A unit with six lessons for grades 6-12 that develops the understanding that visible light is composed of a full range of colors, that extends the concept of a spectrum to include non-visible light (infrared and ultraviolet) through discovery, and that develops tools and strategies for student inquiry.
Lesson 1 - Mix It Up - the color we see is reflected from an object and white light is a combination of other colors
Lesson 2 - Prisms and Rainbows - white light from Sun and artificial light source is a full range of colors; how droplets of water function as prisms to separate this full range of colors into rainbows.
Lesson 3 - Exploring Spectra - elements emit light in a distinct spectrum that can be used to identify the elements and that this information can be used to identify the composition of complex light sources like stars.
Lesson 4 - Getting Hotter? - Infrared light and the use of IR light in science.
Lesson 5 - Mystery Light - Students develop research techniques useful for further exploration, using models developed in previous lessons. Design an experiment with UV beads.
Lesson 6 - Independent Investigation - Students develop a question about light spectra and design their own experiment to answer the question.