20+ Ideal Light Activities that Are Awesome!

‘Light’ โœจ๏ธhas always been an interesting topic not only for kids but also adults. 

Scientists like Albert Einstein have spent a huge part of their lives researching ๐Ÿ” it. Therefore, I believe it is important to teach little ones about the concepts of light from a young age. 

Albert Einstein is a popular name ๐Ÿคฉ among kids; therefore, it is easy to teach kids about something he is known for.

Moreover, there are endless interesting ๐Ÿ‘Œ and magical experiments and activities we can engage in with our kids. These activities not only promise to teach my kids about the magical concepts of light ๐Ÿ“– but also help to polish their cognitive ๐Ÿง  and motor ๐Ÿ’ช abilities.

Interesting Light Activities For Kidsย 

I love to engage in activities where we explore the magic โœจ๏ธ of light. My little scientists are always awestruck by the new concepts they learn ๐Ÿง about during these activities.

Read on to discover ๐Ÿ” some of the magical experiments and activities we love to engage in.

Learn About Shadows And Lateral Inversion

My little ones love tracing โœ๏ธ activities and are often busy learning how to write ๐Ÿ”ก alphabet.

Teaching my little ones about the alphabet ๐Ÿ” , such as ‘S,’ ‘D,’ and similar ones that show lateral inversion, is an interesting concept. Similarly, we also love learning about alphabets ๐Ÿ”  like ‘A,’ ‘O’, and similar ones that do not show lateral inversion.

How do we do it? 

I have explained it here in a few simple steps:

  • Firstly, I draw the outlines of various alphabets (capital letters and small letters) in bold on a piece of white chart paper (or cardboard paper). I help my little ones to cut out these pieces of alphabet carefully utilizing a pair of scissors โœ‚๏ธ and paint ๐ŸŽจ them as they like.
  • I use double-sided tape or clips to position these pieces on the glass of my window ๐ŸชŸ which is receiving bright sunlight. 
  • The shadows of these alphabets fall on the floor, and I ask my little ones to take a tracing paper and place it on the floor such that the shadow is positioned on it.
  • I ask them to trace these shadows using a marker pen or pencil โœ๏ธ at their convenience. 
  • To learn about lateral inversion, we utilized the same cutouts we had prepared for shadow tracing. I ask my little ones to analyze the reflection of the cutouts of these alphabets on the mirror ๐Ÿชž and figure out which ones show lateral inversion and which ones do not.
  • You can also utilize objects or cutouts of numbers ๐Ÿ”ข instead of alphabets. Moreover, you can use words containing alphabets that do not show lateral inversion ( for example, you can use the word ‘WAX’) to teach them about the same concept. 

Important Note:ย 

Please make sure your little science enthusiasts don’t injure themselves โŒ๏ธ while fidgeting with a pair of scissors.

Make A Pinhole Camera

One of the very classic steps towards learning about the formation of images and how the rays of light โœจ๏ธ travel is understanding how a pinhole camera ๐Ÿ“Œ ๐Ÿ“ท works. 

The word ‘camera’ ๐Ÿ“ท is enough to make kids excited ๐Ÿคฉ for any activity, and the idea of making one takes the excitement to the clouds.

Read on to discover how we make an amazing pinhole camera at home in a few easy steps.

What you need-

Pins ๐Ÿ“Œ, filter paper or wax papers, glue or tape, a pair of scissors โœ‚๏ธ, cardboard boxes ๐Ÿ“ฆ (shoe ๐Ÿ‘ž boxes or toothpaste boxes will be preferred), candle ๐Ÿ•ฏ or a lamp, a cutter or a knife, and a blanket.

Steps: 

