In this lesson, students practice using light to communicate information. In the activity, Secret Signals, students work in pairs to build a device that solves the problem of communicating over a distance. They send secret messages to one another using light and colored markers.
Preview activityColor Codes printout | 1 per student |
Markers
Preferably 1 red, 1 blue, and 1 green. You can use three other colors, but make sure they are very different from one another. Similar colors (red, pink, and orange) can lead to confusion.
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Details
3 markers per pair
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LED Flashlights
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2 flashlights per pair |
Make sure you have enough space. Pairs of students will need to be at least 5 or 6 feet apart, and have a clear line of sight to each other. Homeschool students working alone will need a partner to do this activity.
You will need to do this activity in the dark with the lights off and curtains drawn.
Flashlights are very fun, but can be very distracting! We suggest waiting to distribute flashlights to students until Step 6 of the activity.
Student slideshow: English | Spanish
Teacher printout: English & Spanish
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You can elaborate student learning and engagement with Mystery Science mini-lessons.
Why were traffic lights invented? In this mini-lesson, students learn about an everyday invention that uses different colors of light to communicate!
Why do fireflies glow? In this mini-lesson, students explore how fireflies flash their lights to signal and communicate.
If you are in an NGSS state, these mini-lessons support the DCI PS4.C: Information Technology and Instrumentation
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