Classroom Materials
NEW! 2007 Optical Phenomena Poster Series
Lighten Up! Discover the Science of Light
Optics: Light at Work DVD
Laser Technology: Changing Daily Life, Forging New Opportunities
Optics Discovery Kit
Terrific Telescopes Kit
Optics Suitcases
NEW! 2007 Optical Phenomena Poster Series
OSA is pleased to provide teachers, parents and students with FREE copies of our newest educational outreach tool…the 2007 Optical Phenomena Poster Series. Each full-color, 11x34 poster features a dramatic and compelling image and explanatory text highlighting a specific optics field: biomedical optics, fiber optics, lasers and spectroscopy. It is our hope students, teachers and parents will enjoy these beautiful posters throughout the year and find them useful in the exploration of optics as part of a physics curriculum. Posters are currently available in English, Spanish, Turkish, Romanian and Hindi.
Each poster has a corresponding pamphlet featuring key definitions, experiments, and career profiles downloadable by clicking on the corresponding link. Translated copies of each pamphlet will be available in January 2008.
To request a copy of one or more posters, please e-mail Chad Stark at cstark@osa.org or call +1.202.416.1416
Lighten Up! Discovering the Science of Light
The OSA Foundation and the Girls Scouts of the USA have developed a resource guide for girls, 11 – 15, called Lighten Up! Discovering the Science of Light. Through fun, hands-on activities such as making their own sunset in a bottle, using Jell-O to understand how lenses work, and even making their own telescope, girls will learn about the exciting world of optics, and why it is so important to everyday life. The guide also shows girls how the concepts they are learning relate to current research that impacts them today, and career profiles to highlight some of the many job opportunities in the field. For more information about the program or find a Girl Scout troop in your area, please contact Meredith Smith, OSAF Director at +1.202.416.1421 or msmith@osa.org.
To download a copy of the booklet please click here.
To listen to GSUSA representative discuss the program and its effectiveness click here.
OPTICS: Light at Work
This 15 minute DVD is geared toward 12 and 13 year old students, and is a great resource for raising awareness of optical science, along with its applications and many career opportunities. In addition to introductory information about the science of optics, the video highlights real world applications of optical technology, from everyday items like remote controls, cell phones and bar code scanners, to space exploration, innovations in solar energy and new frontiers in medicine. A variety of career options are highlighted through clips from a diverse group of scientists currently working in the field. Helpful advice and encouragement to students is included throughout.
Target Audience: Ages 12-13
To request your copy of this DVD please email cstark@osa.org
To view the "Optics: Light at Work" webcast click here
Laser Technology: Changing Daily Life, Forging New Opportunities
This 42-minute video/CD-ROM traces the fast-paced history of the laser and includes exciting visual depictions of laser applications. Targeted to high school and post-secondary students, the video/CD focuses on the characteristics of diode, solid-state and gas lasers and the properties that make them useful in a variety of applications including telecommunications, entertainment, biomedicine and the military. Footage of the field’s early pioneers, and over 25 industrial sources is featured. Available in VHS (NTSC) and CD-ROM formats. Topics include:
- Historical background of the laser
- Properties of light
- Description of main laser types
- Laser applications
- Safety
- Career opportunities
Transcript and follow-up quiz can be downloaded free of charge.
Optics Discovery Kit
The Optics Discovery Kit provides educators with classroom tools and optics lessons. The Kit features 11 experiments that demonstrate basic principles of optics. Components include: lenses, color filters, polarizers, optical fibers, a mirror, a hologram, a diffraction grating and an anamorph. Includes a teacher guide.
Suitable for fifth grade students and older, these materials can be purchased as a single module, or as a classroom set with 16 kits.
To order kits, contact:
Edmund Optics
Sales Department
101 East Gloucester Pike
Barrington, NJ 08007-1380
Tel: 1.800.363.1992 (United States and Canada)
Tel: 1.856.547.3488 ext. 6006 (all other countries)
Terrific Telescopes Kit
Terrific Telescopes is an education packet based upon the Hands-On Optics (HOO) program. The kit’s activities give students the opportunity to learn about the properties of lenses such as the focal length and the “flippoint”. The lessons and materials also demonstrate how to use a single lens and other household objects as simple magnifiers. Students are encouraged to discover how to combine two lenses together to create a simple refracting telescope. The educator led activities include demonstrations of how light bends, and how lenses are used to create colorful images. A teacher’s guide with step-by-step instructions is include with the kit.
To learn more and to place an order, contact: opticseducation@osa.org.
Optics Suitcases
The OSAF is partnering with the OSA’s Rochester Local Section to increase the distribution of the Section’s Optics Suitcases and the “Liquid Crystal Mood Patch Lesson”. This grant will also assist local groups/educators with finding a volunteer to help with optics demos. This program is also supported by a generous donation from James Ferguson.
The Optics Suitcase is an innovative, interactive presentation package designed to introduce middle school students to a variety of science concepts. The suitcase provides students with packets of materials that can be taken home to show to friends and family members as a reinforcement of the classroom lessons.
If you are interested in applying for an Optics Suitcase, please complete the application below and return it via email (foundation@osa.org) or fax (202.416.6130). Applications are due on April 15th. All applications will be considered based on the suggested outreach program, age range of the participants, and the number of participants.
Optics Suitcase Application Form (
PDF, 11kb)
Advancing the Science of Light