  • I utilize the point of a sharp pin ๐Ÿ“Œl to punch a hole in one of the shorter (square-shaped) ends of the cardboard box or shoe ๐Ÿ‘ž box.
  • My little ones and I carefully utilize a cutter or a knife to cut a square-shaped cutout in the side of the box lying directly opposite at the end across from the pin ๐Ÿ“Œ hole. The recommended measurements of the square are about 2 inches or 5 centimeters on each side.
  • My little ones and I utilize a pair of scissors โœ‚๏ธ to cut out a square-shaped cutout of filter paper or wax paper. The recommended measurements of the square cutout is about 3 inches or approximately 7.6 centimeters on each side.
  • I position the square cutout of the filter paper or wax paper directly over the square โฌ›๏ธ cutout we had previously cut in the box. We stick the edges of the wax paper cutout using glue or tape the edges of the filter paper or wax paper to the square cutout on the box.
  • My little ones and I carry this pinhole ๐Ÿ“Œ camera ๐Ÿ“ท box ๐Ÿ“ฆ to a room that is dimly lit and switch on a lamp ๐Ÿ’ก or light a ๐Ÿ•ฏ candle. 
  • My little ones and I stand at a distance of approximately 5 feet from the candle ๐Ÿ•ฏ or the lamp.
  • We cover our heads along with the pinhole ๐Ÿ“Œ camera with a covering or a blanket. We take care to make sure that the end of the cardboard box or pinhole camera box ๐Ÿ“ฆ with the filter paper or wax paper is facing us, whereas the end of the box with the pinhole ๐Ÿ“Œ is facing towards the lamp.
  • My little ones and I hold the pinhole camera ๐Ÿ“Œ ๐Ÿ“ท at an arm’s length from our face and aim it at the burning candle ๐Ÿ•ฏ or the lamp. 
  • My little ones and I hold the pinhole camera box ๐Ÿ“ฆ steadily until we are able to visualize an inverted or upside-down image of the burning candle or the lamp.

Important Note:ย 

Please make sure your little ones do not hurt themselves while working with pins ๐Ÿ“Œ, scissors, or cutters.ย 

Colorful Shadows

Why only use sunlight for an activity when we can use colorful light, too?

We use translucent pieces of colorful paper and position them on the glass of our windows ๐ŸชŸ or around light ๐Ÿ’ก bulbs. 

The whole room looks completely aesthetic with various shades of colors. My little ones love dancing ๐Ÿ•บ around in these colorful shadows throughout the day.

Learn About Rainbows

Isn’t it fascinating when light passes perfectly through a drop of clear water ๐Ÿ’ง, and the formation of a mesmerizing rainbow takes place? 

I love to teach my little scientists about a rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ using a glass prism or by shining light on an old CD ๐Ÿ’ฟ too.

Isn’t it magical when we spot a colorful rainbow floating in the ๐Ÿ™ sky?

I always find my little ones completely mesmerized when they find a rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ floating in the sky. 

My little ones and I often utilize foam sheets in the shade of the colors of a rainbow by cutting โœ‚๏ธ them into small pieces, mixing up all of these colorful in a bowl, and sticking them on a big outline of a rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ with the inner area coated with glue.

We repeat this activity with rainbow-colored cookies ๐Ÿช , clay, colorful cereals, char paper, ice cream sticks, and

biscuits.

My little ones love to learn about the colors of the rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ ‘VIBGYOR’ ( violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red), and I have a lovely time teaching them about it.

Read Books About Light

Optics has been an amazing ๐Ÿ‘ part of physics, and it’s even more interesting for kids.

A ray of light โœจ๏ธ can give rise to a colorful rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ is a fascinating wonder for kids. Therefore, I always encourage my little one to keep reading books ๐Ÿ“š related to the concept of light.

In fact, there are several excellent ๐Ÿ‘Œ activity books that will help little ones clear their concepts about light.

Here are a few books my little ones had a great time reading:

Important Note:

I will advise all parents to carefully go through the contents of any book ๐Ÿ“– before allowing their little scientists to read it just to be aware that the contents of the books are suitable โœ…๏ธ according to the age group of your little ones.

Flashlight Word Game 

Isn’t it cool to wear a detective’s cap and look for clues in the dark with a flashlight ๐Ÿ”ฆ in your hands?

Teaching little ones how to utilize a flashlight in the dark is essential and a very entertaining activity.

My little ones and I love playing with a flashlight ๐Ÿ”ฆ whenever there is a power cut. Read on to discover a few simple steps in which I teach my little ones new words through this flashlight activity.

What you need- 

Flashlight ๐Ÿ”ฆ, cutouts of alphabets, a highlighter that glows prettily in the dark, a pair of scissors โœ‚๏ธ, a basket, and a tape.

