Light and color are everywhere! We see them in rainbows after a storm, bright flowers outside, and the colorful images glowing on our screens. But have you ever wondered how light creates all those colors? Exploring light and color is a great way to get middle-grade students excited about science. In these books, readers can discover how light travels, bends, bounces, and separates into different colors. They can learn about how colors form and think about why objects look the way they do. They make a great starting point for classroom discussion and activities!
This browsable book explores the science and history of color in a BIG way…literally! Its large format makes it stand out on any bookshelf, and for good reason. Safer’s captivating illustrations and Pimentel’s straightforward explanations help demystify the amazing pigments that make up our world and spotlight a diverse group of makers and inventors who have used color in unique ways.
How to Be a Color Wizard: Forage and Experiment with Natural Art Making by Jason Logan
With this guide in hand, readers can explore the world around them and discover the magic of color. At the intersection of art, ecology, and chemistry, this book instructs young wizards how to create their own confetti, sidewalk chalk, ink, spray paint, and more. Please note that adult supervision/assistance is required for some of the featured projects.
Classroom Activity – Make Your Own Natural Paints
Have you ever wondered where paint colors came from before you could buy them at a store? Let students experiment with safe natural materials such as berries, turmeric, spinach, soil, or charcoal. Crush or mix the materials with water, then test the homemade colors on paper. Which materials make the brightest colors? Which ones fade the fastest?
This engaging graphic science resource brings complex concepts about light and energy to life through an exciting superhero format. Clear explanations, vibrant illustrations, and accessible vocabulary help students build science knowledge while supporting visual learning. A valuable classroom tool for sparking curiosity and encouraging STEM exploration among upper elementary readers.
Classroom Activity – Set Up a Light Lab
Turn your classroom into a mini science lab! Set out flashlights, mirrors, prisms, colored filters, and other materials and let students explore. What happens when light hits a mirror? Can they bend light or separate white light into different colors? Have students sketch and write about what they discover.
Exploring the Science of Light: 30+ Illuminating Experiments and Colorful Science Activities by The Exploratorium
Through hands-on projects and crafts, this book encourages exploration of sunlight, shadows, and color. Readers can follow step-by-step instructions to make a pinhole camera, cyanotype painting, or even a solar-powered scribbler. Each activity includes a short explanation of the science behind it.
Classroom Activity – Make a Rainbow
You don’t have to wait for a rainy day to see a rainbow. Challenge students to create rainbows using prisms, water, mirrors, or sunlight. Then talk about why white light separates into different colors. For an added twist, students can explore what rainbows mean in different cultures around the world.
Fantastic Optical Illusions by DK
This visually captivating resource invites young readers to explore the science behind optical illusions and how our brains interpret the world. Interactive examples and eye-catching designs encourage observation, critical thinking, and curiosity. A great classroom choice for sparking discussions about perception, light, and the science of seeing.
Classroom Activity – Fool Your Eyes with an Optical Illusion
Can you always believe what your eyes tell you? Challenge students to create their own optical illusions using colors, lines, shapes, and patterns. Have classmates look at each creation and describe what they see. Then students can investigate why the illusion works and learn how our eyes and brains work together to make sense of what we see.
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Carla Mooney loves to explore the world around us and discover the details about how it works. An award-winning author of numerous nonfiction science books for kids and teens, she hopes to spark a healthy curiosity and love of science in today’s young people. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and dog. Find her at http://www.carlamooney.com, on Facebook @carlamooneyauthor, or on Instagram @moonwriter25
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