Laser ray boxes. Awesome for demonstrating wave behaviours.

Making Galilean telescopes fits well in Unit 2 or Unit 6.

This module is currently being written and resourced; it is not complete yet.  However, there are already some great simulations, worksheets and activities you can investigate - and more is on the way.  The module will explores pupils' existing ideas about waves, and then build on this.

Students can undertake varied practical work, investigating a wide range of wave phenomena, as well as building simple Galilean and Keplerian telescopes and exploring ideas about telescope optics.  There are now some very affordable laser ray boxes which are great for illustrating these ideas.  Timstar do a great kit here (UK), or Arbor Scientific sell the same kit here (US).

Lesson

Title

Notes

2.1

Introduction to waves

Observe transverse and longitudinal waves, develop key scientific vocabulary for describing waves.

2.2

Making sounds

Allow pupils to explore the subject and lots of questions; students will likely explore ideas about producing sounds and hearing sounds in both of these lessons.   

2.3

Hearing sounds

2.4

What is light?

Key ideas about light.  ideas about luminous & non-luminous objects. 

2.5

Mixing colours

Lots of fun practical work, looking at the additive mixing of light with rayboxes. 

2.6

Seeing colours

Specular and diffuse reflections.  Subtracting colours from light.

2.7

Reflection?

2.8

Refraction?

2.9

Test

2.10

Test review and target setting