Steps:

  • I help my little detectives cut out outlines of several alphabets ๐Ÿ”ก from a piece of white chart paper by carefully utilizing a pair of scissors and coloring them with a highlighter that glows prettily in the dark. 
  • I tell them a specific word (for example, PENCIL). I hide or tape the cutouts of the alphabet comprising the word (for example, cutouts of the alphabets’ P,’ ‘E,’ ‘N,’ ‘C,’ ‘I,’ and ‘L’) to various pieces of furniture in a dark room and ask my little detectives to hunt down these pieces one by one using a ๐Ÿ”ฆ flashlight. 
  • Sometimes, if my little ones are having a hard time searching for the alphabet, I give them additional clues ๐Ÿ”Ž leading to the pieces of furniture I have taped the alphabet onto. 
  • For example, if the alphabet is taped to a closet, I draw a diagram of a shirt ๐Ÿ‘• and let my little detective brainstorm and find the alphabet.
  • After my little one is successful in hunting down all the alphabets โœ…๏ธ, I ask them to put these alphabets together to form the word I told them.
  • Often, I repeat this activity with cutouts of numbers ๐Ÿ”ข from 1 to 10 instead of alphabets. 

Important Note:ย 

Please make sure your little science enthusiasts don’t injure themselves โŒ๏ธ while fidgeting with a pair of scissors.

Let’s Make A Kaleidoscope

A kaleidoscope is another interesting ๐Ÿค” piece that makes kids drool ๐Ÿคฉ over the magic of symmetry, light โœจ๏ธ and reflections. 

My little ones love โค๏ธ the kaleidoscopes we make at home. Moreover, light does the complete magic to make this activity worthwhile โœ…๏ธ for them.

You may be wondering if making a kaleidoscope at home is a tough job ๐Ÿง, but let me tell you, it is extremely easy to make one at home. 

Read on to discover how to create an amazing kaleidoscope at home in a few extremely simple and easy steps:

What you need-

Mirrored sheets ( if you want to use mylar sheets for this activity, then make sure to use thick ones), empty toilet paper roll or tissue paper roll ๐Ÿงป, white papers, colorful straws, colorful marker pens โœ๏ธ, stickers, accessories, embellishments, and paint.

Steps: 

  • Firstly, I ask my little ones to paint ๐ŸŽจ the tissue paper roll or cardboard roll with any shade of color they like and wait until the paint dries up completely.
  • I take the mirrored sheets and cut โœ‚๏ธ them up into three strips of equal measurements, keeping in mind that the measurement should be ideal โœ…๏ธ for the finished kaleidoscope to fit into the cardboard roll properly.
  • Following this step, I place the three strips of mirrored sheets together in a line ( along the longer sides) with minute gaps in between. We tape these strips together over those minute spaces. Please make sure that the least scratched and shiny โœจ๏ธ side is facing downwards when you are taping the strips.
  • Now, I help my little scientists position the mirrored sheets in the form of a triangular ๐Ÿ”บ๏ธ prism. We apply tape on the edges of this prism from the top side (outer side) so that the prism retains its shape.
  • My little ones and I place this prism inside the cardboard roll so that it fits properly inside and doesn’t fall out accidentally.
  • Now, I ask my little ones to prepare circular โšช๏ธ cutouts using white sheets of paper and a pair of โœ‚๏ธ scissors. 
  • Please make sure that the size of this circular cutout is such that it is comparatively bigger than the circular end of the cardboard roll used for making the kaleidoscope. 
  • We utilize colorful marker pens to draw โœ๏ธ several random patterns in this circle, after which I cut a hole or a slit in the center of this circular cutout.
  • We take a colorful straw and tape it on the outer side of the circular end of the cardboard roll such that half of the straw is protruding out from the circular end of the roll. 
  • We insert the circular cutout into this straw by means of the hole or slit in the center. 
  • Our kaleidoscope is ready ๐Ÿ™Œ and we spend a lot of time marveling at the wonderful reflections ๐Ÿคฉ seen in it when we rotate the circular cutout carrying designs on the straw. 
  • You can create several circular cutouts with new designs and patterns to visualize a diverse show of symmetrical magic in this kaleidoscope.

Important Note:ย 

Please make sure your little science enthusiasts don’t injure themselves โŒ๏ธ while fidgeting with a pair of scissors.

Peephole Box

If your little one is a toddler, then this light activity is ideal for them because they will learn about the importance of light through this simple activity.

