Finally, an electromagnetic spectrum lab that will get glowing reviews from your class! Explore the nature of light using red and blue LED sources and fantastic phosphorescent paper. Young scientists compare the effects of blue light versus red light as they write messages to one another and observe how long their words are visible.

Concepts

wavelength, light, photons, particles, albert einstein, making observations, energy, electromagnetic spectrum

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Add other LED colors to the lab to extend the lesson
• Remove some of the initial discussion components in the plan to make it an inquiry exercise
  

Classroom Considerations

• Gather enough LED lights and phosphorescent paper for groups of two to three if you plan to do the activity as a lab
• Prior to the experiment, review where red and blue light fall in the electromagnetic spectrum
  

Pros

• The activity is an interesting way to introduce the dual wave-particle theory of light
• Set up and clean up is a snap with reusable materials
  

Cons

• None