific Resource
Light and Optics
I would use this site for students to click on the link for ‘Water
Droplets’. This will give a deeper look into types of clouds and
define some other useful vocabulary terms such as diffracted, and
cumulus tower. Students would be able to see pictures of clouds,
and why they look the way they do depending on the sunlight and
water droplets they contain. Students would be able to connect this
to previous lessons on light, rainbows, and how they are created.

16. Uses of the Internet
Exploratorium Online
Mix and match is a great interactive way for students to notice just
how many colors can be created. This will support what students
have learned previously about how colors are formed, and expand
on their knowledge for retention.
Polar Bear Cam
This site although not directly related to light and color, can be
used to interest children on what the polar bear sees. Does he/she
see color? What does he notice in his environment?

17. Web 2.0
National Geographic
Although this is not a direct relation to a unit on light, National
Geographic is a great resource for teachers to use when
relating to the world around us, weather, and why we might
be seeing different colors in our world based on the climate,
storms and environment around us.

18. Web 2.0
Google Classroom
This is an excellent way to stay in contact with students when
outside of the classroom. Students can post questions or
ideas to each other, or the teacher, and the teacher can be
reached at all times without being emailed.