What you need- 

A shoebox or cardboard box ๐Ÿ“ฆ, a cutter or a pair of scissors โœ‚๏ธ, toys ๐Ÿงธ, and a source of light.

Steps: 

  • I take a shoebox or cardboard box ๐Ÿ“ฆ and make a slit on the top side with the help of a cutter or a craft knife. 
  • I make a similar slit in one of the sides at a position around the center of the side. 
  • I put my little one’s favorite toys ๐Ÿงธ inside the cardboard box ๐Ÿ“ฆ and cover it with the lid carrying the slit.
  • I place the cardboard box in front of an artificial source of light, such as an electric bulb ๐Ÿ’ก or a burning๐Ÿ•ฏ candle. I make sure that the side of the cardboard box ๐Ÿ“ฆ with the slit is facing towards the source of light. 
  • Now, I place my hands covering the slit to block light โœจ ๏ธ from entering the box and ask my little ones to peek into the box through the slit on the top. 
  • In the absence of light, my little ones complain of not โŽ๏ธ being able to visualize their favorite toys inside the box. 
  • Following the previous step, I remove my hand from the slit on the side, allowing light to enter the box ๐Ÿ“ฆ and ask my little ones to peek into the box again.
  • My daughter often bursts into giggles on noticing her favorite teddy ๐Ÿงธ inside the box. My kids learn about the impact and importance of light โœ…๏ธ through this light activity.

Learn About Light Transmissionย 

If you have glasses made up of different materials at home ๐Ÿฅƒ ๐Ÿฅ› ๐Ÿธ , then this light activity is ideal for you to engage in with your little ones.

I teach my kids about the concepts of light transmission through different materials by utilizing these glasses.

What you need-

Glasses made up of different materials and a torch.

Steps:

  • I place transparent glass, translucent glass, and opaque glass in a line in front of the wall. 
  • I shine a light on them utilizing a torch ๐Ÿ”ฆ and ask my little ones to observe the shadows on the wall.
  • If you do not have glasses made up of different materials, then you can add substances of different kinds to create the same effect. 
  • My little ones and I take three transparent glasses. I pour ๐Ÿซ— water ๐Ÿ’ง in the first one, oil in the second one, and milk ๐Ÿฅ› into the third glass.
  • We observe the shadows on the wall formed after shining a torch ๐Ÿ”ฆ at these glasses and classify the objects as transparent, translucent, and opaque ones.
  • We also observe the phenomenon of the bending of light (refraction) using a glass of ๐Ÿ’ง water. I ask my little ones to draw a picture of a sheet of paper and observe it through a glass of water.

Light Source Sensory Boxย 

I have a lot of fun teaching my kids about the difference between a natural source of light ( for example, sunlight โ˜€๏ธ) and an artificial or man-made source of light ( for example, a torch ๐Ÿ”ฆ or a ๐Ÿ•ฏ candle).

This light activity also serves as a promising sensory exercise for kids. Therefore, I will highly recommend this fantastic yet simple activity for little ones.

What you need- 

Cutouts or plastic models of natural sources of light ( for example, cutouts of the Sun ๐ŸŒž or stars ๐ŸŒŸ ), cutouts or pieces of man-made or artificial sources of light ( for example, a torch ๐Ÿ”ฆ, a light bulb ๐Ÿ’ก or a ๐Ÿ•ฏ candle), vegetable oil, bowls, paper, marker pens, tape or glue, flour, and a container.

Steps:

  • I encourage my little ones to observe and learn about the artificial and natural sources of light by going over a picture book ๐Ÿ“– or an activity book.
  • I take a tub or container and fill it up with flour before adding vegetable oil to it to prepare a mixture. 
  • I hide cutouts or plastic models of natural sources of light ( for example, cutouts of the Sun ๐ŸŒž or stars ๐ŸŒŸ ) along with cutouts or pieces of man-made or artificial sources of light ( for example, a torch ๐Ÿ”ฆ, a light bulb ๐Ÿ’ก or a ๐Ÿ•ฏ candle) inside it.
  • My little one’s job is to search for an item in the tub using their hands โœ‹๏ธ and puck out one item at a time.
  • I take two bowls and label ๐Ÿท one of them as ‘Artificial Sources of Light’ while the other is labeled as ‘Natural Sources of Light.’ 
  • My little one is supposed to recognize whether the item they have picked out from the tub classifies as a natural source of light โ˜€ ๏ธ or as an artificial one. In accordance with their judgment, they are supposed to place the item in the corresponding bowl.
  • My little ones enjoy a lovely time brainstorming and learning ๐Ÿ” about the different sources of light.

Important Note:ย 

Please make sure your little science enthusiasts don’t injure themselves โŒ๏ธ while fidgeting with light bulbs๐Ÿ’ก , torches ๐Ÿ”ฆ, or similar items.

Influence of Light On Plants

I love plants ๐Ÿชด, especially the ornamental flowering ๐Ÿ’ ones. My garden is decorated beautifully with several plants, and my little ones often help me out whenever I am watering ๐Ÿ’ง or pruning them.

We all remember this simple activity we were taught in schools to learn about the influence of light โœจ๏ธ on the growth of plants.

My little gardeners and I had planted a sapling ๐ŸŒฑ in a pot and placed it in a tiny room in our backyard with only a single window ๐ŸชŸ acting as the only source of ๐ŸŒž sunlight.

Within a few weeks, we observed that the sapling started growing towards the window ๐ŸชŸ ( the source of light). The growing stem of our sapling bends towards the sunlight coming in from the room’s window. This light activity will help little ones to understand โœ…๏ธ how light influences the growth of plants.ย 

Shadow Puppets 

This light activity is a classic, and I remember enjoying shows when the art of storytelling was carried out using the shadows of puppets or characters formed by hands โœ‹๏ธ and fingers.

I often teach my kids how to form the shadow of a deer ๐ŸฆŒ by bringing my little one’s thumb and index finger together to form a shape similar to an eye. 

We have a great time learning ๐Ÿ” how to form the shadows of various animals ๐Ÿ‡ or objects โœˆ๏ธ using our hands or craft supplies. 

Sometimes, we put the cutout of a crown ๐Ÿ‘‘ on our thumb and interact with each other by means of the shadows of the crowned thumbs on the wall acting like a finger puppet. We also utilize translucent colorful papers to generate an additional effect.ย 

Shadow Dance 

Dancing ๐Ÿ•บ is an amazing activity to bind with your little dancers as well as help them to develop muscular ๐Ÿ’ช coordination.

During my memorable childhood days, whenever there was a power cut in our neighborhood, we used to light up pretty candles ๐Ÿ•ฏ for the period when electricity was absent. 

My friends and I used to be fascinated ๐Ÿคฉ by our shadows taking form on the ground or the wall due to the candlestick’s light. Our shadows used to dance๐Ÿ’ƒ along with us, and we used to have a great time imitating each other’s steps by observing the shadows on the wall.

Now, I love to repeat this light activity with my little dancers โค๏ธ and the experience is just like replaying my childhood memories.

Glowing Flowers 

My daughter loves flowers ๐ŸŒท as much as I do. She always expresses her wish to visualize a glowing flower just like the ones she has read about in fairytales.

My son and I turned into optical magicians and decided to give her a glowing โœจ๏ธ flower.

My son was totally awestruck when I told him that it was possible in reality to create a glowing flower ๐Ÿชท at home using the fundamental concepts of science.

What you need- 

A highlighter that glows beautifully under fluorescent light, a flower ( a flower with white petals will be preferred), a pair of scissors โœ‚๏ธ, water, and a container.

Steps:

  • I take my little one’s favorite highlighter pen that glows prettily under the black fluorescent light and empty out its ink in a container ๐Ÿซ™ carrying water ๐Ÿ’ง ( usually, I prefer to fill up about half of the container with water). 
  • I take a flower ๐ŸŒธ and cut โœ‚๏ธ out the end of the stem diagonally by means of utilizing a pair of scissors or a sharp cutter (to increase the surface area of the stem for absorption of water).
  • I carefully placed this flower in the container, carrying the mixture of water and the highlighter’s ink.
  • After a short period, the flower absorbs the mixture (water and ink) in the container. This mixture containing the ink of the highlighter travels to every part of the pretty flower ๐ŸŒผ including the petals.
  • Now, this beautiful flower glows magnificently under fluorescent light โœจ ๏ธ and my daughter was elated to get a view ๐Ÿ˜ of this magical flower straight out of a fairytale.

Important Note:ย 

Please make sure your little science enthusiasts don’t injure themselves while fidgeting with a pair of scissors.

Candle Magic 

Candles ๐Ÿ•ฏ are still a fascinating source of light in the present time. In fact, there are a lot of tricks and experiments that are incomplete without the magic of a candle. This activity is one of the 

My little scientists love โค๏ธ this light activity and write โœ๏ธ a lot of sweet little letters to their friends during this activity.

What you need- 

A bowl of diluted lemon juice, a few earbuds, papers, and a ๐Ÿ•ฏcandle.

Steps:

  • I ask my little scientists to take diluted lemon ๐Ÿ‹ juice in a bowl and instruct them to immerse an earbud in it. 
  • I guide them through the process of using this earbud to write โœ๏ธ invisible letters, patterns, or messages on a piece of white paper ๐Ÿ“ƒ and keep it aside to dry.
  • Now, I hold it over a burning candle ๐Ÿ•ฏ making sure that the piece of paper is exposed to the high temperature of the fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ (take precautions not to burn down the piece of paper). 
  • The lemon juice on the white paper gets oxidized and turns brown in color on exposure to high temperatures. Following this occurrence, the invisible letters written on the paper using lemon juice are visible when the paper is heated. 
  • My little scientists love writing โœ๏ธ these invisible letters several times for their friends. As a result, they are engrossed and busy with this light activity for a long time.

Starlit Sky In A Bottle

My little scientists are very enthusiastic about the shining stars ๐ŸŒŸ , planets, and the moon. They want to learn how Venus shines so brightly in the sky and where it gets its light from. 

We love this light activity where we make all the planets, the moon ๐ŸŒ™, the Sun ๐ŸŒž, and the asteroids take form in a transparent ๐Ÿซ™ jar. It is a simple yet magical light activity.

What you need- 

Transparent bottles or jars, black paper, pencils or pens, and LED lights.

Steps: 

  • I draw the outline of all the planets, the moon ๐ŸŒ™, the Sun ๐ŸŒž, and the asteroids on a piece of black chart paper by means of the method of drawing dots with a pencil. 
  • I guide my little scientists to poke holes where the dots are positioned on the black chart paper utilizing the same pen or pencil.
  • Following this step, I usually place this black paper inside the transparent jar ๐Ÿซ™ or bottle and put pretty LED lights into the transparent jar or bottle. 
  • My little astronomers put on the LED lights in a dark room. All the elements of the solar system take form in the transparent bottle, with the light from the tiny LED bulbs ๐Ÿ’ก traveling pretty aesthetically through the holes.

Important Note:

Kindly make sure your little scientists do not injure themselves while playing with electricity or LED lights.

Make A Spectroscope

Who doesn’t like to make a spectroscope and visualize all the magical colors of various wavelengths of a rainbow ๐ŸŒˆ straight out of a fairytale?

My little scientists and I love to make a spectroscope at home in a simple yet engaging way. 

Let me tell you that these science activities are a lot more interesting when done together with a particular enthusiasm about the topic. Therefore, making a spectroscope together is an unskippable, delightful opportunity.

What you need-

Empty tissue paper roll ๐Ÿงป ( you can also use empty cardboard rolls), a pair of scissors โœ‚๏ธ, a blank or old CD ๐Ÿ’ฟ, pencil โœ๏ธ, small pieces of cardboard, tape, and paint.

Steps:

  • Firstly, I ask my little ones to paint ๐ŸŽจ the tissue paper roll or cardboard roll with any shade of color they like and wait until the paint dries up completely.
  • Now, I utilize a craft knife ๐Ÿ”ช or cutter to create a slit close to one end of the cardboard roll. Please make sure that this slit is created at an angle of 45 degrees towards the end of the cardboard roll.
  • Following this step, I created โœจ๏ธ tiny peephole or a hole to view the colors ๐ŸŒˆ at a position lying right across the segment of the cardboard roll where I had created the slit.
  • Now, I ask my little ones to trace the outline of the circular end of this cardboard roll on a piece of cardboard using a pencil. I help them to carefully cut โœ‚๏ธ out this circular outline โšช๏ธ using a pair of scissors.
  • I cut a slit right at the center of this circular cutout of cardboard and taped it to the top side of the cardboard roll ( the side lying opposite to the side where the slit and peephole were created).
  • We placed an old CD ๐Ÿ’ฟ in the slit, which was cut at an angle of 45 degrees. Please make sure that the shiny side of the CD ๐Ÿ’ฟ is facing upwards when you insert it into the slit.
  • My little scientists and I head out to our lawn to test our spectroscope. My little one holds the spectroscope in a vertical position, with the topside receiving an ample amount of sunlight.
  • We peep through the peephole and marvel ๐Ÿคฉ at the different colors we are able to visualize. 
  • The whole magic of colors lies in a simple scientific occurrence- the spiral tracks or pits of the mirrored surface of the CD ๐Ÿ’ฟ diffract light and are spaced evenly, thereby separating the colors. 
  • Ultimately, the mirrored surface causes the light to reflect into my little one’s eyes. You can repeat this activity with artificial or man-made sources of light such as candle ๐Ÿ•ฏ light, fluorescent light, or neon light.
  • Let your little one decorate their self-made spectroscope with patterns, suitable accessories, or embellishments if they want to.

Important Note:ย 

Please make sure your little science enthusiasts don’t injure themselves โŒ๏ธ while fidgeting with a pair of scissors.

Learn About Firefliesย 

The light of fireflies โœจ ๏ธ is one of the most magnificent aspects of nature. I used to love watching fireflies aesthetically โœจ ๏ธ lighting up the dark after sunset during my childhood days.

My son and daughter marvel at these beautiful insects ๐Ÿ˜ just as much as I do. We love firefly painting ๐ŸŽจ as well as creative firefly craft activities.

Recently, my little ones and I prepared a firefly wall hanging using a paper plate. Not only do we love watching fireflies, but we also love to read books about them. 

Here are a few amazing books ๐Ÿ“š about fireflies my little ones like to read:

Important Note:

I will advise all parents to carefully go through the contents of any book ๐Ÿ“– before allowing their little scientists to read it just to be aware that the contents of the books are suitable โœ…๏ธ according to the age group of your little ones.

Light Up A Sky Lantern

Remember the magical โœจ๏ธ scene from the movie Tangled where the sky was flooded with beautiful sky lanterns?ย 

After watching that scene, my daughter often expressed her desire to light up a sky lantern on her own and watch it float away in the beautiful sky ๐ŸŒƒ after sunset. 

Therefore, we decided to fulfill her wish and headed to the terrace after grabbing a few beautiful sky lanterns made up of paper.

My daughter was smiling ear to ear ๐Ÿ˜Š when we asked her to assist us by holding the lantern in place while we tried to light up the wax using a ๐Ÿ•ฏ candle.

These sky lanterns are extremely popular in India during the festive โœจ ๏ธ seasons because these lanterns float away, leaving behind a bag of memories โค ๏ธ to be cherished for a lifetime.

Make A Burning Sun

My little scientists are always fascinated by the burning Sun and how the sunlight magically โœจ ๏ธ covers our surroundings at sunrise. Therefore, I decided to create a mesmerizing sun ๐ŸŒž for them at home.

I love this creative light activity because the concepts ๐Ÿ“– of optics, physics, and astronomy come together beautifully during this amazing activity.ย 

What you need – 

Pretty balloons, rolls of tissue paper, craft glue, butter paper, a bowl of water, paint, and ๐Ÿ’ก an electric bulb.

Steps:

  • My little scientists and I picked an inflated balloon ๐ŸŽˆ that is spherical in shape. We help each other to cover it with lots of tissue paper utilizing a mixture of craft glue and a little bit of ๐Ÿ’ง water.
  • We add another layer of white tissue paper ๐Ÿงป ( you can also utilize butter paper as a substitute) after the first layer of tissue paper has dried up.
  • I will highly recommend utilizing a yellow-colored spherical balloon along with lemon yellow, orange, golden, or red-colored tissues for this activity. 
  • Whenever we do not have colorful tissues at home, we utilize pretty acrylic colors ๐ŸŽจ and paint the second layer of the white tissue such that it resembles the surface of the burning Sun.
  • Now, my little scientists and I turn off the lights in the room and hold this Sun made out of a balloon ๐ŸŽˆ in front of an electric ๐Ÿ’ก light bulb. I switch the bulb on, and the mesmerizing glowing โœจ๏ธ surface of the Sun ๐ŸŒž lights up beautifully in front of us. 
  • You can also add glitter to paint ๐ŸŽจ if you want an additional glittering effect on the surface of the Sun. We also make a shining moon ๐ŸŒ using this light activity.
  • You can also utilize aluminum foil instead of black paper and create figures of various constellations by poking holes with a pencil in the aluminum foil for this activity.

Light Table Magicย ย 

Is it possible to discuss everything about light while missing out on shining stars ๐ŸŒŸ and the constellations lighting up the sky every ๐ŸŒŒ night?

Here is a terrific way of creating fantastic constellations with your little scientists. 

We all are aware that geoboard activities are very helpful for boosting the motor and cognitive ๐Ÿง  skills of little ones. 

Hence, the idea ๐Ÿ’ก of creating patterns of constellations on a transparent geoboard placed on a light table using elastic is a recommended fine motor activity for little ones.

Light tables are ideal โœ…๏ธ for several kinds of light activities such as tracing, learning how to write letters using sand, and even learning about shapes with the help of suitable cutouts.

Shadows and The Sun

Wherever there is light, a shadow must be loitering nearby.

When I was a kid, I used to ask endless questions โ“๏ธ about the ways the position of an individual’s shadow changes throughout the course of the day.  

In school, I used to make a paper plate sundial ๐ŸŒž with my friends to understand this concept better. Now, I repeat this sunlight activity with my little scientists.

What you need- 

Paper plates, slender sticks, marker pens, and a very sunny day.

Steps:

  • I guide my little scientists through the process of writing the numbers of a clock โฐ๏ธ as precisely as possible on a circular paper plate utilizing colorful marker pens.
  • My little scientists and I head out to the lawn, and I help my son put about one-fourth of a slender stick into the mud. 
  • I cut a slit in the center of the circular paper plate and positioned it on the ground by passing it through this stick (if you like, you can also utilize a straw for this purpose).
  • Following this step, with a ton of patience, I try my best to educate my little ones about the varying movements of the Sun โ˜€๏ธ throughout the course of the day.
  • I keep referring to the corresponding changes in the position of the shadow of the stick moving from one marking of a clock on the paper plate to another marking on it.
  • This fantastic light activity will make your little scientists use their brains ๐Ÿง  and be entertained at the same time.

Light Monster in the Dark

My son loves this light activity during the snowy ๐ŸŒจ months of winter. Monsters ๐Ÿ‘ฝ roaming in the snow-covered regions are a rumored topic during the chilly months. 

My little detectives try to track down these light monsters ๐Ÿ‘ป roaming in our backyard. 

I utilize the snow โ„ ๏ธ lying in my backyard to create the figure of an irregularly shaped monster. You don’t have to worry about carving a perfect shape because monsters rarely have a perfect outline.

I dig out the snow from the point where I intend to make the eyes ๐Ÿ‘€ of the light monster and place two glow sticks (I prefer neon colors) in there. I cover up these glow sticks with snow.

As the sky greets the sunset ๐ŸŒƒ, my little detectives ๐Ÿ” head out to the backyard stealthily and are delighted to catch these light snow monsters ๐Ÿ‘ป waiting for them with glowy eyes throughout the dark.

Learn About Traffic Lights

According to me, this activity is a must โœ…๏ธ for all the little ones. I never leave my kids unsupervised, but I make sure they are learning the fundamental skills required to conduct themselves with safety measures every day.

One of the important and fundamental lessons is learning about traffic lights ๐Ÿšฆ and how to interpret them while crossing a road.

I make sure to teach my little ones everything about traffic ๐Ÿšฅ lights very often so that they don’t forget it over time. 

Here are a few books ๐Ÿ“š that will come in handy while teaching kids about traffic ๐Ÿšฆ lights: 

Important Note:

I will advise all parents to carefully go through the contents of any book ๐Ÿ“– before allowing their little scientists to read it just to be aware that the contents of the books are suitable โœ…๏ธ according to the age group of your little ones.

Conclusion 

These activities focusing on light โœจ๏ธ are extremely beneficial for my little ones in several ways. 

Some of these activities promise a lot of fun ๐Ÿคฉ while the other ones come along with lessons about the intriguing concepts โœ…๏ธ about light.

Tell me in the comments below ๐Ÿ˜‡ which light activity is your little one’s favorite one. 

Was this article helpful?

Leave a Comment